Monastery at Large

From the Notebook

  • Postcards from the South: First Baptist Church – Atlanta

    Postcard view of First Baptist Church (1906), Atlanta

    This postcard depicts the First Baptist Church in Atlanta, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1906.

    Published by Witt Bros. of Atlanta and printed in Berlin, Germany, the postcard was postmarked in Atlanta on May 18, 1908, and addressed to Miss Mammie Homburg of 701 15th Street in Detroit.

    The back of the postcard includes the following note:

    “Mary: Got your postals ok. They were fine Tell Ida I got her also that I will look for a good one to send to her. They have more churches in Atlanta than any thing else. Say went Mary your name. I thought so that was why I wrote it like that Earl“

    The church thing certainly isn’t true anymore.

  • Peachtree Center Station (1982) – Atlanta

    Joseph Amisano of Toombs, Amisano & Wells. Peachtree Center Station (1982). Atlanta.
    Joseph Amisano of Toombs, Amisano & Wells. Peachtree Center Station (1982). Atlanta.1 2 3
    Southbound train leaving the platform of Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Southbound train leaving the platform of Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Looking south in Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Looking south in Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Beneath a mezzanine in Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Beneath a mezzanine in Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Corridor in Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Corridor in Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Looking across a mezzanine in Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Looking across a mezzanine in Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Escalator to Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Escalator to Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Exposed granite in Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta
    Exposed granite in Peachtree Center Station, Atlanta

    References

    1. Litsch, Joseph. “All Aboard For Peachtree”. The Atlanta Journal-The Atlanta Constitution Weekend, September 4, 1982, p. 27. ↩︎
    2. Ippolito, Milo. “City bears his mark”. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 19, 2003, p. J1. ↩︎
    3. Powell, Kay. “Joe Amisano, admired architect”. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 21, 2008, p. B6. ↩︎

  • Postcards from the South: Candler Building – Atlanta

    Postcard view of the Candler Building (1905), Atlanta

    This postcard depicts the epitome of Atlanta piss elegance: the atrocious Candler Building, designed by George E. Murphy and completed in 1905. Also in the foreground is a portion of the Peck Building, completed in 1893 and designed by G.L. Norrman.

    Published by the Sugarman-Hirsch Co. of Atlanta, the card was printed by the Fort Wayne Printing Co. of Fort Wayne, Indiana, postmarked in Atlanta on August 25, 1937, and addressed to Miss Edith McKinney of Route 4, Lexington, Kentucky.

    The following note is written on the back:

    “Came down on train with Dr. Powell – on his way to Gainesville Ga. to perform a wedding member Bap. Sunday School Board. Tell Jane will write a regular Pierce Epistle tomorrow. Love, Ruth“

  • Outer Banks Memory: Native flora

    Sand dunes covered in grasses at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Sand dunes covered in grasses at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    American beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    American beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Largeleaf pennywort (Hydrocotyle bonariensis) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Largeleaf pennywort (Hydrocotyle bonariensis) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Dune marsh-elder (Iva imbricata) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Dune marsh-elder (Iva imbricata) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virgiana) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virgiana) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Lichens at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Lichens at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia pusilla) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia pusilla) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    American beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    American beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Southern wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) on a dune at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Southern wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) on a dune at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Adam's needle (Yucca gloriosa) on a dune at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Adam’s needle (Yucca gloriosa) on a dune at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Bitter switchgrass (Panicum amarum) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Bitter switchgrass (Panicum amarum) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Sea oats (Uniola paniculata) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Sea oats (Uniola paniculata) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina
    Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) at the Outer Banks, North Carolina

  • Postcards from the South: Germania Savings Bank – Savannah, Georgia

    Postcard view of Germania Bank (1904), Savannah, Georgia

    This postcard depicts the Germania Bank in Savannah, Georgia, designed by Bruce & Morgan and completed in 1904.

    On the front is the following note:

    “Friend Charles

    (Guy?) and myself have just landed had a quick trip on the boat”

    Published by J. Murray Jordan of Philadelphia, the card was postmarked in Savannah on January 3, 1908, and addressed to Mr. Charles A. Markley in Gettysburg, Pa.

  • Mostly Mundane: Shell Yes

    Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)
    Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

    Ok, so the world’s a little scary.

    You gotta stick your neck out every once in a while, though.

