Willis F. Denny and Eugene C. Wachendorff. Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry (1906). Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta.12Pilasters and second-floor arch windows on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, AtlantaPediment on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, AtlantaPediment ornamentation on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, AtlantaEast elevation of the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, AtlantaEntrance of the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, AtlantaSpandrels, terracotta dripstones, and first-floor windows on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, AtlantaTerracotta dripstone over a first-floor window on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, AtlantaTerracotta keystone on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, AtlantaCornerstone on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, AtlantaTerracotta ornamentation on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
References
“Will Dedicate The Lyman Hall Laboratory Of Chemistry At Tech”. The Atlanta Journal, November 10, 1905, p. 1. ↩︎
“New Laboratory Ready At Tech”. The Atlanta Constitution, September 9, 1906, p. 5. ↩︎
Dan Jackson. Chas (1972). 4600 Buford Highway, Norcross, Georgia.1
This friendly fella’s name is Chas, and he’s been greeting drivers north of Norcross, Georgia for over 50 years.
Chas is made of welded iron and was designed by Dan Jackson, who was commissioned to create the sculpture circa 1972 by the owner of R&R Auto Parts,2 later succeeded by GO Pull-It.
Location of Chas
Chas was apparently named for Charles Newport, an employee of R&R Auto Parts from 1969 to 1977, although the figure was reportedly modeled after Newport’s brother.3
Sounds like bullshit, but it makes for a cute yarn.
When the nearby Buford Highway was widened to four lanes, Chas moved from the ground to the top of the sign,4 where I first met him in October 2024, following a rather muted repaint.
Chas’ face was originally white, his tongue was red, and his eyes were blue, but that’s too much color for these dreary times, I guess.
References
Carter, Rochelle. “Like Cobb’s Big Chicken, Chas statue’s a landmark”. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 19, 1997, p. J1. ↩︎
James Knox Taylor. United States Post Office and Courthouse (1910). Fairlie-Poplar, Atlanta.1234Looking at the facade of the United States Post Office and Courthouse from the northeastLooking at the south elevation of the United States Post Office and Courthouse from the westFacade and cornice of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaCornice on the facade of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaThird- and fourth-floor windows on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaSecond- and third-floor windows on the west elevation of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaNorth elevation of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaDoor and sconces on the facade of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaCornice and frieze on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaEntrance on the south elevation of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaTympanum over a door on the south elevation of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaCartouche and frieze on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaA bay of windows on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaA front door on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaOrnamental stringcourse on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaLooking up at the northeast corner of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaStringcourse on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaSecond-floor window with balcony on the facade of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaFirst-floor window on the facade of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaSecond-floor windows on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaPediments over second-floor windows on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaFirst-floor windows on the north elevation of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaStringcourse, window arch, and a keystone on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaStringcourse and granite blocks on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaLooking up at the northwest corner of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaWest elevation of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaDoor on the south elevation of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaAwning over the former workroom of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaChimney on the west elevation of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaFirst-floor window on the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaSconce at the main entrance of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaLooking up at the north elevation of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, AtlantaInterior view of the United States Post Office and Courthouse, Atlanta. Illustration from an undated postcard published by I.F. P. Co. of Atlanta.
References
“Atlanta’s New Million-Dollar Post Office and Courthouse”. The Atlanta Constitution, July 23, 1907, p. 1. ↩︎
“High Court Is Now In Handsome Quarters”. The Atlanta Constitution, October 4, 1910, p. 7. ↩︎
“Moving Federal Offices To The New P.O. Building”. The Atlanta Constitution, October 12, 1910, p. 7. ↩︎
“Postmaster Kept Busy By Change Of Quarters”. The Atlanta Constitution, October 16, 1910, p. 4. ↩︎
They all take turns sticking their tongues in his crusty white Republican anus, their noses pressed into his sweaty taint as his sagging balls slap against their faces.
Pulling kinky gray hairs off their lips, they nod at each other with forced smiles and moan approvingly.
“Mmm, it’s so good,” they exclaim. “The power tastes so sweet.”
One of these days, their subservience and devotion will pay off, and the asshole will actually do something for them—any day now.
