Wordless

This is the boyhood home of President Woodrow Wilson and is located in Augusta, Georgia.

          You can visit their website here

Other bloggers post wordless images on Wednesday , too. Visit the main page HERE to find them.

A Few Remarks Regarding Labor for Labor Day

It seems appropriate this close to Labor Day to remember a few labor disputes in Atlanta surrounding the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill.

In August, 1887 a strike occurred when the owners of the mill decided to hire 25 black women to work alongside whites. Over 200 women and 400 men walked out. The strike lasted five days and even the New York Times took notice.

During the 1880s hundreds of women and children arrived at the doors of mills across the state asking for work because mill owners provided decent housing….something that was sorely lacking in Georgia at the time. By 1890, the New Georgia Encyclopedia states of the total of mill employees across the state 39 percent were men, 37 percent were women, and 24 percent were children.

Another more serious strike occurred in 1934 when various mills all over Georgia experienced walk outs. This strike is normally referred to in Georgia history as the General Textile Strike of 1934 or the Uprising of ’34. It wasn’t just a Georgia strike but included workers in the North as well as across the South. Approximately 44,000 workers walked out in Georgia. New Georgia Encyclopedia reports violence was scattered throughout the state including the towns of Cedartown, Columbus, Macon, and Porterdale. There were deaths in Trion and Augusta.

You can find an archive of historical images and information at the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill Digital Collection managed by the Georgia Tech Archives and Record Management.

Today, the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mills now houses loft apartments for folks who want to live in Atlanta…..It’s nice to see historic locations preserved and used for more than just another museum as this video shows:

Wordless

Happy Wednesday!

Isn’t this an interesting looking lady?

She is Etheldra Prothro King……Mrs. Walter Ernest – and she is dressed to go to the opera….can’t imagine one in Cuthbert where she was from, so she must have traveled to Augusta…..or perhaps she was traveling to the Springer Opera House in Columbus.

The picture vault at the Georgia Archives lists her as president of the garden club in Cuthbert and instrumental in the Iris Garden. The garden still exists today…..This link shows students from Andrew College working in the garden.

Other bloggers post wordless images on Wednesday , too. Visit the main page HERE to find them.

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Two Randolph Counties?!?

If you dig a little bit you discover that Georgia has not had one, but two Randolph Counties. One that was created in 1807, but five years later the name was changed to Jasper County. Jasper County has the distinction of being the home of Trisha Yearwood – country singing star. The second Randolph County was created in 1828 from a portion of Lee County, and has the distinction of claiming the very first pecan tree brought to Georgia from Texas – the mother tree that gave birth to the pecan industry here in Georgia.

So, why did the first Randolph County become Jasper County? The answer is very simple. Both Randolph Counties were named for John Randolph, a United States Senator who claimed Pocahontas as an ancestor. He is quite an interesting character, but THAT is story for another day. I can tell you that when he became the master of his family’s plantation he took to referring to himself as John Randolph of Roanoke…..the name of the plantation, because he didn’t want to be confused with a relative known as “Possum John”. Oh my…….my mind is turning over several possible reasons for that moniker!

It seems the Georgia General Assembly took offense to John Randolph’s negative position regarding the War of 1812…..In fact, the declaration of war was passed by Congress by the smallest margin recorded on a war vote….so Randolph wasn’t the only Congressman who objected to going to war with Britain, but the esteemed men of the General Assembly wanted to make a point to the Senator, and they had his name stricken from the records. It was only later following the war when minds forgot his infraction that the second and current Randolph County was birthed.

Atlanta: Mysteries, Myths and Urban Legends

I have lived in Atlanta all my life and her mysteries, myths and urban legends never cease to amaze me. Her citizens and visitors alike walk over hallowed battle grounds every day and pass locations with significant or quirky history that is often ignored or overlooked.

Coca-Cola is about as Atlanta as you can get and their unique bottle design is recognized all over the world. Many people believe the shape was modeled after hobble-skirts popular in 1916 when the bottle design was approved. The company website mentions this. Still others including various Coca-Cola museum employees in Atlanta and Las Vegas state there was a desire to make the bottle into the shape of the kola nut or coca leaf since those two items are key in making the official drink of Atlanta. The story goes a researcher was sent out to discover the exact shape of the items but a mistake was made along the way since the bottle actually resembles the shape of a cacao tree seed pod which yields chocolate. Another theory advises the shape of the bottle actually has to do with a sense of recognition by feel. Back in the day the only way to get an icy cold Coke was to place the bottles in containers full of ice. The company wanted to make sure when patrons stuck their hands down in the icy slush they emerged with a Coke and not the drink of a competitor. The unusual shape helped to identify their product by feel.

