1820

Atlanta

Before it becomes Wheat Street or Auburn Avenue, this roadway is an Indian trail leading to a burial ground near present day Lawrenceville, Georgia. It also leads to 'five Indian settlements' pow wow site at what is now Five Points in downtown Atlanta.

Hardy Ivy, first white man to build a house in what is now downtown Atlanta, buys land that encompasses most of present day Auburn Avenue.

1847

Big Bethel AME Church

Lemuel Pratt Grant, a white man, who later gave 100 acres to the city for Grant Park, gives land to African Americans on which they build first church in Atlanta for African-Americans, Bethel Tabernacle (later Big Bethel) on Jenkins,. Federal troops burned the church in 1864 and afterwards, white citizens took the land away from the African Americans but Lemuel Grant returned the land to the congregation of Bethel who rebuilt their church.

1865

First school for African Americans in Atlanta

James Tate and Grandison B. Daniels organize first school for African Americans in Atlanta in Bethel Church (later Big Bethel). The School is the forerunner of Storrs School, which later becomes Atlanta University.

1866

James Tate

James Tate, "Father of African American business in Atlanta," becomes first African-American in city to own a business. Tate's enterprise is a grocery store on Walton Street in Central Business District (east of Peachtree and north of today's Marietta Street).

1867

Storrs School for African Americans

The roots of First Congregational, are embedded In the history of the American Missionary Association. In 1865 missionaries from the north and Midwest came south to work among and educate the freedmen. The ex-slaves soon petitioned for a church of their own. In 1867, after being baptized and embracing the creed and covenant, they joined with the white members of the congregation.

1868

Big Bethel AME Church

Big Bethel A.M.E. Church becomes first African American church on Auburn Avenue. Originally organized as Bethel Tabernacle in 1847, it was also first church for African-Americans in city.

1870

Wheat Street Baptist Church

The Wheat Street Baptist Church congregation grew out of Friendship Baptist Church. Reverend Andrew Jackson and six parishioners organized the congregation in 1870. The congregation moved here following the Great Fire of 1917. Robert E. Pharrow, a local Black contractor, began construction on the Gothic Revival church in 1920.

1875

National Medical Association

National Medical Association is organized by twelve African American physicians in the First Congregational Church.

1881

Morris Brown College

African Methodist Episcopal Church opens Morris Brown College in the basement of Big Bethel. It becomes the first college in Georgia established by African Americans.

1885

Morris Brown College Moves

Morris Brown College moves from Big Bethel to their own building on Houston Street.

1886

Ebenezer Baptist Church

Ebenezer Baptist Church is established on Airline Street.

1890

Auburn's Population

Only 52 of city's 28,098 African Americans live on Auburn Avenue. But as turn of century draws closer, more and more African Americans move to area.

1891

Atlanta Loan and Trust

Wesley Redding, Alonzo Herndon and Richard R. Wright establish Atlanta Loan and Trust Company on Auburn Avenue.

1893

Wheat Street becomes Auburn Avenue

Wheat Street becomes Auburn Avenue after white residents petition City Council for a name change.

1894

Butler Street YMCA

First organized in the basement of Wheat Street Baptist Church in 1894, the YMCA was located in several sites, including Big Bethel A.M.E. Church, before finding a lasting home here on Butler Street. During the early 1930's, citizenship classes were held to help prepare the Black electorate.

1895

Cotton States Exposition

During Cotton States and International Exposition, Booker T. Washington delivers his Atlanta Compromise speech supporting segregation.

1896

Gate City Drug Store

Gate City Drug Store, first such establishment for African Americans in city, opens on Auburn. Started by Dr. Moses Amos, first licensed pharmacist in Georgia, along with several local African American doctors.

1897

Henry A. Rucker

Henry A. Rucker is appointed first African American Collector of Internal Revenue for Georgia by President William McKinley.

1900

African American Businesses

Ten African American businesses and two African American professionals are on Auburn including Gate City Drug Store, Floyd Crumbly's Grocery Store and Dr. Thomas Slater.

1903

Atlanta Independent Newspaper

Atlanta Independent Newspaper is founded with Benjamin Davis as editor of this Georgia Odd Fellows publication.

1904

The Rucker Building

In 1904 Henry Rucker built the building on the corner of Piedmont Avenue and Auburn Ave as the first office building for African American's and owned by African Americans in Atlanta. It was constructed of red brick with retail space on the 1st floor and professional office space on the 2nd and 3rd floor.

The building had to be demolished in September of 2001 when a vehicle lost control and ran into the front support column causing the building to collapse. The building had been weakened by water entry.

