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Name: Fire Station No. 5 (Company 5)

Location:  278 Trinity Avenue (formerly Peters Street)

As you may recall from my previous posts, you can tell that the downtown Atlanta area is full of abandoned historical buildings, as well as what remains of a former historical dwelling or building. One of many remnants of Atlanta’s past is the Fire Station No. 5 park located t 278 Trinity Avenue, formerly known as Peters Street.

A further investigation concerning Fire Station No. 5 reveals that Trinity Avenue was not it’s the first location and most certainly isn’t its final location presently.

According to Mike Legeros, author of “Atlanta Former and Historic Fire Stations,” the original location of Fire Station No. 5 was on Foundry and Marietta street in 1871 in a stable. The original name for the fire station, chartered October 15, 1871, was Gate City Fire Company No. 5. However, it’s location on Foundry and Marietta Streets would be temporary until a permanent location was built. Unfortunately, the original building that housed Fire Company No. 5 is no longer standing.

Fire Company No. 5 moved into its new headquarters at 28 E. Foundry Street on February 25, 1879, and remained there until 1882. The cost of the new building was billed at $1,500, which would cost a whopping $34,651.38 in today’s money figures. Unfortunately, Company No. 5 was disbanded on June 20, 1882, when the city of Atlanta created paid fire departments.

Eight years after the disbanding of Gate City Fire Station No. 5 in 1882, Company No. 5 was reorganized on December 1, 1890 with its new location at 44 West Peters Street. The company’s new location appeared for the first time on Sanborn Maps around 1892. Below, you can see that the company was simply referred to as “Engine No. 5.” Company

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In 1911, the name of Company No. 5’s fire station location on W. Peters street is listed as Atlanta Fire  Department, Engine No. 5″ according to a 1911 Sanborn Map. The map also lists the company as having 11 men and 9 horses.

In 1921 the Atlanta Fire Station No. 5 is listed in the Atlanta City Directory as well,  including the name of the fire captain at the time. According to the Atlanta City Directory, paid Atlanta fire departments were organized July 1, 1882. The directory goes on to mention the names of the fire chief, captains, lieutenants, etc. for each department.

Perhaps the expansion of the paid Atlanta Fire Department was the catalyst behind Fir Company No. 5’s new building to be erected at the same site as the previous building that housed the company from 1890-1927. By 1928, West Peter’s street was now named Trinity Avenue and the new address for Company No. 5 was 278 Trinity Avenue. Company No. 5 would remain at the 278 Trinity Avenue location from 1927 – 1965.

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On July 1965, Company No. 5 relocated for the 5th time, though it would not be its last relocation. The 1965 location for Company No. 5 was 414 Central Avenue a few blocks away. The original 1927 fire station was deemed “vintage” and no longer suitable for modern day fire department equipment. The old location on 278 Trinity Avenue was demolished and marked with a placard that remains to this day. It is now known as Fire Station No. 5 park, located at the corners Spring St. and Trinity Avenue. Remnants of the brick walls that housed the 1927 Fire Station No. 5 remain visible. Unfortunately, after nineteen years on Central Avenue, Fire Station No. 5 would once again face uncertainty.

In order to make way for new construction of the downtown interstate connector, Fire Station No. 5 was closed after May 24, 1984. As a result of the demolition of the Central Avenue station, Company No. 5 disbanded June 30, 1984. Company No. 5 would go on to regroup as Squad No. 5, becoming the City of Atlanta’s Hazardous Materials Response Team; Fire Engine No. 5 was donated to Fire Company No. 9 and Squad 5 would go on to operate out of Fire Station No. 1. Fire Station No. 5’s building wasn’t fully demolished until 1988. Company 5 would ultimately reorganize in June of 1991 at a South West Atlanta location on 2825 Campbellton Road SW.

The new location would go on to house the most updated, state-of-the-art fire fighting equipment. As of 2001, only a handful of historic Atlanta Fire Department stations remain. Station No. 6 on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive remains and has been converted into a museum for the National Park Service. Built in 1894, and currently located in Sweet Auburn, remained in service until 1991. It is currently a part of the Martin Luther King Jr. historic district and serves as a museum. Museum goers will be treated to the history of Fire Station No. 16, which was the first fire station to be desegregated. African-American neighborhoods were not serviced by all-white fire departments as late as the 1940’s! An article from April 1949 edition of the Atlanta Daily World newspaper, highlights the need for desegregation of Atlanta’s Fire Departments. Fire Station No. 16 museum will hopefully mention this issue as it provides visitors with the history of the Atlanta Fire Department as a whole.

