Category: G.L. Norrman

The Background

The following article, published in The Atlanta Constitution in 1896, named the city’s well-known “eligible bachelors” of the time — all white, of course — with accompanying illustrations.

The article’s conceit is based on an old Irish tradition called “Bachelor’s Day,” where women were allowed to propose to men on February 29, which typically occurs every 4 years.

As the article points out, however, the leap year was skipped in 1900, so the next opportunity would have been 8 years later, in 1904.

“The Atlanta maiden with half an eye for a good thing is reveling in the prospect,” the writer says of young ladies proposing to men — albeit in jest.

While restrictive attitudes toward women began loosening in the 1890s, it would have been considered highly improper — and was likely unheard of — for a woman to initiate a romance or marriage, particularly in the patriarchal stronghold of the Deep South.

“The idea of such a thing,” one woman shrieked to the reporter. “A woman never can make any advances to a man. I expect to be just as reserved as ever this year.”

You have to wonder how many of the men named here were closeted homosexuals, or which ones were frequent visitors to Atlanta’s red-light district. I could certainly hazard some guesses based on the pictures.

It’s also a little odd to see G.L. Norrman included in the list of eligible “young men”: he was 48 at the time and looked every day of it. Sorry, Godfrey.

This article is an odd, antiquated snapshot of an era whose traditions and values are so far removed from the current age that it’s almost baffling.

The writer (also a woman) frequently describes Atlanta’s “blushing bachelors” as “gallant” and “chivalrous”, and asks if a man is “obligated by chivalry to accept the offer of the first enamored maiden who throws herself at his feet?”

Her parting thought is that “…there are acres of younger men whose thoughts are just ripe for lovemaking.”

…It didn’t mean the same thing back then.

---

Atlanta’s Attractive Prizes for Leap Year Girls.

Splendid Gallery of Local Bachelors Who are the Legitimate Prey of Our Fair Maidens Who Feel Disposed to Take Advantage of the Year 1896.

Our blushing bachelors are in a state of modest agitation.

The timid ones are keeping themselves close, and the more coquettish and kittenish ones are giving themselves bewitching airs. They suspect the intentions of every pretty girl they meet and not wishing to inflict the pain of refusal not a few of them have had to discourage fair maiden suitors who have shown a decided preference for them.

How can they refuse the dear girls? Does leap year give man woman’s privilege of declining, or is he obligated by chivalry to accept the offer of the first enamored maiden who throws herself at his feet?

These unsettled questions are worrying our Atlanta bachelors and are responsible for much unhappiness among them.

For instance, Jack Slaton, one of the most charming of our local eligible, is in sore perturbation. Being a candidate, how can he refuse the young women? True, women cannot vote, but their influence upon those who do exercise the right of suffrage in this country is not inconsiderable.

Neither is Andy Calhoun enjoying his usual quiet.

“How can a fellow tell a girl that he loves another?” said he. “I wish next year was leap year.”

These gentlemen represent two sample instances of the feeling of unrest among our bachelors. Others are no less disturbed. Conscious of their charms they cannot see how it is possible for them to survive through the year and retain their gallantry. If they would be so fortunate–or unfortunate–as to pull through the year, they would enter upon the coming twelve months with reputations greatly impaired, and they would be cut and tabooed on every side.

The Atlanta maiden with half an eye for a good thing is reveling in the prospect. A fine field is before her. Eligibles of every kind and description are at hand. The bald-headed bachelor who has weathered many seasons and passed through more than one leap year unscathed, and who has never yet been melted into tenderness is plentiful. The younger eligible with less experience but not less invulnerability to women’s charms, but who are not without those engaging charms that make a man valuable in a woman’s eyes is also numerous in this city. Then the younger and fresher ones–the social yearlings–with neither experience nor power of resistance, impressionable youths with an eye for beauty and heart for love–there are armies of these–each waiting for some capturing maiden to come and bear him away. The spectacle must fairly dazzle the eyes of our Atlanta girls. Whole acres of young men, legitimate and desirable prey for pleading and matrimonially inclined young women–what a picture to delight the fancy!

The field is too full of eligibles. Too many of our young men stand as monuments to the philosophy that it is better to live alone than risk the heart in the chances of a modern love affair.

Just a glance at the list:

Fulton Coville, who is bravely and gallantly facing the leap year possibilities.

Judge John Berry, who, too chivalrous to reject a lady, has gone to Florida to escape offers, until his court will convene and occupy all his time.

Jim McKeldin, who never having been refused and never having refused, does not know how to say “no,” and belongs to the first comer.

Isham Daniel, who waits for leap year as a poet waits for spring, in the faith that it will some day bring him a prize.

Thomas B. Paine, who would as leave be captured leap year as any other time.

Andy Calhoun, who is in mortal fear that he will have to say “no” before the month of roses comes and sets him free. He is seriously thinking of putting an explanatory badge on himself to save himself and the young ladies’ embarrassment.

Will Black, who sees no reason why a young woman shouldn’t tell a man so if she loves him.

Hugh McKeldin, who, too modest to press his own claims upon the fairer portion of humanity, fondly hopes that the year will not pass without throwing some appreciative angel in his pathway.

James W. English, Jr., who is such a strong admirer of the other sex that he deems himself fortunate when they smile upon him–leap year or at any other time.

R.F. Shedden, who would like to know how the young woman would put the question.

Hugh Adams, whose popularity during ordinary years is so great as to make him the center of attack during the leap year.

Jim Nutting, who has such a general admiration and regard for the sex that he would gladly accept the first claimant.

Peter Grant, who will either learn to say “no” or be captured early in the year.

G.L. Norrman, who would refuse a lady nothing–not even his hand.

Lieutenant Oscar Brown, who was fighting Indians all through last leap year and is immensely pleased at the thought of what this year may bring him.

And a host of others. There are Lucius McClesky, Percy Adams, Alex Hull, Victor Smith, Preston Arkwright, Jack Slaton, Charles E. Harmon, Thomas C. Erwin, Frank Orme, Howell Peeples and an innumerable company of other attractive young men.

There’s a romance in every name. Each separate man is waiting for the right woman. They are not cynics and they are not certain but that leap year will settle the question for them. Some of them are rather inclined to encourage the leap year girl. Others are less courageous. They are afraid to risk themselves in the hands of a pleading woman.

There can be no prophesying as to the result of the year among our young men and young maidens. Early in the year–before the year begun, in fact–some of the young men put out the report that they were engaged. They industriously caused this rumor to gain circulation, hoping thereby to shut off the applicants for their hands. But the reports have been exploded and the young men stand convicted of base deception, deception in a cause in which there should be nothing but open and frank dealing. The young women have sworn to make the year a bitter one for these young men. The young women know they guilty offenders and they will make the suffer. The men may wreak a deadly vengeance themselves, however, by accepting some lovely suitor and insisting upon carrying the engagement to its culmination.

But on the whole the young men are not averse to leap-year love making. Be it said to their credit, they keenly enjoy the outlook. Most of them have rather put themselves in the way than out of the way of love making. If the young women want to propose they cannot complain that the young men have given them no opportunity. Nearly all of the young men have kept up their calls with the old regularity.

Jim McKeldin says the signs are propitious for a good year for the bachelors.

“I will not furnish any picture for publication,” he stated to The Constitution last week when called on, “because I do not wish it to gain too wide a circulation during leap year.”

The shrewd young women of two states are vieing [sic] with each other in their efforts to capture him. Tennessee and Georgia both want him and he says it’s a toss up between the two states as to chances at present.

Victor Smith is modest. He believes that all things–even proposals–come to him who waits, and while he has not been waiting as long as many of our eligible gentlemen, he hopes that the year will not be entirely unfruitful in a matrimonial way.

Then, there’s Mr. Harman–Charley Harman–whom the ladies all admire. He escaped the past two leap years through some miracle of misfortune which he alone can explain. The young ladies will not let him pass through this without severe trials. They are organized against him and the married ladies unwilling to see such a charming fellow in single harness, are in league with the younger ones. A steady and well-organized siege is to be laid to the heart of the able railroader and good fellow, and there’s not a doubt that he will surrender before the year ends.

And Tom Erwin–best of good fellows. Atlanta young women are too sensible to allow him to escape. If he is too busy running a bank to propose himself during the years that the privilege belongs exclusively to the men, the young ladies will not allow him to evade this year. He’s a marked man among the young ladies. It’s a question which one reaches him first and makes the strongest plea.

“Jim English is lovely,” exclaimed one of Atlanta’s fairest belles last week. “He’s such a good business man above all men. If I make any proposal this year it’ll be to him.”

And so I might go on ad infinitum. There are many that I have not mentioned but who the young ladies have their eyes on. They will not escape and only a lack of space prevents their mention here.

There is quite an array of young men. There are Joe Brown, Otis Smith, George Parrott, Mays Ball, Roger Elliott, Ulrich Atkinson, Harry Stearnes, Will Kiser, Quill Orme, ‘Gene Black, Alf Prescott, Walter Kilpatrick, Dr. Roy and many, many more. These young men, too, are legitimate prey for the leap year girls, and it is safe to prophesy that not a few of them will fall victims to the witchery of some maiden.

And the young women–what do they think about it.

