Chess at the Business Men's Club & Cotton Exchange

Cotton Exchange

Business Men's Club

The Memphis Chess Club formerly met at an earlier Cotton Exchange Building from 1904 - 1905 and at the Business Men's Club from April 30, 1906 - 1934.

On March 15, 2011 chess was played once again at the historical Cotton Exchange on Union Ave, and the former Business Men's Club on Monroe Ave, in Memphis Tennessee.  Through a series of contacts with the Turley Company, my wife and I were able to meet with Mr. Henry Turley.  He was generous in sharing time with us and showing us around his buildings despite his busy schedule.  Exhibiting fine Southern hospitality, he gave us the grand tour of his office complex within the Cotton Exchange.  After enjoying the view of the river and the downtown area from his office, he and I engaged in a quick round of chess where I played the Sicilian against his e4.  After his business associate had Mr. Turley sign some paperwork, we exited onto Union Avenue, and he escorted us across the street to what used to be the Business Men's Club at 81 Monroe Ave.  Just as we reached the second floor from the marble staircase, Mr. Turley challenged me to another round of chess in which I had the white pieces and played the English.  This time we discussed strategy and tactics more than playing the game.  After the session, Mr. Turley had to move on to his next appointment.  He was quite the gentleman to my wife and I, and we are indebted to him for such a wonderful tour.

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Business Men's Club

The Business Men's Club Building

There are more pictures to view after clicking "Read more>>" at the bottom of the page.

Monroe Ave.

Brass Elevator Doors at the Cotton Exchange

 Mr. Turley's Balcony

Overlooking the Business Men's Club

Mr. Turley's Office

Exit to Union from the Cotton Exchange

Chess on the second floor of the Business Men's Club

Dropped and Forgotten Chess Pieces

Earliest Known Chess in Tennessee Cities and Towns

(abridged)

by Jerry Spinrad (with permission)
(also, with thanks to Peter Lahde for contributing material)

As part of my research on chess history for my column "New Stories about Old Chess Players" (at www.chesscafe.com), I have collected a very large file with information on 19th century chess. I decided to make a little survey of the first reference I could find to chess players in the various cities and towns of Tennessee.

The first Bon Aqua Springs Hotel 1870

Bon Aqua Springs: This city was the site of one of the most bizarre chess matches of all time, and the event was sufficiently funny that the story was told in a number of papers. A "chess player" named JC Rightor of Helena, Arkansas was staying in Bon Aqua in 1887, and boasted that he had never been beaten in the game. Bon Aqua resident Felix N Moore arranged for this supposed champion to play AB Hodges, the best player of Nashville and perhaps of the entire South. Hodges, of course, beat him repeatedly, also while giving odds, playing blindfold, and in every way a person could show superiority; Hodges account of this "match" is quite amusing, and shows that sometimes a local reputation as a great player may be less impressive than it seems to be!