W.L. Stoddart. Hotel Winecoff (1913). Atlanta.123Upper floors and cornice on the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaWindows and spandrels on the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaCrest, cornice, eaves, and frieze on the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaCornice, eaves, and terracotta panel on the southeast corner of the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaWindows and spandrels on the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaTerracotta frieze and keystone above a window on the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaGargoyles, cornice, eaves, and terracotta panels on the southeast corner of the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaConsoles and terracotta panel on the facade of the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaTerracotta panels on the northeast corner of the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaTerracotta diamond ornament on the facade of the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaTerracotta panel on the facade of the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaThird-floor windows on the facade of the Winecoff Hotel, AtlantaLooking up at the south elevation of the Winecoff Hotel, Atlanta
References
“Peachtree Hotel To Cost $500,000”. The Atlanta Constitution, June 26, 1912, p. 3. ↩︎
“15-Story Hotel To Grace Peachtree; Will Cost $600,000”. The Atlanta Constitution, October 20, 1912, p. 1. ↩︎
Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) and royal tern (Thalasseus maxima)A tangle of luresGulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)Willet (Tringa semipalmata)Brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) and a laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) roosting on a dockBoardwalk reflecting in marsh waterGulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) on coastal plain goldenaster (Chrysopsis scabrella)Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)Balcony view on a sunny afternoonGulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) on red bottlebrush (Melaleuca viminalis)American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)Brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) roosting on a dockSeabeach evening primrose (Oenothera humifusa) Laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)A late afternoon stroll on the beachAn evening stroll and swim on the beachLast moments before sunsetSunset over the shorelineThe one who stayed behind
Pennsylvania Railroad Suburban Station (1930). Center City, Philadelphia.1234Clock on the facade of Suburban Station, PhiladelphiaStation sign, clock, and inscribed wheat sheaves on the facade of Suburban Station, PhiladelphiaSecond- and third-floor windows on the facade of Suburban Station, PhiladelphiaInscribed wheat sheaves on the facade of Suburban Station, PhiladelphiaEntrance portal on the facade of Suburban Station, PhiladelphiaFourth-floor terracotta pier on the facade of Suburban Station, PhiladelphiaThird-floor windows, terracotta piers and spandrels on the Suburban Station, PhiladelphiaBronze and marble transom panels at the entrance of Suburban Station, PhiladelphiaBronze plaque and light on the facade of Suburban Station, Philadelphia
References
“Skyscraper Plans Out”. The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 10, 1929, p. B 9. ↩︎
“P.R.R. To Erect 22-Story Building”. The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 5, 1929, p. 8. ↩︎
McCullough, John M. “Pennsy Depot On Boulevard Marks New Era”. The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 7, 1930, p. B 1. ↩︎
Old water towers—especially rooftop ones—have become such a tired, cliched symbol of urban life that I’m almost embarrassed to publish these images. Almost.
By now, most U.S. cities have been scrubbed clean of any real grit, thoroughly gutted by cookie-cutter development companies, though their marketing teams often push to keep a few post-industrial vestiges as a simulacrum of character and a unique selling point—they’re anything but unique, of course.
If there aren’t some old machine gears lying around to refashion into abstract sculpture, preserving a relic water tower is a great way to convince clueless college grads from the burbs that their overpriced loft with quartz countertops and stainless-steel appliances is the epicenter of the new Williamsburg.
A water tower near Sylvan Road SW, Adair Park, Atlanta
In vacuous cities with no tangible identity (see also: Atlanta), a developer can easily build their latest stack of plywood boxes around an old water tower and be praised by sycophantic members of the local press for historic preservation and “placemaking.”
Hordes of clueless transplants snap pics of the preserved tower to feel some sort of connection to the city—no matter how tenuous—and to lazily flaunt their cosmopolitan lifestyles on social media.
Meanwhile, their friends and relatives back in Bumfuck just roll their eyes—like rusty old water towers don’t exist in every possum hollow.
But screw all that. I just like the way old water towers look against a vibrant sky. Deal with it.
A rooftop water tower on Murphy Avenue SW, Adair Park, Atlanta
I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a fern
OK, so that’s not how it goes, but I consider it an improvement.
There’s just something about ferns that speaks to me: their quiet grace and elegance, and their ability to thrive in the dark, hidden places where most plants could never survive.
I find the delicate fronds of the marginal wood fern particularly alluring, and it feels nice to run my fingers through them.
This evergreen fern grows in wooded areas along the Northeast Corridor, which is more forested than I initially thought.