The fairer portion of Atlanta has never yet settled the question whether it is quite the proper thing for them to propose. They say it is tradition, nothing more.

“I don’t suppose any nice girl even proposed to a man,” said one of Atlanta’s fairest maidens the other day. “The idea of such a thing. A woman never can make any advances to a man. I expect to be just as reserved as ever this year.”

And this idea seems all to prevalent. If the women will not exercise their privileges they have only themselves to blame. It is their right to make love to the men this year and the men, like Barkis, are willing. It is the woman’s fault if there is no lovemaking.

To the backward ones I would suggest that this opportunity will not occur again in eight years. The closing of the century cuts the dear girls out of one leap year, and it will be eight long summers before another chance will come to the women to make love to the men. So the young women had best look to their opportunities and improve them.’

A survey of the field here in Atlanta will show at a casual glance that the fair maidens have plenty of excellent timber to choose from. There is a fine army of eligible bachelors, pining and aching for the love and sympathy of some tender soul, and there are acres of younger men whose thoughts are just ripe for lovemaking.¹

References

1. “Atlanta’s Attractive Prizes for Leap Year Girls”. The Atlanta Constitution, March 8, 1896, p. 4. ↩︎

This small commercial building on the southeast corner of Edgewood Avenue and Courtland Street in Downtown Atlanta would have been demolished long ago if it hadn’t served briefly as the first Coca-Cola bottling plant in the city. For that reason, the structure was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1983.¹

Located at 125 Edgewood Avenue SE, the property is rare in Atlanta for maintaining the same numeric address for its entire existence. Local historians have long claimed the building was constructed in either 1890, 1891, or 1892. However, it’s well documented that the structure was built in 1889 and occupied in January 1890^{2 3} — Atlanta is appallingly ignorant of its own history.

The building consists of two floors over a full basement,^{4 5} and is eclectically styled, incorporating Romanesque and Queen Anne elements. The exterior is covered in red brick with light granite trim, and the interior encompasses less than 6,000 square feet. While the architect is not officially known, all evidence indicates that G.L. Norrman was the designer.

The Design

Anyone with an eye for his work would quickly observe that the overall design and massing of 125 Edgewood Avenue are characteristic of Norrman, and many specific elements also suggest his involvement:

• The oval window in the north gable was used by Norrman in multiple projects around the same time, including the Samuel McGowan House (1889) in Abbeville, South Carolina; the Atlanta & Edgewood Street Railway Shed (1889) and 897 Edgewood Avenue (1890) in Inman Park, and most notably, the nearby Exchange Building (1889, pictured below).
• Chimneys with tapered tops were a trademark element of Norrman’s in the 1880s and 1890s, and the same chimney designs were used in his 1889 plan for the H.M. Potts House (demolished) in Atlanta’s West End.
• The central chimneystack on the north side of the building serves as a focal point to visually balance the elevation’s two incongruent halves — this was a common technique used by Norrman in his compositions.
• A terracotta scroll bracket on the central chimneystack is of the same design as those used in Norrman’s designs for the Windsor Hotel (1892) in Americus, Georgia, and the Edgewood Avenue Grammar School (1892) in Atlanta.
• The stepped gables on the north and west sides of the building were incorporated in Norrman’s design for the nearby Exchange Building and later used on the Windsor Hotel.
• The Romanesque granite column on the northwest corner of the ground floor is a smaller version of one used in Norrman’s design for the Printup Hotel (1888) in Gadsden, Alabama.
• The porch on the west side of the building uses the same posts with curved brackets seen in Norrman’s design for the E.A. Hawkins House (1890) in Americus, Georgia, and the house at 897 Edgewood Avenue in Inman Park.
• The fish-scale shingles used in both the turret and balcony were incorporated into Norrman’s designs for the McGowan House, and the T.P. Ivy House (1895) in Atlanta, among others.
• The most obvious design clue is the square turret on the building’s northwest corner, which is a duplicate of one Norrman used in the H.M. Potts House the same year.⁶

The Background

The building at 125 Edgewood Avenue was one of at least three commercial spec structures built along Edgewood Avenue by Joel Hurt‘s East Atlanta Land Company — it appears Norrman designed all of them.

Norrman was a preferred architect for Hurt in the late 1880s and early 1890s, with four confirmed projects for Hurt’s companies and family, and four additional structures that can be attributed to him. He was also one of the opening-day tenants in Hurt’s Equitable Building (completed in 1892 and demolished in 1971), occupying a suite of offices on the top floor.⁸

The full list of Norrman’s completed projects for the Hurt companies and family follows:

• Exchange Building, completed 1889⁹ and demolished 1939^{10 11} – intersection of Edgewood Avenue and Gilmer Street, Atlanta [Map]
• 125 Edgewood Avenue, completed 1889 [Map] – design attributed to Norrman
• Commercial building, completed 1892 and demolished 1939 – 161-165 Edgewood Avenue, SW corner of Edgewood and Piedmont Avenues, Atlanta [Map] – design attributed to Norrman

• Three spec houses for the East Atlanta Land Company
  • Thomas W. Latham House, completed 1889 – 804 Edgewood Avenue NE; Inman Park, Atlanta [Map]
  • Edgewood Avenue House, completed 1890 – 897 Edgewood Avenue NE; Inman Park, Atlanta [Map]
  • Euclid Avenue House, completed 1890 – 882 Euclid Avenue, Inman Park, Atlanta [Map]
• Atlanta & Edgewood Street Railway Shed, completed 1889 – 963 Edgewood Avenue NE; Inman Park, Atlanta [Map] – design attributed to Norrman
• C. D. Hurt House, completed 1893 – 36 Delta Place; Inman Park, Atlanta [Map] – design attributed to Norrman

The Beginning of Edgewood Avenue

The East Atlanta Land Company created Edgewood Avenue to serve as the main artery from Atlanta’s commercial district to the company’s suburban residential development, Inman Park.¹³

Joel Hurt was, by all accounts, a miserable bastard. He was also filthy rich, so of course, he felt entitled to receive whatever he wanted, running to the local press — often his sympathetic friends at The Atlanta Constitution — to whine petulantly when local leaders didn’t bow to his incessant demands.

In 1886, Hurt and his associates began pestering the city council to widen and extend an existing road called Foster Street,^{14 15 16 17 18} which ran from Atlanta’s Calhoun Street (later Piedmont Avenue) to the foot of Hurt’s 75-acre property near the Air-Line Railroad (later Belt Line Railroad).

Hurt also wanted the city to extend Foster Street from Calhoun Street westward to Ivy Street (later Peachtree Center Avenue), connecting it with another thoroughfare called Line Street (later Hurt Plaza), ending at the Five Points intersection in the center of the city.

Part of what made the scheme so contentious was that Hurt demanded the city of Atlanta use eminent domain to remove homes and buildings along the route.

The city council initially rebuffed Hurt’s proposal in June 1886,¹⁹ but mysteriously reversed course and approved it in August 1886.^{20 21} Hurt formed the East Atlanta Land Company the following year, with the expressed intention of developing his 75-acre estate and “building a street car line down Foster Street to the Boulevard and on through this suburban property.”²²

Hurt’s demands for the project kept growing, and following nearly two years of discussion and revisions, the City of Atlanta and the East Atlanta Land Company finally settled on a deal, the details of which are too tedious to elaborate on.

Ultimately, both parties funded the construction of the street, while Hurt agreed to give ownership to the city, which, in turn, agreed to condemn any property or building along the route that Hurt’s company couldn’t purchase or remove through its own negotiations with property owners.^{23 24 25 26 27 28}

As the project was underway, Foster Street was renamed Edgewood Avenue, which the Constitution described as “A Pretty Street with a Pretty Name…And the Men Who Made It Are Also Very Pretty, Etc. Etc.”²⁹ So much for objective journalism.

It should come as no surprise that the area cleared for Edgewood Avenue was largely inhabited by poor and Black residents, a foreshadowing of Atlanta’s widespread clearance of low-income areas for freeways in the 1950s and 60s, the largest act of wholesale destruction in the city’s history (no, it wasn’t Sherman).

For their part, local newspapers had nothing but praise for Hurt’s project. In 1888, the Constitution predictably gushed:

“The objectionable houses that stood on Line Street have been torn down and now Edgewood avenue runs over the very spot where they once stood. The tearing down of these old houses and removing them from the heart of the city is an act the city should thank the company for.”³¹

“Objectionable houses,” incidentally, was a polite euphemism for brothels.

The Macon Telegraph was a little more explicit, explaining that the brick houses on Line Street “were once notorious resorts”, and that “the inmates [have] been required to move on to Collins Street” (later Courtland Street),³² which became Atlanta’s red-light district.

In a speech from September 1888, Hurt revealed the extent of the clearance:

“We have conducted negotiations with one hundred and thirty two property owners … it has been necessary to condemn the properties of about thirty parties. It has been necessary to move ninety buildings…We have destroyed $70,000 worth of brick and stone buildings alone.”³³

Buried in the same speech was the following note:

“There are four properties of private individuals and one of the Atlanta street railroad company, extending slightly in the street, and at these points work has been delayed because of legal difficulties.”³⁴

If Hurt’s description feels conveniently sanitized, a lawsuit filed by a property owner on Edgewood Avenue hints at the true contentious nature of the project.