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Currently view of 414 Central Avenue, home to the 5th relocation of Company No. 5.

Sources:

1. http://legeros.com/history/atlanta/atlanta.pdf
2. History of Service: Atlanta Fire Department Commemorative Yearbook, vol. 1 (Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company, 2001).
3. Sanborn Maps
4. https://www.nps.gov/malu/learn/historyculture/fsn6-brief-history.htm
5. “Mayor Ragsdale and Chief Cody Preside at Barbecue as Station no. 5 is Opened.” 1927.The Atlanta Constitution (1881-1945), Jul 16, 7. http://ezproxy.gsu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.gsu.edu/docview/500009602?accountid=11226.
6. Jackson, Marion E. 1949. “Atlanta One of Large Southern Cities with no Negro Fire Unit.” Atlanta Daily World (1932-2003), Apr 20, 1. http://ezproxy.gsu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.gsu.edu/docview/490878782?accountid=11226.

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Name: M.C. Kiser Shoe Company

Location: 141 Trinity Ave, Atlanta, GA 30303

Downtown Atlanta is littered with ornate, abandoned buildings just waiting to be restored back to their former glory. The downtown area is attracting developers as of late, in hopes of revitalizing the once bustling downtown area. As recently as March of 2016, developers were considering converting historic downtown structures into high-end apartments or lofts. One building, in particular, is the well-preserved former shoe factory named M.C. Kiser Company. Built in 1923, the M.C. Kiser Company was once home to one of the most in-demand shoe manufacturers in the S.E. As of late, the project must have stalled because the building remains empty. Oddly enough, it rests two blocks away from the supposed “Upton Hotel.” After a bit of research, I stumbled across local newspaper articles about the M.C. Kiser Company, detailing its rise from a small shoe manufacturing to a larger show manufacturing company in 1923.

The picture above was printed in the Atlanta Constitution on September 2, 1923, announcing the opening of the new home of the M.C. Kiser Company. Advertised as “conveniently located at the corner of South Pryor Street and Trinity Avenue, just two blocks from the main shopping district,” the Shield Bran shoe manufacturing company’s new home would mark its third move in the thirty-year existence of M.C. Kiser shoe manufacturing company. Their new home boasts 60,000 sq. ft., sunlit rooms, brick facade, and terra-cotta trimmings. Below, is a snippet of the article that accompanied the above picture.

Not too long after the opening of the new home to the Shield Bran shoe manufacturer, M.C. Kiser Company boasts even high sales. The article also mentions the company’s previous location, which apparently was located 17 East Hunter Street, which is now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Yet another 1923  article after the company moved into their new location.

Source:  M. C. KISER COMPANY DOING BIG BUSINESS
The Atlanta Constitution (1881-1945); Nov 4, 1923;
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Atlanta Constitution
pg. C7A

1919 article in the Atlanta Constitution speaking of the successes of the M.C. Kiser shoe manufacturing company.

In a previous post from March of 2017, I began researching the large, ornate early 20th-century abandoned building on Forsyth Street. Listed as the Upton Hotel on the Atlanta Preservation Center’s website, it appears that the building was never a hotel, to begin with.  This would explain the near impossibility of locating any historical documents mentioning an “Upton Hotel,” it’s as if it vanished into thin air. Initially, construction was planned for a hotel in 1905 to take advantage of the newly constructed Terminus train station nearby.

Apparently, these plans never took place and the “hotel” became a rented space for various businesses over the years. Kudos to local historian Kyle Kessler for revealing the truth behind the “Upton Hotel.” Over the years, the building served anywhere from a 1930’s trunk repair shop, 1970’s pet shop, Dunbar & Sewell brokers firm in 1920, to a 1919 Jos Sykes Bros card clothing company.  Occupied by renters in the early 2000’s, the building was destroyed by a fire in 2002, leaving only a weakened shell.

Below you will find a series of photos detailing the many changes that occurred over the past 80+ years regarding the abandoned, burned shell of a building on Trinity Avenue, Atlanta, GA.

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What caused the developers to change their minds concerning the initial plans for a hotel? Why did the building go through various vacancies and short-lived leased businesses in its 91 years of operation? Perpahs the location did not prove itself to be as fruitful as the developers had hoped.

Black History Month has revealed the faces and names of notable African-American’s and their contributions to American history. Black History Month also manages to omit the names of quite a few more African-American’s that deserve recognition, even if they are relegated to being “hometown heroes.” David Tobias Howard deserves recognition during the month of February and beyond.

