“Sweet Auburn” A Topical Repost from FaceBook
My low-budget contribution to Black History Month. Going backwards, at top (beneath), a repost, and starting point for a journey from the King Memorial headed west on Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, AKA “Sweet Auburn.” The crazy format is a spillover from my “two for one” FaceBook posting style.
Two portions of Wheat Street Baptist Church, 355 Auburn Ave. NE, acccessible at this link: http://wheatstreet.org/
Here is a link to their FaceBook page:https://www.facebook.com/WheatStreetBC
They have been on operation for 145 years.
At top (beneath), Haugabrooks Funeral Home, 364 Auburn Ave. whose particulars are to be seen at their website: http://www.haugabrooks.com/
At bottom, the Prince Hall Masonic Building, 330 Auburn Ave., owned by the “Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge.” Masons are dying out these days. They are not very scripturally kosher in their ritual. All I know about them I learned by reading Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” and an association with one particular Mason who was not only a bad representative of the order, but a bad representative of the human race. Catholics have been traditionally at loggerheads with Masons. The Atlanta Masons have a cool “Temple” on Peachtree, right beside the Amtrack Station.
At top (beneath), 320 Auburn Ave., headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, accessed at this link: http://nationalsclc.org/
At bottom, John Wesley Dobbs Plaza, named for the unofficial “mayor” of Sweet Auburn; here is a link to more info on him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Dobbs
The curved wall is a relative of the sculpture of Richard Serra, who is not African-American. Here is a link about him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Serra
At top (beneath), 302 Auburn Ave., a beautiful image. It may not be historical, but property tax data reveals that this 1/10 acre lot is assessed at over $300,000. It may soon sprout 10 or 12 condos. At bottom, the “barn” for the new Atlanta Streetcar Line, which connects the King Center to the hotel district. This “barn” sits off Auburn underneath the I-75/85 viaduct that bifurcates the street. The city did not waste any money attempting to decorate the trolley shed.
At top (beneath), 260 Auburn Ave., just west of the viaduct, and too picturesque to not be included in this gallery. At bottom, a view up the hill featuring the historic Odd Fellows Building and Auditorium in the foreground, and the spire of Big Bethel Church in the background.
At top (beneath), a side entrance to 238 Auburn Ave, the Odd Fellows Building and Auditorium, built in 1912-13, and described on this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/…/Odd_Fellows_Building_and_Auditor…
The vent at the left of the doors is for the woks at “Wok and Roll,” a Chinese place that is both good and affordable. Their undocumented cooks live just nextdoor. The sculptural detail at bottom exhibits African features, as did the builders of the enormous Odd Fellows Building.
At top (beneath), more picturesque ruins at 238 Auburn Ave., directly accross from the Odd Fellows Building. Judging by discoveries later in the tour, the phenomenal expansion of Georgia State University may soon lay claim to this parcel. At bottom, a deteriorating image on the north side of the same abandoned building, featuring a quote attributed (incorrectly, it seems) to Dr. King: ““In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” This was addenda by Penn Jillette to an accurrate quotation, ““I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.”
At top (beneath: these tortured directions are a response to the relocation of this material from the fickle and untrustworthy homemadegospel FaceBook site), 220 Auburn Avenue, featuring a giant mural of John L. Lewis, (previously featured here), Big Bethel AME Church (looking kind of like the Kremlin in this view), and a cameo appearance by the Atlanta Streetcar. Here is a link to the church: http://www.bigbethelame.org/
At bottom, a close-up of the spire, featuring a message you need to be aware of, if you are not already. Gene Scott’s LA Church featured similar signage.
At top (beneath), 208 Auburn Avenue, the “Big Bethel AME Zion Church Federal Credit Union,” sitting on 2/10 acres valued at $1,340,800. The building’s elevation is a product of the “streamline moderne” phase of art deco. At bottom, a slight digression south down Butler Street, featuring the recently evacuated YMCA. Some former resident accidently set a fire in his room. The “Y” leaders thought this a good pretext to go ahead and close the facility. They still operate a recreational center just across the street.