In September 1888, Dennis F. O’Sullivan sued the East Atlanta Land Company for its seizure and destruction of his property on Edgewood Avenue.³⁵ O’Sullivan alleged that the company “took forcible possession of [his] premises, moved two of his houses a considerable distance…and then filled in a strip of land…making it higher than the other part of his property, so that water collects there as in a basin.”

O’Sullivan additionally sued the City of Atlanta, because he claimed that he was “prevented by interfering from the police.” Cops defending monied interests? Shocker.

By the time Edgewood Avenue formally opened on September 26, 1888,³⁶ the East Atlanta Land Company owned most of the property along the 2-mile route, which was accurately described as “the only perfectly straight street of any length in the city,”³⁷ running from Five Points to Inman Park.

Hurt’s Atlanta & Edgewood Street Railroad Company (better known as the A&E) became the first electric street railway in Georgia when it debuted on August 22, 1889.³⁸ Running on double tracks, the “new-fangled street car”³⁹ glided at a cool 18 miles per hour⁴⁰ along Edgewood Avenue, which city workers finished paving with Belgian block just four days earlier.⁴¹

Construction and History

Two weeks before the trolley’s debut, the building permit for 125 Edgewood Avenue was issued in early August 1889, with construction supervised by B.R. Padgett,⁴² a prolific contractor who in later years marketed himself as an architect (he wasn’t). Construction on the project was swift, with only four months from the date the permit was issued to the building’s opening.

Joel Hurt regularly employed convict labor in his civic projects, and chain gangs loaned by Fulton County were used in the construction of Edgewood Avenue.⁴³ However, Hurt’s nearby Exchange Building was built with paid day labor,⁴⁴ and 125 Edgewood was likely completed in the same manner.

Even if convicts didn’t work on the building, its distinctive red-clay bricks were almost certainly manufactured by the Chattahoochee Brick Company near Atlanta, which also ran on forced prison labor.⁴⁵

Open House

Hanye Grocery Company was 125 Edgewood’s first tenant, opening on the ground floor in January 1890. Advertising itself as “The Prettiest Store and most Complete Grocery House in the South”, and “the finest this side of Baltimore, without any exaggeration”, the store purportedly offered “the finest fancy and domestic goods”.⁴⁶

The store’s owner was R.M. Hanye, who moved his grocery business from a smaller space on Decatur Street. “I cordially invite the ladies to visit my grocery in the magnificent new brick building…”, Hanye proclaimed in newspaper ads.⁴⁷

The new store was described as “palatial” by The Atlanta Journal, which noted the “three handsome double entrances” and marveled that “A person can enter the door at one end of the store and walk to the other end, taking a good view of the entire stock, and come out at the further entrance on the same street (Edgewood avenue.)”⁴⁸

Unique for Atlanta, the building was designed so that the business proprietor could reside in the residential space above the store, accessed from Courtland Street by the porch built halfway between the first and second floors.

The concept even received national attention: An 1890 article in Architecture and Building mentioned Norrman’s similar design for the nearby Exchange Building, reporting, “A novel scheme for utilizing a triangular corner lot was evolved by Mr. Norrman, giving two residences over a store.”⁴⁹

In 125 Edgewood, it appears the second-floor living space consisted of two large rooms and a bathroom, which were quickly divided into one-room apartments, based on a description in a 1896 advertisement.⁵⁰ According to city directories from 1890 and 1891, Hanye both lived and worked in the building,^{51 52} although future tenants in the retail space lived off-site.

The Hanye Grocery Company was officially incorporated in July 1890,⁵³ with Joel Hurt listed as one of the owners.⁵⁴ A hand-painted sign advertising the grocery is still faintly visible on the east side of the building, although it has long outlasted the business.

In 1891, the Hanye Grocery Company reincorporated itself — without Hanye or Hurt — as the Atlanta Grocery Company,⁵⁵ which closed by 1893, replaced by Hosch & Son grocers.⁵⁶ In 1894, the space was occupied by yet another grocery, operated by Mrs. F.A. Holleran.⁵⁷

The essential problem with the building’s location was already apparent in 1890, when Hanye’s ads stressed that his store was “Only three minutes’ ride on the Atlanta and Edgewood electric cars.”⁶⁴ It was simply too far from the heart of Atlanta’s commercial district, primarily centered 3 blocks west at the intersection of Whitehall, Decatur, and Marietta Streets.

The East Atlanta Land Company clearly hoped that the building’s tenants would capture the business of trolley riders shuttling to and from Inman Park, yet, despite a wide-scale promotional blitz, early home sales in Inman Park were anemic.

Many of the giant spec houses planned by Atlanta’s leading architects sat empty for years or were rented out before Inman Park was swallowed up by the encroaching city and filled with smaller, cheaper homes in the early 20th century.

Peachtree Street remained the preferred address of the city’s elite for at least 20 years after Inman Park’s opening, and for the old-money families of Atlanta (whatever that meant in a 53-year-old city), the suburb could only have been viewed as a gauche, far-out enclave for the nouveau riche.

The Coca-Cola Year

Beginning circa April 1900,⁶⁵ the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company occupied 125 Edgewood for about 8 months, a tenancy so short-lived that the company’s presence isn’t even listed in city directories from the time, although newspaper classified ads confirm it.

One such ad requested: “Three boys about 17 to do rough light work; must be hustlers and willing to work cheap.”⁶⁶ No comment necessary.

Typical of most Atlanta enterprises, Coca-Cola’s origins are shady and convoluted, but the product first debuted in 1886 as a medicinal tonic at Jacobs’ Pharmacy on Marietta Street, and steadily gained regional and national popularity as an alternative to alcohol when Atlanta and other cities began dabbling in prohibition. “The proper use of it will make a drunken man sober,” the ever-truthful Constitution claimed.⁶⁷

In 1898, Coca-Cola opened new headquarters one block east of 125 Edgewood Avenue at the intersection of Edgewood and College Street (later named Coca-Cola Place), with a 3-story brick building designed by Bruce & Morgan and owned by the East Atlanta Land Company. ^{68 69 70 71}

An important distinction to make is that it wasn’t the Coca-Cola Company that operated from 125 Edgewood Avenue, but an entirely separate bottling company licensed to distribute Coca-Cola’s product in the Southeast.⁷²

Contrary to Coke’s corporate mythmaking, the company has long been a stodgy, insular, and conservative entity with a flair for empty self-promotion — not unlike Atlanta itself. In Coca-Cola’s early years, the beverage could only be purchased at soda fountains, and the company’s president, Asa G. Candler, didn’t see the value in bottling his product.

In 1899, Candler reluctantly agreed to grant bottling rights to J.B. Whitehead and B.F. Thomas, who subsequently established the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company to distribute the soda throughout the Southeast. Starting their first bottling plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the men then opened a second plant at 125 Edgewood in Atlanta.⁷³

In 1900, Coca-Cola reportedly sold 51,147 gallons in Atlanta ⁷⁴ — that appears to be separate from the product bottled at 125 Edgewood, and it’s unclear how much was distributed from the building, but it couldn’t have been substantial. The plant’s output was limited by the size of its marketing territory, which was reportedly measured by how far a mule team could travel in a day.⁷⁵

By January 1901, the Dixie Coca-Cola plant vacated 125 Edgewood and moved to 35 Ivy Street.⁷⁶

In truth, Coke’s connection with 125 Edgewood is barely worth noting, but Atlanta has destroyed so much of its history that it has to cling to whatever remnants it can to pretend it has a cultural legacy beyond hype, moneymaking, and oppression.

After Coca-Cola

It’s also unclear when the East Atlanta Land Company sold 125 Edgewood, but with the failure of Inman Park and other projects, coupled with the severe financial depression of the mid-to-late 1890s, the company shed its assets in multiple auctions over the next decade.

