1023 Cherry Memphis, TN
Circa 1938. Mix of Norman French and Gothic style
Everett Richard Cook (1894-1974) was married to Phoebe Sarah Willingham Cook (1898-1985) in 1919. Their home had 200 acres around it on Cherry. Originally, it likely stretched from Park Ave. Woodcrest Dr. and from the western border of the University of Memphis-Park Ave. Campus Fair Meadows Rd. Cook was chairman of Cook Industries and president of the Memphis Cotton Exchange (1931) as well as a founder of the Cotton Carnival (1931) - their daughter, Phoebe, was Queen in 1946 and son, Ned, was King in 1951.
He was a decorated patriot who served in both World Wars. He became a pilot in World War I and was an American ace with his service. He later served in the European and Mediterranean theaters in the Second World War and was heavily decorated. Later he was a director of Eastern Airlines and Schering Plough Corp. Cook was also a founder of the The Cotton Research Foundation (1936) and the National Cotton Council (1938). The Cook Convention Center was named in his honor.
Over the years, most of the estate was developed for residential, commercial and educational use: several corporate buildings, Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Harding School of Theology, and Harding Academy of Memphis among others.
In 1939, Hugo and Margaret Dixon moved to Memphis and purchased 17 acres of the northern parcel of the estate for a spacious home. Their Georgian style home was built about 1942. Everett “Ned” Cook and family inherited the mansion after the death of his mother, Sarah. They resided there until the 1950s. Ned renamed the property “Oaksedge.”
In 1951s, the Cook heirs sold the whole estate to Landon Victor “Jimmy” Butler, Jr. (1913-1981) and two years later, he transferred the estate to his wife, Sydney Johnston Butler (1916-2005), and they resided for 30 years. Butler was a prominent soybean and cotton businessman in the area. He was invested in Black Gin Comp., Butler-Foster Milling Co., and Alabama Grain Elevator Co. among others. He was in legal troubles at times and served prison time.
In 1983, Holiday Inn became the owner and the mansion was used for offices. Several medical-affiliated companies were owners later. In 2013, RBM Venture purchased the 25.5 acres commercial campus and Oaksedge. See Dixon Gallery & Gardens
Sources:
Historic & Beautiful Memphis
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