At top (beneath), the “Royal Peacock,” 186 Auburn Ave. Their website has been hacked. Here is a link to their FaceBook site: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Royal-Peacock/116096898478836
I wish them better luck with FaceBook than I experience. This club is a hub for all things Caribbean, but “Open Mic Night” may be less focused. As an Adventist, I must avoid this venue as being too “worldly.” There are many, many Caribbeans at my church. At bottom, 171 Auburn Avenue, testament to the diversity of this area. It is “Modern Tribe,” a source for your Jewish Bling, and worth a short visit to their site: http://moderntribe.com/
At top (beneath), across Auburn Ave. from John Calhoun Park, it is “Renaissance Walk and Condominiums.” It is brand new, and nice, and Big Bethel may have somthing to do with it. The name “renaissance” drives me crazy everytime it is used. It is self-congradulatory, and insinuates a pre-existing (real or imagined) state of decrepitude. At bottom, the overwhelming and somewhat ostentatious Atlanta Life Building, now bearing the prestigious address “100 Auburn Avenue,” and controlled by Geaorgia State University. The Atlanta Life Insurance empire was founded by Alonzo Herndon, the richest black man in town back in the day, and subject of this Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alonzo_Herndon
At top (beneath), 142 Auburn Ave, an older home to Alonzo Herndon’s Atlanta Life Insurance Company. It acquired this classical facelift in 1927. It is too historic to demolish, but too costly restore at this time. Here is a link about it: http://sweetauburn.us/atlife.htm
Below, the 1928 “Southern Bell” Building (ruined by a microwave tower they stuck on top), and the terminus of this New Year’s Day tour. According to the Fulton County property tax map, the phone company, just like religious institutions, pays no property tax.
Two portions of Wheat Street Baptist Church, 355 Auburn Ave. NE, acccessible at this link: http://wheatstreet.org/
Here is a link to their FaceBook page:https://www.facebook.com/WheatStreetBC
They have been on operation for 145 years.
At top (beneath), Haugabrooks Funeral Home, 364 Auburn Ave. whose particulars are to be seen at their website: http://www.haugabrooks.com/
At bottom, the Prince Hall Masonic Building, 330 Auburn Ave., owned by the “Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge.” Masons are dying out these days. They are not very scripturally kosher in their ritual. All I know about them I learned by reading Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” and an association with one particular Mason who was not only a bad representative of the order, but a bad representative of the human race. Catholics have been traditionally at loggerheads with Masons. The Atlanta Masons have a cool “Temple” on Peachtree, right beside the Amtrack Station.
At top (beneath), 320 Auburn Ave., headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, accessed at this link: http://nationalsclc.org/
At bottom, John Wesley Dobbs Plaza, named for the unofficial “mayor” of Sweet Auburn; here is a link to more info on him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Dobbs
The curved wall is a relative of the sculpture of Richard Serra, who is not African-American. Here is a link about him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Serra
At top (beneath), 302 Auburn Ave., a beautiful image. It may not be historical, but property tax data reveals that this 1/10 acre lot is assessed at over $300,000. It may soon sprout 10 or 12 condos. At bottom, the “barn” for the new Atlanta Streetcar Line, which connects the King Center to the hotel district. This “barn” sits off Auburn underneath the I-75/85 viaduct that bifurcates the street. The city did not waste any money attempting to decorate the trolley shed.
At top (beneath), 260 Auburn Ave., just west of the viaduct, and too picturesque to not be included in this gallery. At bottom, a view up the hill featuring the historic Odd Fellows Building and Auditorium in the foreground, and the spire of Big Bethel Church in the background.
At top (beneath), a side entrance to 238 Auburn Ave, the Odd Fellows Building and Auditorium, built in 1912-13, and described on this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/…/Odd_Fellows_Building_and_Auditor…
The vent at the left of the doors is for the woks at “Wok and Roll,” a Chinese place that is both good and affordable. Their undocumented cooks live just nextdoor. The sculptural detail at bottom exhibits African features, as did the builders of the enormous Odd Fellows Building.