1905

The Atlanta Life Building

Alonzo F. Herndon began Atlanta Life in 1905 when he purchased the Atlanta Protective and Benevolent Association at the request of Rev. O. James Bryant, pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church. Soon after he added other threatened aid societies into the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Company.

This structure, along with the main building, housed the Atlanta Life Insurance Company from 1936-1980. In 1980 the company moved to the adjacent modern building in photo at left.

1906

National Negro Business League

Booker T. Washington holds fifth annual convention of National Negro Business League at Big Bethel A.M.E. Church.

1906

Atlanta Race Riots

Sparked by racism, rumors and false newspaper reports, Atlanta Riot claims lives of many African Americans.

1909

Auburn Avenue Population

African Americans are in majority on Auburn Avenue. This change is prompted by racial tension, segregation laws and Atlanta Riot of 1906.

1910

Cox Brothers Funeral Home

Cox Brothers Funeral Home moves to Auburn Avenue.

1912

Silver Moon Barber Shop

Alex Harvey established the Silver Moon in 1912. He made it a favorite among Black leaders and businessmen. A good haircut was not the only attraction of the Silver Moon. The congenial atmosphere helped the shop become a meeting place for the exchange of commercial and political information.

1913

The Oddfellows Building

The Odd Fellows buildings were an unprecedented accomplishment in, size, cost, and range of facilities for the Auburn Avenue community. Benjamin J. Davis, the Grand Master of the Georgia order, presided over construction of the buildings. Davis was also the editor of the Atlanta Independent newspaper, a strong voice for the Black community between 1903 and 1928.

1914

The Oddfellows Building

Booker T. Washington dedicates Odd Fellows Complex.

1917

The Great Fire of Atlanta

Great Fire destroys many homes, businesses and churches in Auburn Avenue community.

1917

NAACP

NAACP organizes its Atlanta branch and opens offices in Odd Fellows Building.

1918

Butler Street YMCA

Construction of Butler Street YMCA begins with Alexander Hamilton as contractor. This building became a center of social life on the Avenue by providing recreation and supervised activity space for younger blacks and a meeting place for older blacks. Many of Atlanta's young black men belonged to the Y and used it as a recreation center. Vernon Jordon and Martin Luther King, Jr. are leaders influenced as youths by their membership here.

1922

Big Bethel Fire

Big Bethel Gutted by Fire.

1921

Wheat Street Baptist Church

The church has served as an important spiritual and social institution for the Sweet Auburn and Fourth Ward Communities since its inception. One example of a major institution, which began in the basement of the church, was the Butler Street Young Men's Christian Association, in 1894 by J.S. Brandon.

The dominant activity for this organization during the early years was songs and prayers on Sunday afternoons. The present edifice, constructed in August 1921, replaced the original church building destroyed by "The Great Atlanta Fire of 1917".

This Mighty Fortress on Auburn Avenue, "Where The Doors Swing Back On Welcome Hinges", as coined by Pastor Borders, remains a vibrant religious complex in the Fourth Ward Community.

1922

Ebenezer Baptist Church

Located within Atlanta's Sweet Auburn district, the reputed cradle of the civil rights movement, Ebenezer Baptist Church was the home church of Martin Luther King Jr. and arguably the movement's spiritual hub.

The church, in which King was ordained and from which he conducted many of his civil rights campaigns in the 1950s and 1960s, is now preserved as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site.

Alfred Williams, the Second pastor for the church , was an important figure in the struggle for racial equality in Atlanta. Williams was a charter member of the Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and served the organization from 1894 until his death in 1931. He led black registration and voting drives and played a pivotal role in integrating the Atlanta police force.

1924

Herndon Building.

The Herndon Building was designed and constructed in 1924 by Alonzo F. Herndon, the founder of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. At the rear of the building was the Savoy Hotel. One of the few lodging facilities opened to African Americans during the segregation era. The Atlanta School of Social Work was located on the top floor between 1925 and 1933 before moving to the Atlanta University Center.

1925

Mutual Federal Savings and Loan Association

In 1925 fifteen prominent businessmen and professionals each put up one hundred dollars and established the Atlanta Mutual Building Savings and Loan Association. The volume of business expanded in the late 1930's under the presidency of John P. Whitaker, a former registrar at Atlanta University.

1928

The Atlanta Daily World Building

The Atlanta Daily World is the oldest Black-owned daily newspaper in the United States. Founded in 1928 by William A. Scott II. The World developed a chain of more than fifty papers, sending news not covered in the white press as far west as Phoenix, Arizona.

During the Black Civil Rights era, the Daily World was criticized for not supporting sit-ins staged at several white-owned restaurants in downtown Atlanta. Advertisers threatened to pull their business if the demonstrations didn't stop.