Through research, I’ve discovered that David T. Howard was quite accomplished and well known throughout the city of Atlanta. As a successful undertaker, Howard was lauded as premier Negro undertaker or funeral services owner, enjoying over 50 years in service.

It appears that David T. Howard was a smart businessman when it came to capitalizing off of racial segregation within the city of Atlanta.   On March 3, 1901, The Atlanta Constitution posted an article stating David T. Howard’s decision to bury all Negro paupers who otherwise could not afford funeral services. Howard’s decision allowed the poor to be buried in dignity. It was quite interesting to also see a mention of the historic Southview cemetery as well. Howard outbid two other funeral homes to win the contract at $1.24 per body. Seems kinda morbid, but it obviously worked.

Just 19 years later, the Atlanta Constitution published another article lauding the success of Howard’s business. It reads as a “rags to riches” story and a bit autobiographical as well. Howard recalls how it felt to be a free man, and how he ultimately became the owner of the fourth largest funeral home in Atlanta. As per usual, the discussion quickly segways into the political and social commentary territory. Given the era, I’d have to give Howard a pass, but if his words were spoken in today’s era they would certainly be considered controversial. His opinions on race relations and equality are similar to Booker T. Washington’s ideas where he seems to place the responsibility of racial harmony upon the backs of African-American’s. Perhaps I am misunderstanding his comments, but these comments may have sparked criticism from W.E.B. DuBois at the time.

On April 18, 1935, David T. Howard passed away. The Atlanta Constitution featured a lengthy and positive write up about the successes of David T. Howard. He’s described as a great loss to the African-American race, as well as the business world. Upon his death, several tributes to David T. Howard were conducted throughout the city, including notable performances by the Morris Brown College choir as well as the David T. Howard Highschool sextet. David T. Howard’s funeral company would eventually be taken over by his daughter Eleanor B. Murphy as mentioned in a 1942 The Atlanta Constitution article.

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Source:

From Slavery to Riches, Pioneer Negro Points Way to Racial Understanding.” The Atlanta Constitution (1881-1945), Oct 17, 1920. 1, http://ezproxy.gsu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.gsu.edu/docview/497731971?accountid=11226.

Location:  Intersection of Decatur Street and Cornelia Street

While traveling near the Inman Park-Renoyldstown neighborhood a few weeks ago, a detour from my normal route brought me to a very narrow street named Cornelia Street. Initially, I was drawn to the colorful art on the weather-beaten fence, but my eyes were immediately drawn to the weathered bricks and stairs. The old walls and stairs appear to be remnants of homes from the earlier 19th and 20th century. Using the Sanborn Fire Maps as well as the Atlanta City Directory, I was able to not only determine that homes once occupied these abandoned lots, but also found the names of the occupants.

From the Sanborn Map of 1899 above, as you can see the homes were labeled house number 14, 12, 13, 3. 5 and 6 with shops faces Decatur Street. According to the Atlanta City Directory from 1899, residents that occupied Cornelia Street were apparently desegregated, though it is unknown what occupations the residents held. In 1899, a resident by the name of I.D. Simpson occupied #5 Cornelia St. What I found most interesting was the names of the black residents who occupied houses number 8, 12 and 14. Their names were Amanda Crockett (#8), Katherine Crawley (#12), and Sallie McCall (#14).  According to the Atlanta City Directory, Katherine Crawley did not have an occupation listed, while Amanda Crockett and Sallie McCall were listed as washerwomen. Apparently, this portion of Cornelia Street was a working-class segment of the neighborhood. However, it must have been unusual for the times to have mixed-race inhabitants in 1899 Atlanta, GA. P

The above maps details Cornelia Street in 1911, a decade later than the previous map above. According to this map, R.O. Campbell Coal Company occupied a large portion of this area. Which means the area must have been working-class and rather industrial. A stark difference in contrast to the suburbs of Inman Park located not too far from Cornelia Street. According to the Atlanta City Directory, the makeup of the residents of Cornelia Street changed as well. Not a single woman occupied Cornelia Street in 1911. What’s more, the racial makeup of Cornelia Street residents changed as well. Of the 12 homes listed in the directory, only one was occupied by a person of color. The Atlanta City Directory lists residents of the 12 homes on Cornelia Street as men, with one being a man of color. Where did the women of 1899 move to and why did they move? Perhaps for better employment opportunities? Could the gender and racial change in the residents of Cornelia Street have something to do with the new R.O Campbell Coal Company across the street?

Further Reading:

1. https://archive.org/stream/atlantacitydirec1913atla#page/160/mode/2up