Hurt seemingly lost interest in the company as he threw his energy and attention into the management of the Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway Company, formed in 1891 by the merger of the A&E and 5 other street railway companies,^{77 78} as well as the establishment that same year of the bank that would become the Trust Company of Georgia.⁷⁹

The East Atlanta Land Company auctioned off the bulk of its Edgewood Avenue commercial property in 1903 ^{80 81 82 83}— including its property on Exchange Place and the Coca-Cola headquarters⁸⁴ — followed by a final sale of its remaining assets in 1906.^{85 86 87 88 89} It appears that 125 Edgewood was likely sold in 1903, as the property wasn’t listed in the 1906 auction.⁹⁰

For the next 20 years, 125 Edgewood hosted a revolving door of short-lived businesses:

• In December 1901, a grocery store operated by a man named Charles with the last name of either Charalambedis, Charalambitis,⁹¹ or Charalampe⁹² declared bankruptcy, selling a “stock of groceries and fixtures…including counters, show cases, and two soda founts…”⁹³
• In May 1902, an entirely different grocery store, operated by I. Goldberg, also declared bankruptcy, selling its stock of “staple and fancy groceries fresh and in good condition, show cases, computing scales, coffee mill and other fixtures usually belonging to such business”.⁹⁴
• In 1903, the space was occupied by L.C. Johnson and Company, described as “retail grocers and restaurant”.⁹⁵
• In 1904, a cigar business owned by Henry I. Palmer was listed at the address.⁹⁶
• In October 1904, a drug store at the location went into receivership, selling off “one stock of drugs and fixtures, stock bottles and show cases, one soda fount and all attachments; also one carbonator, filler, and Crown machine, almost new”. The store was advertised as “A splendid opportunity for a live young man.”⁹⁷
• A drug store operated by George C. Mizell operated at the address in 1905.⁹⁸
• In 1906, the ground floor of the building was occupied by Central Pharmacy, with Virgil A. Jones, a barber, on the second floor.⁹⁹ In January 1906, a “12-syrup soda fount, A1 condition, cheap, if sold at once”, was advertised at the address.¹⁰⁰
• Central Pharmacy was still in business in 1907, operated by Henry F. Askam, although the barber shop was replaced by a “pressing club” operated by John R. Thomason.¹⁰¹
• By 1908, Central Pharmacy had become the Askam & Alford pharmacy, operated by Askam with N.E. Alford.¹⁰² The business was again called Central Pharmacy in 1909.¹⁰³
• In 1909, J.B. Peyton applied for a transfer of a near-beer license at the address from J. Bigler.¹⁰⁴ Georgia enacted Prohibition in 1907, so saloons at the time only served non-alcoholic beverages. Ahem.
• Peyton’s saloon was still in operation in 1910, occupying the ground floor,¹⁰⁵ but Peyton transferred the license to George N. Weekes in December 1910.¹⁰⁶ That year, the top-floor apartment was occupied by two men: James Lindsey and William T. Culbreath.¹⁰⁷
• In 1911, the structure was owned by the Adair family’s local real estate empire, and a building permit was issued for $220 in fire damage repair.¹⁰⁸
• In 1912, the building housed another saloon, operated by William T. Murray.¹⁰⁹
• From 1913 to 1916, a saloon and pool room operated by Louis Silverman was located in the building,^{110 111 112 113}
• In 1917, the Turman & Calhoun real estate company advertised the building’s “clean storeroom”, noting it was “within three minutes of Peachtree”.¹¹⁴
• Directories from 1918 list the building space as vacant,¹¹⁵ but by August of that year, the building housed the Atlanta Screen and Cabinet Works, owned by J.W. Biggers.¹¹⁶
• In 1920 and 1921, the space was occupied by a dry goods store operated by Harris Roughlin.^{117 118}
• In 1922, the Mazliah & Cohen dry goods store operated in the space,¹¹⁹ and by 1923, it had been replaced with a dry goods store owned by Joe Horwitz.¹²⁰
• In 1924, a “well-established millinery business” at the address was listed for sale.¹²¹

The Briscoe-Morgan Murder-Suicide

The ground-floor space at 125 Edgewood was occupied by B. and B. Clothing Company¹²² — a store owned by J.W. Biggers of Atlanta Screen and Cabinet Works fame — when it was the scene of a murder-suicide in 1924.^{123 124}

On August 7, 1924, Fannie Briscoe, a 36-year-old saleswoman at the business, was shot to death by W.R.L. Morgan, a 52-year-old insurance salesman who had reportedly been in a relationship with Briscoe. Immediately after killing her, Morgan turned the pistol around and shot himself in the head, “falling dead at Mrs. Briscoe’s feet.”¹²⁵

The scene was witnessed by a man repairing his tire outside the store, who reported that Briscoe screamed “Don’t do that! Don’t do that” in the moments before she was killed.¹²⁶

Newspapers at the time described a typical Atlanta romance: Briscoe had divorced her first husband and was separated from her second when she began a relationship with Morgan. The two “became infatuated with each other” and lived together in an apartment on Pryor Street, but had recently broken up.¹²⁷

A police investigator explained that “Morgan’s mind seemed to have become somewhat unbalanced following this separation and he became deeply depressed at times.”¹²⁸

Three letters found in Morgan’s pocket addressed various aspects of post-mortem business, with such tedious and clichéd phrasing as: “I am tired of life. The world has gone back on me.”

Apparently fond of morose prose, Morgan left another letter in his apartment, in which he moaned: “Fannie Briscoe is the cause of it all. I can’t stand the way she has done me. That’s all. Good by to all.”¹²⁹

Even in death, Atlantans are narcissistic and boring.

Crime and Seediness

Early claims that Edgewood Avenue would “attract the rich and fashionable to live upon it”¹³⁰ were pure Atlanta bullshit, and while never a prestige address, it’s clear that 125 Edgewood quickly became just as seedy and crime-ridden as the properties demolished for the street’s construction a few years earlier.

Recall that in 1889, the “inmates” of the former Line Street had simply been pushed over to Courtland Street, so of course, the location was destined to draw an unsavory element.

In October 1906, the building’s second floor was raided by police for housing an illegal gambling establishment. Twelve men were arrested during a game of poker,¹³¹ in which “it was found necessary to break in one or two doors”, according to the Journal, which added: “it is said that Sergeant Lanford swung a sledge hammer like a veteran blacksmith.”¹³²

In 1916, Louis Silverman, the proprietor of a pool room and saloon in the building, was ordered to appear in court for allowing minors to play,¹³³ apparently leading to the closure of the business.

In 1924, less than a month after the murder-suicide, the B. and B. Clothing Company was robbed of a satin dress.¹³⁴

In 1925, the space housed a store operated by Morris Jackson, which was robbed in an overnight burglary that resulted in the loss of 15 dozen pairs of hosiery, 13 shirts, 12 pairs of suspenders, and 23 necklaces.¹³⁵

In September 1928, the building was occupied by the Atlas Dry Goods Store when it was robbed again — this time of 20 dresses. ¹³⁶ Three months later, the store’s “show window” was smashed in during an overnight robbery attempt.¹³⁷

One 1982 article from the Constitution said of the property: “There is even evidence to suggest that, at one down-at-the-heels juncture in its past, the second story was a house of ill repute disguised as a boarding home.”¹³⁸ The mind boggles.

Occupants in the Mid-20th Century

Following the 1924 murder-suicide, 125 Edgewood hosted a few more short-lived businesses, although occupancy at the location stabilized through mid-century:

• In October 1925, a “candy kitchen, fully equipped” was auctioned off at the location.¹³⁹
• In December 1925, a restaurant owned by O.G. Hughes operated from the building, where his 2-year old son was severely scalded by a pot of boiling water.^{140 141}

• The Warner Heating and Plumbing Company operated from the building, circa 1930-1936.^{142 143}
• A shop selling “sandwiches and drinks, doing nice business” with “low rent” was advertised in the Business Opportunities section of theConstitution classifieds in 1935.¹⁴⁴
• The Shepard Decorating Company was owned by Virgil W. Shepard, who bought the building from the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in 1939¹⁴⁵ and operated the business at the location until 1951.^{146 147 148}
• Brown Radio Sales & Service, a Philco dealership, operated at 125 Edgewood from 1952 to 1969.^{149 150}

Reassessment

After years of neglect, in 1966,¹⁵¹ the Atlanta Baptist Association purchased 125 Edgewood with plans to demolish it, but when Georgia State University identified the property as one it intended to include in its campus expansion plans, the organization instead kept the building to sell to the university.¹⁵²

While it waited for Georgia State to purchase the property, in 1969, the association opened the Baptist Student Union at 125 Edgewood.¹⁵³ You gotta stash the kids somewhere, right? What started as a temporary tenancy became the building’s longest occupancy.

Georgia State abandoned its plan to purchase 125 Edgewood circa 1976, when the building was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.¹⁵⁴

In 1978, the building was additionally nominated as a National Historic Landmark. The Historic Preservation Section of Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources submitted the nomination,¹⁵⁵ citing the building’s connection to Coca-Cola, although the company’s executives — esconced in their dreary concrete fortress on North Avenue — apparently wanted nothing to do with it.

“The Coca-Cola people weren’t overjoyed by the nomination,” recalled a historian from the DNR, adding: “Perhaps they didn’t want such a tacky little building representing them.”¹⁵⁶

A Coca-Cola spokesperson responded with bland corporate diplomacy: “I don’t think we would object to it being on the list, but I don’t think we would have pushed it either.”¹⁵⁷ Is it any wonder Atlanta never saves a damn thing?

Constricted by the building’s new historic designations, the Atlanta Baptist Association decided to renovate 125 Edgewood, which by the early 1980s was in a visible state of disrepair but described as “extremely sound.”¹⁵⁸

Photographs from 1976 reveal the many alterations that occurred over the years: the building’s brick facade had been painted, the corner windows on the ground floor were boarded over, and the original porch and balcony had been removed.

“One of the things about the building is that it looks like it’s not occupied,” explained one of the student union’s leaders. “You can walk by and think no one’s here.”¹⁵⁹

A renovation and expansion plan was completed in 1980 by Cavender/Kordys Associates Inc.,¹⁶⁰ a small architectural firm from nearby East Point, Georgia.¹⁶¹ The firm estimated the project would cost $475,000, and the association began a fundraising campaign to pay for it.¹⁶²

By 1987, the renovation had yet to begin, and the building’s structural integrity had so deteriorated that it was reported to the United States Congress as a Threatened National Historic Landmark.¹⁶³

Renovation and Addition

Renovation on 125 Edgewood finally proceeded in 1989,^{164 165} including a reconstruction of the porch and a shortened version of the second-floor balcony, using a 1893 photograph of the building as a design reference.¹⁶⁶

The building’s windows were replaced with recreations of the originals, the paint was removed from the brick, and the broken chimneystack on the north side was rebuilt.