1929

Martin Luther King, Jr. is born

Martin Luther King, Jr. is born at 501 Auburn Avenue in home of his grandparents (Rev. and Mrs. Adam Daniel Williams) and parents (Rev, and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Sr.).

1929

Haugabrooks Funeral Home

Geneva Haugabrooks opens a funeral home on Auburn Avenue.

1937

Prince Hall Masons Georgia headquarters built on Auburn Avenue.

The Prince Hall Masons Building was built under the leadership of John Wesley Dobbs, Grand Master of the Prince Hall Masons in Georgia. The Prince Hall Masons Building served as a center for planning and organizing the voting rights and civil rights movements. For a number of years, it was the home to both, the Martin Luther King led, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and WERD, the first Black-owned and operated radio station in the United States.

1938

The Top Hat Club

The Top Hat Club opened in 1938 advertising a spacious polished dance floor, "the South's only Harlem Floor Show, and the Nation's Smartest Swing Bands." In addition to national name bands, the Top Hat club was also a showcase for local talent. The club's name changed to the Royal Peacock in 1950.

1947

Atlanta Negro Voters League

John Wesley Dobbs (Grandfather of the late Mayor, Maynard Jackson) and Austin Walden establish Atlanta Negro Voters League.

1947

Bronner Brothers Building

This site was the original location of Bronner Brothers Hair Care Products. Nathaniel Bronner, the only male in the 1939 graduating class of the Apex Beauty College, established his hair care products business here in the 1950s. Constructed in 1908 by W.D. Webb, the building housed enterprises ranging from a Chinese laundry to the New Moon Bakery. Tenants of the upstairs offices included the League of Negro Women Voters, Aiston and Company Bonded Realty Brokers, and the Louise J. Finch Employment Agency.

1948

Police Precinct

On April 3, 1948 the first eight African-American police officers go on duty on Auburn Ave. They were stationed in the Butler Street YMCA.

By October 1949 African American police officers in Atlanta had two patrol cars. In 1955 there were 15 African American police officers in Atlanta.

1949

Royal Peacock Club

The building was constructed in the 1920's. In 1937, Jesse B. Blayton, Clayton R. Yates and Lorimer Milton organized a corporation known as BLMIYA, and opened the Top Hat Club on Auburn Avenue. Known as 'Club Beautiful', the Top Hat Club was considered one of the finest clubs for African-Americans in the country.

In 1949 the Royal Peacock was opened and owned by Carrie B. Cunningham. Egyptian revival became the decor (similar to the Fox Theater) and peacock feathers were cascaded down the side of the building from the street facing windows. Wednesday and Saturday performances were reserved for whites.

1949

WERD Radio Station

Jesse Blayton buys WERD radio station, first African American owned commercial radio station in US.

1953

Mutual Federal Savings and Loan

Mutual Federal Savings and Loan opens its new building on Auburn Avenue.

1956

Richest Negro Street in the World

Fortune Magazine calls Auburn Avenue "richest Negro Street in the world".

1957

Love, Law and Liberation Movement

Rev. William Holmes Borders, pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church, and six other ministers are arrested for violating bus segregation laws during Love, Law, and Liberation Movement. Their protest led to desegregation of Atlanta's public transportation system.

1960

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and his family return to Atlanta. King becomes co pastor of Ebenezer Baptist church with his father.

1961

B.B. Beamon

B.B. Beamon and partner Herman Hash buy Savoy Hotel located in Herndon Building on Auburn. Beamon also opens 24-hour restaurant next to hotel.

1960's

Civil Rights Movement

Civil Rights Movement is at its peak in early 1960s. Many ministers and social activists of Auburn community involved.

1963

Martin Luther King, Jr. wins Nobel Peace Prize.

1964

The Walden Building, an annex of the Butler Street YMCA opens

The Walden Building is named for Austin T. Walden, who became Georgia's first Black judge in 1964. He fought for school integration, voters rights, and brought suit in lynching cases. As Democratic co-chairman of the Atlanta Negro Voters League, Walden became one of the most powerful men in Atlanta politics.

1969

The Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social change

The Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social change is established by his wife, Coretta Scott King. The Center on Auburn Avenue opens to the public in 1981.

1970

The Decline of Auburn Avenue

The decline of Auburn Avenue was caused by desegregation, urban renewal, and construction of downtown expressway connector.

1970s

The Decline of Auburn Avenue

Several groups create plans for revitalization of Auburn Avenue.

1980

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic District.

An act of U.S. Congress declares portions of Auburn community, including King Birth Home, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic District.

1986

Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday becomes a national holiday.

2006

Coretta Scott King Dies

Coretta Scott King, wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., dies at the age of 79. She is buried next to her husband at the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Social Change.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Original Content Courtesy of The Atlanta Preservation Center and the City of Atlanta