More times than not when you locate a Lowe’s Home Improvement Center in Atlanta you will also find a Home Depot close by. Though the two companies are fierce competitors they seem to like to cohabitate the same area. The explanation has become an urban legend that has gone awry. It has also reached viral email proportions. A popular email chain letter that makes the rounds every so often states the reason for the close relationship has to do with a marital feud. The story goes a wife of one of the Home Depot founders was jilted and in retaliation she began the Lowe’s business. This is terrible misinformation as both companies were founded by men. Lowe’s began in 1946 while Home Depot hit the scene in 1978.

A little mystery surrounds Lenox Mall – the first major shopping mall in Georgia. A huge boulder was unearthed when developers were clearing the land. What made this rock so special is it bore the name Colonel McCormack. Researchers poured over Civil War rolls but no connections were ever made that could explain the boulder carving or how it came to be on the property.

Hundreds of people walk by an interesting cornerstone every day at the Carnegie Street entrance for the Peachtree Center MARTA Station. What they do not realize is the cornerstone does not refer to the station. It was the cornerstone for a building that stood on the property prior to the station being built. Jasper Newton Smith was a real estate investor who owned the commercial building that sat at the station site. Mr. Smith stipulated that if the building was ever torn down the cornerstone could not leave the property. It hasn’t. That was not the end of Mr. Smith’s eccentricity. He is resting quietly at Oakland Cemeterywith a life-size statue of himself sitting on top of his grave.

Atlanta has been known by several other names. School children learn all about Standing Peachtree which dates back to Indian times, Terminus which referred to the eastern end of the rail line that ended in Atlanta , and Marthasville named after the daughter of a Georgia governor, but many do not realize Atlanta was also known as Thrasherville at one time. John Thrasher was an employee of the Western and Atlantic Railroad. He and his crew lived in what is today downtown Atlanta while the rails were being laid and eventually Thrasher had a few homes and general store there. a state historical marker tells of Thrashers importance to the city of Atlanta located outside the Federal Reserve Bank on Marietta Street. Another tale explains how Atlanta got her name. Apparently an employee of the Western and Atlantic Railroad suggested the settlement should be called Atlantica-Pacifica but thankfully it was shortened to Atlanta. Instead of current citizens telling people they are from the A-T-L, they could be saying they hail from the A and P.

Sadly the battle that began Sherman’s March to the Sea – the Battle of Atlanta - remains somewhat of a mystery to citizens of Atlanta as well as her many visitors. The area where the fighting occurred is very heavily commercialized today and few markers tell the story. Most people simply know the story of the battle through the movie Gone with the Wind which makes it seem like the battle was one very long day as Miss Melanie was giving birth to Ashley’s baby, but in actuality the battle was a four month long siege and consisted of smaller battles such as the Battle of Peachtree Creek and the Battle of Ezra Church. The Atlanta Cyclorama is the best place to get a true feel for the battle.

The very emblem for the city of Atlanta contains a myth. A phoenix, a mythical bird from ancient times is depicted on the city’s seal. A phoenix will burn to ashes and then rise again. The cycle is thought to be a continuous process and fits the image of Atlanta dating back to the burning of Atlanta during the Civil War. A very popular statue in Atlanta titled From the Ashes aka The Phoenix Statue resides in Woodruff Park. Originally it was commissioned from sculptor Jim Segler by Rich’s Department Store. The statue depicts a woman holding a phoenix above her head. The statue symbolizes Atlanta’s comeback and rebirth of the Civil War as well as recognizes the 100th birthday of the department store in 1967.

Monday Morning in Georgia

I’m a real fan of those snapshot in time activities – you know – the ones where you get an idea regarding what people are doing at the same moment across various locations.

I’ve always wanted to assign students to head off in all directions across campus armed with disposable cameras and synchronized watches. Then at the appointed time they snap pictures and take a few notes. The result would be a snapshot of our school at a particular moment in time.

Think about it – there would be images of students taking notes, students on the playground, a student checking in late, some classes working on math while others are learning a song on their recorder in music class.

A cacophony of learning – with the whole representing our school.

So, let me tie in the painting I’ve posted here. The title is Monday Morning in Georgia, and the artist is Gertrude Horton. I love the scene in this painting. Look at the lady at the washtub with what looks to be sheets she is washing. My eye carries to the lady sitting in the doorway with the child and of course, the man in the foreground really gets my attention. I love his stance. There is quiet a story going on here.

The painting belongs to a friend of mine and his wife and when I was in their home recently for dinner they shared it with me and I could resist share it with you.

The painting strikes several chords of interest with me.

