The Perry Street home of the onetime Real Estate Financing Inc, a creation of Edwin Auerbach Sr. Ed returned to his insurance business after WW-II and found a tremendous need for financing of a pent-up housing market. Backed by his mother-in-law, he was able to grow a new business that dwarfed his insurance business. In 1965 he built this edifice (one floor at first), no windows allowed ere his workers would be distracted, and continued his remarkable success. One of my all-time favorite jobs (OK, Auerbach Jr was my bro-in-law). Regions Bank purchased the operation some 20 years ago and made it the bank’s real estate financing arm. Alas, when Regions bought Planters Bank of Memphis three years back, the  deal included moving the real estate operation to Memphis. Montgomery lost another feather in its cap.

-Charles Humphries