Chasing Roadside Ghosts Along US 31 in Memphis, Indiana

Last winter, cabin fever had had me digging through some local roadside history and it turned into a pretty fun way to spend a few winter afternoons. Since moving to southern Indiana, I’ve been curious about what this little stretch of old US 31 in Memphis, Indiana once looked like back when traffic rolled straight through town instead of flying by on nearby Interstate 65.

US 31 stretches 1,280 miles from Mackinaw City, Michigan all the way to Spanish Fort, Alabama, and Memphis claims about 1.8 miles of that historic highway. It may not sound like much, but at one time this little crossroads community had gas stations, cafes, and motor courts serving travelers heading north and south through Indiana.

With help from Scott Winters and Todd Tomes from a local Memphis Facebook page, along with photos from the Indiana Memory Digital Collection, I spent some time tracking down old images and recreating them from the same spots today. Most of these photos date back to the 1940s, though the Main Street crossing image may be even older.

What’s left today is pretty quiet, but if you look closely, you can still spot traces of the old highway town that once stood here.

One of the first places I tracked down was the Biggs Standard Oil station, on the east side of US 31 on the south end of Memphis.

Built 102 years ago in 1924, the building pre-dates US 31 by 2 years. The original building is still standing today, though it’s changed quite a bit over the years. The photo dates back to 1970 when the building was for sale. It is now home to Memphis Auto Sales.

Looking at the old photo, you can almost picture travelers pulling in for gas, repairs, or directions before continuing south toward Louisville or north toward Indianapolis.

Railroad St and Main Street (now referred to as Charlestown-Memphis Road) was another fun one to match up.  I believe this photo is from the 1940’s as well. You can just barely see a Gulf gas sign and gravity feed gas pump next to it. The Memphis Post Office once called the 2nd floor home of this grocery/gas station which has long been gone.

Even though the surroundings have changed over the decades, the alignment of the street and tracks still makes the old image recognizable. It’s one of those spots where the past doesn’t feel all that far away.

This crossing scene may be my favorite comparison from the group. Notice the home on the right is still there today. This is one photo I believe may pre-date the 1940’s, but need confirmation. The tracks to the front were for interurban commuting. The main rail line is still there to this day, and owned by the Louisville & Indiana Railroad connecting Louisville and Indianapolis. Typically this line sees CSX and LIRC traffic a dozen times a day.

The homes have changed, the trees are different, and the road is paved now, but the basic layout still feels surprisingly familiar. Small towns like this tend to hold onto their shape even when businesses come and go.

One of the more interesting finds was the location of the old Park Lane Motor Court, once a series of small cabins in a horseshoe driveway, on the west side of US 31 heading north out of Memphis. The driveway is still there as well as the home on the right.

There’s not much left to hint at its roadside past today, but decades ago this would have been a welcome overnight stop for travelers making their way along US 31 before the interstate era changed everything.
Built in 1926 and once known as the Victory Lodge, this cafe also sold Sinclair fuels. Located on the west side of US 31 to the north of Memphis-Blue Lick Road, the building was converted to a home decades ago.

The old Memphis Inn Cafe and Aetna gas station was another great piece of roadside history to uncover. Located at US 31 south of South of Memphis-Blue Lick Road. Back in the highway’s heyday, places like this were essential stops for motorists looking for lunch, coffee, fuel, or just a short break from the road.

The building and adjoining home have long been demolished, however, the gravel horseshoe drive where the gas station stood is still there (but beneath the snow!). It’s a popular parking spot for the Clark County sheriff’s department to welcome travelers to Memphis. 😉

Today, if you pass through Memphis, you probably wouldn’t realize how much activity once lined this stretch of highway. Interstate 65 shifted most traffic away years ago, leaving behind only scattered reminders of the businesses that once depended on travelers rolling through town.

Still, that’s part of what makes these comparisons so interesting. You start noticing little details — a surviving building, a curve in the road, an old railroad crossing — and suddenly the old photos don’t feel quite so distant.

I was pretty confident I’d find a few roadside ghosts here, and the research definitely didn’t disappoint. It’s been a fun way to learn more about this “town” — even if Memphis is technically considered a census-designated place rather than an actual incorporated town.

And honestly, projects like this have been a pretty good cure for cabin fever too.