First – Georgia is mentioned in the title.

Second – the history of the painting is interesting. The label on the painting advises the title and the artist. It also says the painting was commissioned as part of the Public Works of Art Program in 1934 for the 5th region where J.J. Haverty was the director. The painting hung in the Washington D.C. office of Congressman Richard Ramspeck from Decatur, Georgia. His biography can be found here.

My friend’s grandfather, Thomas Lee Camp, served as a staff assistant for Ramspeck, and at some point the painting was given to him. I would identify my friends but the label on the painting also says “property of the United States government”. I’d hate for the government to suddenly want their painting back, however I think the painting was retired from the inventory and that is the reason Ramspeck gave it to my friend's grandfather.

The Public Works of Art Program was part of the New Deal during the Depression and the purpose was to employ artists. It was the first government program to support the arts nationally.

From December, 1933 to June, 1934 over 3600 men and women took part in a general assignment that asked for works to portray the American scene. The artists had the complete freedom to create except for a certain few pieces. The best part about painting and all of the works completed for this program is they are a snapshot of life in all parts of the country.

The public works of Art paintings are some of the best sources of analyzing how people were living in the early days of the Depression.

A cacophony of life – representing the Depression.

Represented here is just one little sliver of Georgia during that time.

Links:

An article from a magazine titled Survey Graphic, 1934 regarding the Public Works of Art Program

My article at History Is Elementary regarding the Coit Tower paintings which were also part of the Public Works of Art Program

The Smithsonian collection of works from this program found here.

Shared Space

I have never thought of myself as a groupie but I just may have to reconsider after visiting Hemingway’s on the Marietta Square last weekend to see a high school acquaintance perform. I’m ready to pack my bag and become a camp follower of sorts.

Jeff Pike is a bona fide Woodward Academy man having matriculated all twelve years at my alma mater. He and I weren’t friends in school as far as I can remember. In fact, he was a year ahead of me, and I doubt he ever knew who I was until we linked up on Facebook mainly because at one time we shared academic space – evidence enough that we are family of sorts…something akin to being blood brothers or sisters for life.

Right?

Actually…..I had seen several of Jeff’s Facebook updates regarding where he was performing next, so decided to see what the fuss was about and share some more space with him.

I’m glad I did.

First, the venue – Hemingway’s is a wonderful neighborhood bar and restaurant located on the square in Marietta, Georgia with lots of atmosphere. It’s been around since 1993 and is dubbed Atlanta’s “Parrothead Paradise” by the Atlanta Journal. There are plenty of tables inside and out on the patio yet the place isn’t too large. As Goldilocks would say the place is just right.

A long stacked stone bar was occupied with various patrons of all ages when I arrived, so I found a quiet table in the back where I could see the stage. The staff was moving about the place serving everyone with a smile, and doing exactly what I like – they look you in the eye and they check back often. Of course, as I looked around the place and noticed the molded tin ceiling tiles and the exposed foundation rock that can be seen as you traverse the stairs to the restrooms, I wondered about the history of the location…however, that will have to be another story for another time.

Now on to the Jeff Pike Trio, or JP3….This particular Sunday the trio consisted of Jeff Pike and Chaz McDonald…sadly, the third member James Cobb , was absent, but I’m sure I’ll meet up with him soon enough since I’ve decided to become a groupie.

One thing is for sure…..they know showmanship is more than standing on a stage and strumming a guitar.

Jeff expertly words a room making each and every person free welcome and takes the time to greet every person during his breaks asking for requests, visiting with people he’s performed for before, and getting to know new folks. He even make Elementaryhistoryteacher….ME…..who tends to stick to herself wallowing in her quirkiness with iphone and her current writing project (Yes, I take it everywhere I go) feel special and welcome. Thanks, Jeff!

Jeff and Chaz’s performance was just plain fun for laid back entertainment. Each set was filled with interplay between the audience and the performers that included several requested songs from the catalogs of Bob Segar, the Allman Brothers, Elvis and the Eagles. The best part of the afternoon was the Jimmy Buffet favorites such as It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere and A Pirate Looks at Forty

The afternoon evaporated all too quickly while soccer and baseball flickering on the large screen televisions scattered about Hemingway’s melted into golf. Song after song rocked me, relaxed me, and reminded me of times long past. Outside cars rushed by, people meandered down the sidewalk and families frolicked in the park as we became lost in the entertainment.

You can find out more about Jeff Pike and his wonderful career at his website found here and more about A1A, Jeff’s band that is known far and wide for presenting the Official and Original Jimmy Buffet Tribute show here.

Go on.....find out where Jeff will be performing next. Share some space with him. You won't regret it.