For the modern addition, a small, unobtrusive wing was attached to the south side of the building, designed with matching brick and granite stringcourses to complement the historic structure while providing the student union with extra space.

The project restored the building’s outer shell, but no attempt was made to restore the interior to its former appearance — the original stairwells were ripped out, walls were removed to create open meeting space, and the ceilings were covered in standard 1980s acoustic tile.

A 2003 update to the building’s landmark nomination form explained that the renovation, combined with 100 years of previous interior changes, had “altered the original floor plan to where it is virtually indiscernible.”¹⁶⁷

Return to Dilapidation

Atlanta abhors maintaining its historic buildings — or anything, for that matter — and in the early 21st century, 125 Edgewood again shows signs of long-term neglect.

Visible issues in 2025 included a broken window in the corner turret covered with a flimsy tarp, rotting wood on the porch and balcony, missing shingles, and a mysterious dark stain running down the side of the porch. Images from the same year revealed the interior’s dilapidated state, including major flooding in the basement.¹⁶⁸

Nearly 60 years after it moved into the building, in December 2024, the BCM at Georgia State (formerly the Baptist Student Union) vacated 125 Edgewood,¹⁶⁹ and the property was placed for sale, marketed as ‘one of the last “true” relatively untouched Victorian mansions left downtown’,¹⁷⁰ an erroneous statement in every conceivable fashion. The building is currently abandoned.

An Uncertain Future

As of 2026, the future of 125 Edgewood Avenue is anything but certain.

The building’s National Historic Landmark status doesn’t amount to much, as proven by Atlanta University Center’s Stone Hall (1882), also designed by Norrman and designated as a National Historic Landmark. Abandoned in 2003, Stone Hall has been heavily vandalized and in a state of rapid deterioration for years, with no meaningful funding or plans to return it to viable use.

Because 125 Edgewood is designated as a City of Atlanta Landmark, the structure is well protected from demolition,¹⁷¹ but it’s unclear how the building could be suitably repurposed, as it’s too small and poorly positioned for a public-facing business.

Parking at the location is also limited, and Atlantans value their vehicles more than their lives, so if a business isn’t within feet of cheap, abundant parking, it has no chance of survival.

The building appropriately sits on the route for the revived Atlanta Streetcar, although that, too, doesn’t count for much. Atlanta’s streetcar is an absolute failure of a vanity project that’s barely used by anyone — that is, if it’s even running at all.

The one certainty about the property is this: despite its unique design and historic significance, 125 Edgewood has never been a good place for a business.

