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Bailey: More than 150 years later, heirs claim to own Collierville Town Square

By , Daily Memphian Updated: June 28, 2024 9:05 PM CT | Published: June 28, 2024 9:00 AM CT
Clay Bailey
Daily Memphian

Clay Bailey

Clay Bailey, a lifelong Memphian, has worked as a reporter in the city four decades. He concentrated on suburban coverage for the bulk of his career, except for a stint as sports editor of The Daily Memphian when it launched in September 2018. He now is suburban editor and also serves as a freelance sports writer for The Associated Press.

I guess based on the claims of ownership this week, the name of the centerpiece of Collierville’s historic business district needs to change.

Leake Town Square.

This is going to take some getting used to.


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On Tuesday afternoon, we published a story by Collierville reporter Abigail Warren that Evan Leake who operates a business on the Town Square, says that his family owns the property. And he has documents to support his claim.

Those documents date to just after the Civil War. An interpretation of the language — like any such record where the Party of the First Part and the Party of the Second Part are hard to distinguish — may say that Leake’s family might have, maybe, possibly, could be, the owners of the square.

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Subscriber Only town of collierville Collierville Town Square Evan Leake molly mehner Clay Bailey

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