    And should you still keep plodding along quietly?

    Shell yes!

  • J.L. Pitts Residence – Barnesville, Georgia

    J.L. Pitts Residence (1863, renovation likely circa 1903). Barnesville, Georgia.
    J.L. Pitts Residence (1863, renovation likely circa 1903). Barnesville, Georgia.1 2 3 4
    Oval attic window on the J.L. Pitts Residence, Barnesville, Georgia
    Oval attic window on the J.L. Pitts Residence, Barnesville, Georgia
    Corner pilaster on the J.L. Pitts Residence, Barnesville, Georgia
    Corner pilaster on the J.L. Pitts Residence, Barnesville, Georgia
    Pilasters with Ionic capitals on the J.L. Pitts Residence, Barnesville, Georgia
    Pilasters with Ionic capitals on the J.L. Pitts Residence, Barnesville, Georgia
    First-floor window on the J.L. Pitts Residence, Barnesville, Georgia
    First-floor window on the J.L. Pitts Residence, Barnesville, Georgia
    Second-floor Palladian window on the J.L. Pitts Residence, Barnesville, Georgia
    Second-floor Palladian window on the J.L. Pitts Residence, Barnesville, Georgia

    References

    1. “The Pitts-Gray Co.” The Barnesville News-Gazette (Barnesville, Georgia), April 3, 1902, p. 12. ↩︎
    2. “Trustee’s Sale of Real Estate”. The Barnesville News-Gazette (Barnesville, Georgia), April 16, 1903, p. 8. ↩︎
    3. “Buggy Through Barnesville on June 11”. Griffin Daily News (Griffin, Georgia), May 13, 2016, p. A3. ↩︎
    4. “Barnesville Antebellum Open House” (advertisement). The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, April 30, 1988, Section H, p. 19. ↩︎

  • Postcards from the South: Troy Graded School – Troy, Alabama

    Postcard view of Graded School (1904), Troy, Alabama

    This postcard depicts the Graded School in Troy, Alabama, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1904.

    Published by the Adolph Selige Publishing Company of St. Louis, the card was postmarked in Troy on November 29, 1912, and addressed to Mrs. P.H. Tatum of West Point, Georgia.

    “On the back of the card is the following note:

    “Mrs. Tatum

    I will express you and the boys a small box tomorrow Saturday.

    Charley L.”

    Hope the boys enjoyed the small box.

  • Concourse Athletic Club (1989) – Sandy Springs, Georgia

    Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback, and Associates. Concourse Athletic Club (1989). Sandy Springs, Georgia.
    Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback, and Associates. Concourse Athletic Club (1989). Sandy Springs, Georgia.1 2 3

    Proposal By Helmut Jahn

    Helmut Jahn. Rendering of The Sporting Club at Concourse Corporate Office Center (1984). Sandy Springs, Georgia.
    Helmut Jahn. Rendering of The Sporting Club at Concourse Corporate Office Center (1984). Sandy Springs, Georgia.4
    Helmut Jahn. Rendering of The Sporting Club at Concourse Corporate Office Center (1984). Sandy Springs, Georgia.
    Helmut Jahn. Rendering of The Sporting Club at Concourse Corporate Office Center (1984). Sandy Springs, Georgia.5

    References

    1. Mangan, Liz. “Architecture: the future’s already arrived in North Fulton”. The Atlanta Journal The Atlanta Constitution, April 3 1986, North Fulton Extra, p. 1H. ↩︎
    2. “Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback and Associates: Design with Inspiration.” The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, December 17, 1989, The Business Edition, p. 7. ↩︎
    3. Advertisement. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, January 9, 1989, p. 3C. ↩︎
    4. Miller, Nory. Helmut Jahn. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. (1986), p. 248. ↩︎
    5. ibid. ↩︎

  • Urban Life: Common bumblebee

    Common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens). Atlanta.
    Common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens). Atlanta.

    Somehow, I managed to sneak away and have a rooftop lunch by myself. I’m sure I was exhausted by the morning’s work.

    It was a sweltering afternoon, but the skies in Atlanta were crystal clear and haze-free—a rarity for July.

    As I gazed at the Downtown skyline while I ate, this friendly bee landed on the cap of my Publix lemonade and feasted on the syrupy sweetness.

    I didn’t object.