References

1. National Historic Landmark Nomination: Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant ↩︎
2. “The City Council.” The Atlanta Constitution, August 6, 1889, p. 5. ↩︎
3. “Georgia’s Prettiest”. The Atlanta Journal, January 14, 1890, p. 7. ↩︎
4. “Miscellaneous.” The Atlanta Constitution, March 28, 1895, p. 9. ↩︎
5. National Historic Landmark Nomination: Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant ↩︎
6. “Society Gossip.” The Atlanta Constitution, October 9, 1889, p. 4. ↩︎
7. “West End.” The Atlanta Constitution, April 27, 1890, p. 21. ↩︎
8. “In the Equitable.” The Atlanta Constitution, May 31, 1892, p. 7. ↩︎
9. “Home Building.” The Atlanta Constitution, March 20, 1889, p. 8. ↩︎
10. “Old City Hall Site Exchange Effective April 15”. The Atlanta Journal, April 10, 1939, p. 4. ↩︎
11. “Mayor Requests $25,000 Gifts For Auditorium Park”. The Atlanta Constitution, August 30, 1939, p. 9. ↩︎
12. Carson, O.E. The Trolley Titans: A Mobile History of Atlanta. Glendale, California: Interurban Press (1981). ↩︎
13. “Building a Suburb”, The Atlanta Constitution, November 6, 1887, p. 5. ↩︎
14. “Important Petition.” The Atlanta Journal, February 1, 1886, p. 1. ↩︎
15. “Opening a New Street.” The Atlanta Constitution, March 24, 1886, p. 7. ↩︎
16. “To Meet Tomorrow.” The Atlanta Constitution, April 21, 1886, p. 7. ↩︎
17. “The Aldermanic Board.” The Atlanta Journal, May 6, 1886, p. 1. ↩︎
18. “The Board of Aldermen.” The Atlanta Constitution, May 7, 1886, p. 7. ↩︎
19. “The Foster Street Extension.” The Atlanta Constitution, June 8, 1886, p. 1. ↩︎
20. “Our City Legislature.” The Atlanta Journal, August 3, 1886, p. 1. ↩︎
21. “Aldermanic Board.” The Atlanta Journal, August 5, 1886, p. 4. ↩︎
22. “Another Grand Enterprise.” The Atlanta Journal, May 9, 1887, p. 4. ↩︎
23. “A Liberal Offer.” The Atlanta Constitution, February 7, 1888, p. 8. ↩︎
24. “The Foster Street Extension.” The Atlanta Constitution, February 17, 1888, p. 7. ↩︎
25. “Foster Street.” The Atlanta Constitution, February 18, 1888, p. 7. ↩︎
26. “Foster Street.” The Atlanta Constitution, February 19, 1888, p. 14. ↩︎
27. “Whisky and Streets”. The Atlanta Constitution, February 21, 1888, p. 5. ↩︎
28. “They All Like It.” The Atlanta Constitution, February 22, 1888, p. 5. ↩︎
29. “The New Avenue”. The Atlanta Constitution, September 5, 1888, p. 5. ↩︎
30. Marr, Christine V. and Sharon Foster Jones. Inman Park. Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, South Carolina, 2008. ↩︎
31. “Building.” The Atlanta Constitution, December 16, 1888, p. 22. ↩︎
32. “Clearing Away Houses.” The Macon Telegraph, August 2, 1888, p. 4. ↩︎
33. “Building.” The Atlanta Constitution, December 16, 1888, p. 22. ↩︎
34. ibid. ↩︎
35. “About the Steps.” The Atlanta Constitution, September 6, 1888, p. 5. ↩︎
36. “The New Street.” The Atlanta Constitution, September 27, 1888, p. 7. ↩︎
37. “We, Us and Co.” The Atlanta Constitution, August 14, 1887, p. 4. ↩︎
38. Carson, O.E. The Trolley Titans: A Mobile History of Atlanta. Glendale, California: Interurban Press (1981), p. 12. ↩︎
39. “For Inman Park.” The Atlanta Constitution, August 21, 1889, p. 8. ↩︎
40. “Electric Street Cars.” The Atlanta Journal, April 13, 1889, p. 2. ↩︎
41. “Changing Atlanta.” The Atlanta Constitution, August 18, 1889, p. 16. ↩︎
42. “The City Council.” The Atlanta Constitution, August 6, 1889, p. 5. ↩︎
43. “Through the City”. The Atlanta Constitution, April 30, 1888, p. 5. ↩︎
44. “Home Building.” The Atlanta Constitution, March 20, 1889, p. 8. ↩︎
45. “The City Council.” The Atlanta Constitution, April 20, 1886, p. 5. ↩︎
46. “The Grocery” (advertisement). The Atlanta Journal, January 23, 1890, p. 3. ↩︎
47. ibid. ↩︎
48. “Georgia’s Prettiest”. The Atlanta Journal, January 14, 1890, p. 7. ↩︎
49. Boorman, T.H. “Through Georgia.” Architecture and Building, Volume 13, No. 1 (July 5, 1890), p. 8. ↩︎
50. “ROOMS — Furnished or Unfurnished.” The Atlanta Constitution, December 27, 1896, p. 23. ↩︎
51. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1890) ↩︎
52. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1891) ↩︎
53. “The Hanye Company.” The Atlanta Constitution, July 1, 1890, p. 2. ↩︎
54. Legal notice. The Atlanta Journal, June 4, 1890, p. 7. ↩︎
55. “In the Courts.” The Atlanta Constitution, March 10, 1891, p. 8. ↩︎
56. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1893) ↩︎
57. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1894) ↩︎
58. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1896) ↩︎
59. “Miscellaneous.” (advertisement) The Atlanta Constitution, March 28, 1895, p. 9. ↩︎
60. “Red Trading Stamps.” (advertisement) The Atlanta Journal, June 17, 1898, p. 11. ↩︎
61. “Wanted — Help — Female.” (advertisement) The Atlanta Journal, August 17, 1895, p. 11. ↩︎
62. “Instruction.” (advertisement) The Atlanta Constitution, September 15, 1895, p. 22. ↩︎
63. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1899) ↩︎
64. “The Grocery” (advertisement). The Atlanta Journal, January 23, 1890, p. 3. ↩︎
65. “Coca-Cola Carbonated.” The Atlanta Constitution, April 8, 1900, p. 9. ↩︎
66. “HELP Wanted–Male.” (advertisement) The Atlanta Constitution, July 6, 1900, p. 9. ↩︎
67. “The Story of Coca-Cola”. The Atlanta Constitution, November 20, 1901, p. 4. ↩︎
68. “Lights and Shades.” The Atlanta Constitution, March 9, 1898, p. 9. ↩︎
69. “Coca Cola Company Begins New Building”. The Atlanta Journal, March 18, 1898, p. 3. ↩︎
70. “Many Visitors Present.”The Atlanta Constitution, December 14, 1898, p. 11. ↩︎
71. “Coco-Cola Building Has Been Opened”. The Atlanta Journal, December 15, 1898, p. 12. ↩︎
72. National Historic Landmark Nomination: Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant ↩︎
73. ibid. ↩︎
74. “The Story of Coca-Cola”. The Atlanta Constitution, November 20, 1901, p. 4. ↩︎
75. Walker, Tom. “Coca-Cola Bottling: 75
    Refreshing Years”. The Atlanta Journal, July 25, 1975, p. 3-C. ↩︎
76. “Lost.” (advertisement) The Atlanta Constitution, January 5, 1901, p. 6. ↩︎
77. “The Deal Closed.” The Atlanta Constitution, March 15, 1891, p. 20. ↩︎
78. “Articles of Incorporation”. The Atlanta Journal, April 10, 1891, p. 3. ↩︎
79. Carson, O.E. The Trolley Titans: A Mobile History of Atlanta. Glendale, California: Interurban Press (1981). ↩︎
80. “Central Lots Will Be Sold”. The Atlanta Constitution, April 6, 1903, p. 2. ↩︎
81. “Big Real Estate Sale”. The Atlanta Journal, April 10, 1903, p. 14. ↩︎
82. “Central Lots Bring High Figures”. The Atlanta Journal, April 21, 1903, p. 1. ↩︎
83. “Edgewood Avenue Lots Bring Good Prices”. The Atlanta Journal, April 22, 1903, p. 4. ↩︎
84. “Over Seven Acres Central Property At Auction Tuesday”. The Atlanta Journal, April 19, 1903, p. 9. ↩︎
85. “Forrest and George Adair Edgewood Avenue Property For Sale” (advertisement). The Atlanta Journal, April 15, 1906, p. 4. ↩︎
86. “Edgewood Avenue Property” (advertisement). The Atlanta Constitution, May 26, 1906, p. 12. ↩︎
87. “Real Estate For Sale By Adair.” (advertisement) The Atlanta Constitution, June 3, 1906, p. 5. ↩︎
88. “For Sale–Real Estate.” The Atlanta Journal, June 7, 1906, p. 14. ↩︎
89. “Real Estate For Sale By Adair”. The Atlanta Constitution, June 10, 1906, p. 10. ↩︎
90. “Forrest & George Adair–Auctioneers” (advertisement). The Atlanta Constitution, June 10, 1906, p. 8. ↩︎
91. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1902) ↩︎
92. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1900) ↩︎
93. “Bankrupt Sale”. (advertisement) The Atlanta Journal, December 28, 1901, p. 11. ↩︎
94. Legal notice. (advertisement)The Atlanta Journal, May 9, 1902, p. 11. ↩︎
95. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1903) ↩︎
96. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1904) ↩︎
97. “Receiver’s Sale”. (advertisement) The Atlanta Journal, October 15, 1904, p. 13. ↩︎
98. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1905) ↩︎
99. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1906) ↩︎
100. “For Sale–Miscellaneous” (advertisement). The Atlanta Journal, January 25, 1906, p. 17. ↩︎
101. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1907) ↩︎
102. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1908) ↩︎
103. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1909) ↩︎
104. “Miscellaneous” (advertisement).The Atlanta Journal, December 14, 1909, p. 18. ↩︎
105. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1910) ↩︎
106. “Miscellaneous” (advertisement).The Atlanta Journal, December 16, 1910, p. 21. ↩︎
107. Atlanta City Directory Co’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1910) ↩︎
108. “Building Permits.” The Atlanta Constitution, June 2, 1911, p. 15. ↩︎
109. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1912) ↩︎
110. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1913) ↩︎
111. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1914) ↩︎
112. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1915) ↩︎
113. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1916) ↩︎
114. “For Rent–Stores” (advertisement).The Atlanta Journal, October 1, 1917, p. 14. ↩︎
115. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1918) ↩︎
116. “Carpenter Shop.” (advertisement)The Atlanta Constitution, August 1, 1918, p. 11. ↩︎
117. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1920) ↩︎
118. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1921) ↩︎
119. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1922) ↩︎
120. Atlanta City Directory Co.’s Greater Atlanta (Georgia) city directory (1923) ↩︎
121. “Business Opportunities” (advertisement). The Atlanta Journal, May 23, 1924, p. 34. ↩︎
122. “Shoots Woman And Then Kills Self In Atlanta Store”. The Atlanta Journal, August 7, 1924, p. 1. ↩︎
123. “W.R.L. Morgan Fatally Wounds Woman He Loved”. The Atlanta Constitution, August 8, 1924, p. 1. ↩︎
124. “Atlantian Shoots Woman to Death and Kills Himself”. The Atlanta Journal, August 9, 1924, p. 1. ↩︎
125. “Funeral Services Today for Victims of Double Killing”. The Atlanta Constitution, August 9, 1924, p. 4. ↩︎
126. “Hunt for Double Motive In Killing Dropped By Police”. The Atlanta Journal, August 8, 1924, p. 12. ↩︎
127. “Funeral Services Today for Victims of Double Killing”. The Atlanta Constitution, August 9, 1924, p. 4. ↩︎
128. ibid. ↩︎
129. “Hunt for Double Motive In Killing Dropped By Police”. The Atlanta Journal, August 8, 1924, p. 12. ↩︎
130. “H.L. Wilson, — Auctioneer” (advertisement). The Atlanta Constitution, May 13, 1888, p. 20. ↩︎
131. “Is Atlanta Again to Open Doors to the Professional Gamblers Using Queer Cards and Dice?” The Atlanta Constitution, October 21, 1906, p. 1. ↩︎
132. “Gaming House Is Raided By Police”. The Atlanta Journal, October 16, 1906, p. 1. ↩︎
133. Police Plan to Ban All Minors From Pool Rooms”. The Atlanta Journal, July 2, 1916, p. 12. ↩︎
134. “Gems Worth $1,500 Taken From Jeweler’s Home in Druid Hills”. The Atlanta Journal, September 3, 1924, p. 11. ↩︎
135. “Burglars Reap Rich Harvest in Clothing; Tire Thieves Flourish”. The Atlanta Journal, March 13, 1925, p. 38. ↩︎
136. “Atlanta Burglars Get Tough Breaks On Decatur Street”. The Atlanta Journal, September 19, 1928, p. 7. ↩︎
137. “Radio Set Is Taken In Burglary at Home”. The Atlanta Journal, December 26, 1928, p. 16. ↩︎
138. Bailey, Sharon. “GSU Baptist students have hopes to restore 1891 Victorian structure.” The Atlanta Journal, December 19, 1982, p. 43. ↩︎
139. “Financial” (advertisement). The Atlanta Journal, October 18, 1925, p. F3. ↩︎
140. “Small Boy Scalded By Boiling Water”. The Atlanta Constitution, November 26, 1925, p. 5. ↩︎
141. “Boy, 2, Badly Scalded”. The Atlanta Journal, November 26, 1925, p. 2. ↩︎
142. Advertisement. The Atlanta Journal, May 1, 1930, p. 4. ↩︎
143. Advertisement. The Atlanta Journal, August 16, 1936, p. 41. ↩︎
144. “Business Opportunities”. The Atlanta Constitution, April 7, 1935, p. 23. ↩︎
145. “Sales of $70,959 for Adams-Cates”. The Atlanta Constitution, April 16, 1939, p. 12. ↩︎
146. “Employment” (advertisement). The Atlanta Constitution, March 30, 1943, p. 18. ↩︎
147. “Household Goods”. The Atlanta Journal, May 29, 1947, p. 26. ↩︎
148. Shepard Decorators, Inc. advertisement. The Atlanta Journal, August 30, 1951, p. 33. ↩︎
149. Brown Radio Service & Sales advertisement. The Atlanta Journal, October 29, 1952, p. 15. ↩︎
150. Advertisement. The Atlanta Constitution, March 14, 1969, p. 14. ↩︎
151. National Historic Landmark Nomination: Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant ↩︎
152. Bailey, Sharon. “GSU Baptist students have hopes to restore 1891 Victorian structure.” The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, December 19, 1982. ↩︎
153. Patereau, Alan. “43 Georgia sites are in elite group.” The Atlanta Journal, August 25, 1987, p. 21. ↩︎
154. Bailey, Sharon. “GSU Baptist students have hopes to restore 1891 Victorian structure.” The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, December 19, 1982. ↩︎
155. Patereau, Alan. “43 Georgia sites are in elite group.” The Atlanta Journal, August 25, 1987, p. 21. ↩︎
156. ibid. ↩︎
157. ibid. ↩︎
158. Bailey, Sharon. “GSU Baptist students have hopes to restore 1891 Victorian structure.” The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, December 19, 1982. ↩︎
159. ibid. ↩︎
160. ibid. ↩︎
161. “Gov. Harris to dedicate new South Fulton chamber building in Union City”. The Atlanta Journal, August 16, 1984, South Fulton Extra, p. 1K. ↩︎
162. Bailey, Sharon. “GSU Baptist students have hopes to restore 1891 Victorian structure.” The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, December 19, 1982. ↩︎
163. National Historic Landmark Nomination: Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant ↩︎
164. Fox, Catherine. “Born-Again Buildings”. The Atlanta Journal, December 11, 1989, p. 27. ↩︎
165. National Historic Landmark Nomination: Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant ↩︎
166. ibid. ↩︎
167. National Historic Landmark Nomination: Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant ↩︎
168. Green, Josh. “1890s downtown ATL landmark up for grabs. Any big ideas?“, Urbanize Atlanta. ↩︎
169. About Us — BCM at Georgia State ↩︎
170. 125 Edgewood – Atlanta – Property for Sale | PL | JLL ↩︎
171. Auchmutey, Jim. “Staying the Wrecking Ball”. The Atlanta Journal, August 24, 1988, p. 1D. ↩︎

Extant Works by G.L. Norrman

Projects listed by date of construction.