At top (beneath), more picturesque ruins at 238 Auburn Ave., directly accross from the Odd Fellows Building. Judging by discoveries later in the tour, the phenomenal expansion of Georgia State University may soon lay claim to this parcel. At bottom, a deteriorating image on the north side of the same abandoned building, featuring a quote attributed (incorrectly, it seems) to Dr. King: ““In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” This was addenda by Penn Jillette to an accurrate quotation, ““I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy.”
At top (beneath: these tortured directions are a response to the relocation of this material from the fickle and untrustworthy homemadegospel FaceBook site), 220 Auburn Avenue, featuring a giant mural of John L. Lewis, (previously featured here), Big Bethel AME Church (looking kind of like the Kremlin in this view), and a cameo appearance by the Atlanta Streetcar. Here is a link to the church: http://www.bigbethelame.org/
At bottom, a close-up of the spire, featuring a message you need to be aware of, if you are not already. Gene Scott’s LA Church featured similar signage.
At top (beneath), 208 Auburn Avenue, the “Big Bethel AME Zion Church Federal Credit Union,” sitting on 2/10 acres valued at $1,340,800. The building’s elevation is a product of the “streamline moderne” phase of art deco. At bottom, a slight digression south down Butler Street, featuring the recently evacuated YMCA. Some former resident accidently set a fire in his room. The “Y” leaders thought this a good pretext to go ahead and close the facility. They still operate a recreational center just across the street.
At top (beneath), the “Royal Peacock,” 186 Auburn Ave. Their website has been hacked. Here is a link to their FaceBook site: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Royal-Peacock/116096898478836
I wish them better luck with FaceBook than I experience. This club is a hub for all things Caribbean, but “Open Mic Night” may be less focused. As an Adventist, I must avoid this venue as being too “worldly.” There are many, many Caribbeans at my church. At bottom, 171 Auburn Avenue, testament to the diversity of this area. It is “Modern Tribe,” a source for your Jewish Bling, and worth a short visit to their site: http://moderntribe.com/
Below (and without a Siamese twin image), 145 Auburn Ave., the illustrious home of the Atlanta Daily World. Here is a link to their website: http://atlantadailyworld.com/
Here is a link to some history of the fabled entrprise: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Daily_World
Here is a link to some history of the fabled entrprise: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Daily_World
At top (beneath): I was terribly confused about the name of this small Auburn Ave, park until I did some research for this posting. I was raised near South Carolinian John C. Calhoun’s native turf, and knew him to be a fervent advocate of “state’s rights.” But the John Calhoun this park honors is a very different character. He, too, was from South Carolina, but was an advocate for “civil rights.” Here is a link to his obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/…/john-calhoun-88-a-longtime-fighter…
At bottom, and across the street from John Calhoun Park, 60 Piedmont Ave., a neat building from the forties or fifties that is now controlled by Georgia State University, first of a series of similarly recycled structure on or near Auburn.
At bottom, and across the street from John Calhoun Park, 60 Piedmont Ave., a neat building from the forties or fifties that is now controlled by Georgia State University, first of a series of similarly recycled structure on or near Auburn.
At top (beneath), across Auburn Ave. from John Calhoun Park, it is “Renaissance Walk and Condominiums.” It is brand new, and nice, and Big Bethel may have somthing to do with it. The name “renaissance” drives me crazy everytime it is used. It is self-congradulatory, and insinuates a pre-existing (real or imagined) state of decrepitude. At bottom, the overwhelming and somewhat ostentatious Atlanta Life Building, now bearing the prestigious address “100 Auburn Avenue,” and controlled by Geaorgia State University. The Atlanta Life Insurance empire was founded by Alonzo Herndon, the richest black man in town back in the day, and subject of this Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alonzo_Herndon
At top (beneath), 142 Auburn Ave, an older home to Alonzo Herndon’s Atlanta Life Insurance Company. It acquired this classical facelift in 1927. It is too historic to demolish, but too costly restore at this time. Here is a link about it: http://sweetauburn.us/atlife.htm
Below, the 1928 “Southern Bell” Building (ruined by a microwave tower they stuck on top), and the terminus of this New Year’s Day tour. According to the Fulton County property tax map, the phone company, just like religious institutions, pays no property tax.
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