1. Springwood Cemetery, designed 1876 – Greenville, South Carolina [Map]
2. Charles Lanneau Residence, completed 1877 – 417 Belmont Avenue; Greenville, South Carolina [Map]
3. William T. Wilkins Residence (attributed), completed 1878 – 105 Mills Avenue; Greenville, South Carolina [Map] [Related Videos: An inside look at the Wilkins House, Tour historic mansion in its new spot]
4. Block of 2 storerooms (attributed, altered), completed 1879 – 101 East Main Street; Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]
5. Newberry Hotel, completed 1880 – 1200 Main Street; Newberry, South Carolina [Map]
6. City Hall and Opera House, completed 1882 – 1201 McKibben Street; Newberry, South Carolina [Map] [Related Video: O is for Opera House]
7. Stone Hall, completed 1882 – Morris Brown College; Atlanta University Center [Map]
8. Edward C. Peters Residence, “Ivy Hall”, completed 1883 – 179 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE; Midtown, Atlanta [Map] [Video: Visit Ivy Hall with Paula Wallace]
9. Christ Church, built 1886 – 305 East Central Avenue; Valdosta, Georgia [Map]
10. All Saints Church (altered), built 1886 – Sylvania, Georgia. Moved to 530 Greenwood Street, Barnesville, Georgia [Map]
11. W.W. Duncan Residence, completed 1886 – 300 Howard Street; Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]
12. George A. Noble Residence, completed 1887 – 1025 Fairmont Avenue; Anniston, Alabama [Map]
13. Printup Hotel (altered), completed 1888 – 135 North 4th Street; Gadsden, Alabama [Map]
14. Armstrong Hotel, ground floor facade (altered), building completed 1888 and demolished 1932, ground floor facade incorporated into replacement building – 90 East 2nd Avenue; Rome, Georgia [Map]
15. Samuel McGowan Residence, completed 1889 – 211 North Main Street; Abbeville, South Carolina [Map]
16. Ervin Maxwell Residence, “Fort View”, completed 1889 – 134 McDonald Street SW; Marietta, Georgia [Map]
17. Thomas W. Latham Residence, completed 1889 – 804 Edgewood Avenue NE; Inman Park, Atlanta [Map]
18. Atlanta and Edgewood Street Railroad Shed (attributed), completed 1889 – 963 Edgewood Avenue NE, Inman Park, Atlanta [Map]
19. 125 Edgewood Avenue (attributed), completed 1889 – Downtown, Atlanta [Map]
20. W.L. Glessner Residence (attributed), completed 1890 – 1202 South Lee Street; Americus, Georgia [Map]
21. E. A. Hawkins Residence, completed 1890 – 406 East Church Street; Americus, Georgia [Map]
22. Residence for East Atlanta Land Company, completed 1890 – 897 Edgewood Avenue NE, Inman Park, Atlanta [Map]
23. Home for East Atlanta Land Company, completed 1890 – 882 Euclid Avenue NE; Inman Park, Atlanta [Map]
24. Standard Wagon Company Building (attributed), completed 1891 – 58 Walton Street NW; Fairlie-Poplar, Atlanta [Map]
25. M. B. Council Residence (attributed), completed 1891 – 602 Rees Park; Americus, Georgia [Map]
26. City Hall and Fire Station, completed 1891 – 109 North Lee Street; Americus, Georgia [Map]
27. Henry Street School, completed 1892 – 115 West Henry Street; Savannah, Georgia [Map]
28. W. P. Carrington Residence, completed 1892 – 2 Meeting Street; Charleston, South Carolina [Map] [Related Video: Two Meeting Street Inn]
29. Windsor Hotel, completed 1892 – 125 West Lamar Street; Americus, Georgia [Map]
30. College Inn (altered), completed 1892 – 2 Epworth Dorm Lane, Duke University; Durham, North Carolina [Map]
31. Edgewood Avenue Grammar School, completed 1892 – 729 Edgewood Avenue NE; Inman Park, Atlanta [Map]
32. Gatewood Residence, expansion and renovation (attributed) of home built circa 1850, completed 1892 – 128 Georgia Highway 49 North; Americus, Georgia [Map]
33. John T. Taylor Residence (attributed), completed 1892 – 603 South Lee Street; Americus, Georgia [Map]
34. George W. Williams Residence, Jr. expansion and renovation (attributed) of home built circa 1770, completed 1892 – 15 Meeting Street; Charleston, South Carolina [Map]
35. Fannie Lou Cozart Residence renovation and expansion of home built circa 1825, completed 1893 – 211 East Court Street, Washington, Georgia [Map]
36. J.C. Simonds Residence, renovation and expansion of home originally built in 1856, completed 1893 – 29 East Battery Street; Charleston, South Carolina [Map] [Related Video: 29 E Battery Porcher-Simons house Charleston]
37. R.O. Barksdale Residence, completed 1893 – 33 Lexington Avenue; Washington, Georgia [Map]
38. C. D. Hurt Residence (attributed), completed 1893 – 36 Delta Place; Inman Park, Atlanta [Map]
39. Sixteenth Street School, completed 1893 – 1532 3rd Avenue; Columbus, Georgia [Map]
40. W.B. Chisolm Residence, expansion and renovation (attributed) of home built circa 1816, renovation circa 1893 – 68 Meeting Street; Charleston, South Carolina [Map]
41. T.P. Ivy Residence, completed 1895 – 785 Piedmont Avenue NE; Midtown, Atlanta [Map]
42. Citizens Bank, completed 1895 – 15 Drayton Street; Savannah, Georgia [Map]
43. Wellhouse and Son Building, completed 1896 – 263 Decatur Street SE; Downtown, Atlanta [Map]
44. Milton Dargan Residence, completed 1897 – 767 Piedmont Avenue NE; Midtown, Atlanta [Map]
45. W.L. Reynolds Residence, completed 1897 – 761 Piedmont Avenue NE; Midtown, Atlanta [Map]
46. Cleveland Law Range (attributed), completed 1899 – 175 Magnolia Street; Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]
47. Anderson Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, completed 1899 – 312 Sycamore Street; Decatur, Georgia [Map]
48. Henry D. Stevens Residence, renovation and expansion of home built in 1866, completed 1899 – 303 East Gaston Street; Savannah, Georgia [Map]
49. Arthur B.M. Gibbes Residence, completed 1900 – 105 East 37th Street; Savannah, Georgia [Map]
50. 38th Street School, completed 1901 – 315 West 38th Street; Savannah, Georgia [Map]
51. Candler Hall, completed 1902 – University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia [Map]
52. Denmark Hall, completed 1902 – University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia [Map]
53. Bisbee Building, completed 1902 – 57 West Bay Street; Jacksonville, Florida [Map]
54. Eureka Hotel, completed 1902–03 – 104 East Pickens Street; Abbeville, South Carolina [Map] [Related Video: Belmont Inn]
55. Lawrence McNeil Residence, completed 1904 – 513 Whitaker Street; Savannah, Georgia [Map] [Related Video: Savannah, GA, Colonial Mansion Tour]
56. C.W. Dupre Residence (attributed), completed 1904 – 393 Cherokee Street NE; Marietta, Georgia [Map]
57. First Baptist Church, completed 1905-16 – 305 South Perry Street; Montgomery, Alabama [Map]
58. Barnard Street School, completed 1906 – 212 West Taylor Street; Savannah, Georgia [Map]
59. E. W. McCerren Apartments, “The Chester”, completed 1907 – 223 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE; Midtown, Atlanta [Map]
60. Piedmont Driving Club renovation and expansion (altered), originally designed by Norrman in 1887, built from a home constructed in 1868; partially destroyed by fire on January 11, 1906; rebuilt and expanded to Norrman’s design from 1906-07 – 1215 Piedmont Avenue NE, Atlanta [Map]
61. Palmer Apartments, completed 1908 – 81 Peachtree Place NE; Midtown, Atlanta [Map]
62. E.S. Ehney Residence, completed 1908 – 223 15th Street NE; Ansley Park, Atlanta [Map]
63. Ella B. Wofford Residence, completed 1909 – 571 East Main Street; Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]
64. Central Methodist Church, transepts and renovation, completed 1910 by Hentz & Reid – 233 North Church Street; Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]

Lost Works by G.L. Norrman

The following projects are listed by date of construction. Addresses use original street names, and for Atlanta projects, the addresses use the original numbers designated before the citywide renumbering in 1926.

65. Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, built 1876 – SE corner of Hampton and Lloyd Streets, Greenville, South Carolina. Norrman was the supervising architect, with the design credited to an unnamed Charleston architect. The building was moved in 1885 to 438 West Washington Street, then moved 50 yards in 1902 and rechristened Columbus Hall. The building was later demolished. [Map]
66. Dr. C.A. Henderson Residence, built 1876 – West McBee Avenue (likely 142 West McBee Avenue); Greenville, South Carolina [Map]
67. Franklin Coxe, Jr. Residence, built 1876-77 – NE Corner of Tryon and 9th Streets; Charlotte, North Carolina [Map]
68. John J. Blackwood Residence, built 1876 – Greenville, South Carolina
69. George P. Wells Residence, built 1877 – Buncombe Street, west of Academy Street; Greenville, South Carolina [Map]
70. Frank Coxe, Jr. Residence, built 1877-78 – Greenville, South Carolina
71. L.A. Mills Residence, built May 1879 – Main Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina – later site of Mills Avenue, location of Ella B. Wofford Residence [Map]
72. Merchant’s Hotel/Spartan Inn, built May 1879 to January 1880; destroyed by fire on April 22, 1910 – Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]
73. Spartanburg Opera House, built 1880 and demolished 1907 – Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]
74. Methodist Mission Church, “St. Annie’s Chapel”, built 1879-1880 – Church Street; Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]
75. House at Tryon, North Carolina, building date unknown. Referenced by Norrman on January 14, 1892: “I built … a house on the mountain side at Tryon, S.C. and it was struck by a storm and carried away. The chimney was demolished, but the house rolled down the mountain side without breaking.”

Norrman & Weed (1880-1881)

76. John B. Steele Residence, built 1880 and destroyed by fire on December 24, 1890 – 71 White Pine Street, Asheville, North Carolina [Map]
77. Faith Cottage at Thornwell Orphanage, built 1880-81 – Clinton, South Carolina [Map]
78. Main Building at International Cotton Exhibition, built in 1881 and destroyed by fire on August 5, 1971 – Oglethorpe Park, Atlanta. W.H.H. Whiting was the architect, and Norman & Weed were supervising architects. [Map]
79. Art and Industry Pavilion at International Cotton Exhibition, built 1881 and demolished by 1971 – Oglethorpe Park, Atlanta [Map]
80. Carriage Annex at International Cotton Exhibition, built 1881 and demolished by 1971 – Oglethorpe Park, Atlanta [Map]
81. Agricultural Annex at International Cotton Exhibition, built 1881 and demolished by 1971 – Oglethorpe Park, Atlanta [Map]
82. Grand Hotel at International Cotton Exhibition, built 1881 and demolished by 1971 – Oglethorpe Park, Atlanta [Map]
83. Department of Public Comfort at International Cotton Exhibition, built 1881 and demolished by 1971 – Oglethorpe Park, Atlanta [Map]
84. Depot at International Cotton Exhibition, built 1881 and demolished by 1971 – Oglethorpe Park, Atlanta [Map]
85. Exposition Restaurant at International Cotton Exhibition, built 1881 and demolished by 1971 – Oglethorpe Park, Atlanta [Map]
86. Press Pavilion at International Cotton Exhibition, built 1881 and demolished by 1971 – Oglethorpe Park, Atlanta [Map]
87. Nathaniel P.T. Finch Residence, built 1881 – 388 Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]

Humphries & Norrman (1882-1883)

88. Daniel N. Speer Residence, built 1882 – 486 Peachtree Street, SW corner of Peachtree and Linden Streets, Atlanta – later site of Emory University Hospital Midtown [Map]
89. C.T. Swift Residence, built 1882 and likely demolished circa 1928 for the construction of Fox Theatre – 38 Kimball Street, Atlanta. This is not the home C.T. Swift built on Capitol Avenue in 1885, designed by L.B. Wheeler of Atlanta. [Map]
90. John Milledge Residence, built 1883 – 120 East Peters Street, NE corner of East Peters Street and Capitol Place, Atlanta – later site of 2 Capitol Square SW, Downtown [Map]
91. Block of 3 tenement houses for John Milledge, built 1882 – Cooper Street, Atlanta
92. John H. Glover Residence, built 1882 – 135 South Pryor Street, near NW corner of Pryor and East Peters Streets, Atlanta [Map]
93. William D. Ellis House, built 1882 and demolished for construction of Atlanta Expressway (I-75/85) – 193 Washington Street, Atlanta [Map]
94. Unitarian Church of Our Father, built 1883 – SW corner of Church and Forsyth Streets, Atlanta – later site of Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Central Library, Downtown [Map]
95. Paul Romare Residence, built 1883 – 117 South Pryor Street, SW corner of South Pryor and Peters Streets [Map]
96. James C. Daniel Residence, built 1883 – 196 Gordon Street, West End, Atlanta [Map]
97. St. Luke’s Cathedral, built 1883 and demolished 1906 – NE corner of North Pryor and Houston Streets, Atlanta – later site of Georgia-Pacific Center, Downtown [Map]
98. Gate City National Bank, built 1883 – SW corner of Alabama and Pryor Streets, Atlanta – later site of Underground Atlanta, Downtown [Map]
99. Alteration of front exterior for J.M. High & Company store, built 1883 – 46-48 Whitehall Street, Atlanta [Map]
100. William Dickson Residence, built 1884 and likely demolished for construction of Atlanta Expressway (I-75/85) – 378 Peachtree Street, Atlanta. William Halsey Wood of New York was the architect; Humphries & Norman were supervising architects.
101. Charles W. Crankshaw Residence, built 1883 – 119 Nelson Street, Atlanta [Map]
102. Angier Family residential block, built 1883 and demolished 1951 – 26-30 Capitol Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
103. Freeman & Crankshaw jewelry store, built 1883 – 31 Whitehall Street, Atlanta [Map]
104. Thomas H. Blacknall Residence, built 1883 and likely demolished for construction of East-West Expressway (I-20) – 56 Park Avenue, SE corner of Park and Lee Streets, West End, Atlanta [Map]
105. Dr. Spalding Residence, built 1883 – 484 Peachtree Street, NE corner of Peachtree and Howard Streets, Atlanta – later site of Emory University Hospital Midtown [Map]
106. William H. Venable Residence, built 1883 – 19 Forrest Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
107. Ponce De Leon Springs pavilion, built 1883 and demolished circa 1914 – later site of Sears, Roebuck & Company Building, Atlanta. [Map]
108. West End Academy, built 1883-4 and demolished circa 1911 – Lee Street, West End, Atlanta [Map]
109. Dr. E.W. Roach Residence, built 1883 and likely demolished for construction of Atlanta Expressway (I-75/85) – 95 Capitol Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
110. Horace Bumstead Residence, “Bumstead Cottage”, built 1883 and demolished by 1929 – 169 Vine Street, NE corner of Vine Street and University Place, Atlanta [Map]

G.L. Norrman (1883-1905)

111. William S. Everett Residence, built 1884 – 278 Peachtree Street, Atlanta – later site of Atlanta Expressway (I-75/85) [Map]
112. Homer G. Barber Residence, built 1884 – 147 Forrest Avenue, Atlanta – later site of Georgia Power Company, Old Fourth Ward [Map]
113. Robert A. Hemphill Residence, built 1884 – 231 Peachtree Street, Atlanta – later site of SunTrust Plaza, Downtown [Map]
114. Grant Park pavilion, built 1884 – Grant Park, Atlanta [Map]
115. William A. Osborn Residence, built 1884 – 194 Jackson Street, Atlanta
116. Benjamin F. Abbott Residence, built 1884 – 171 Peachtree Street, Atlanta – later site of Peachtree Center, Downtown. Moser & Lind of Atlanta designed plans for this home in 1883, although it appears Norrman was responsible for the completed project. In 1892, Abbott moved to a new home built on “far-out Peachtree”, also likely designed by Norrman. In 1895, he married Josephine Richards, widow of R.H. Richards, moving into the Richards home on Peachtree Street, designed by Norrman in 1885. [Map]
117. Willard H. Nutting Residence, built 1885 – 45 Merritts Avenue, Atlanta – later site of Renaissance Park, Old Fourth Ward [Map]
118. Dr. James B. Baird Residence and Office, built 1885 – 105 Capitol Square, Atlanta – later site of Paul D. Coverdell Legislative Office Building, Downtown [Map]
119. Block of 2 stores for Major Bridwell, built 1885 – 160 and 162 Decatur Street, NE corner of Decatur and Butler Streets, Atlanta [Map]
120. Herman Franklin Residence, built 1885 and likely demolished for construction of East-West Expressway (I-20) – 239 Rawson Street, Atlanta [Map]
121. Cheshire Residence, built 1885 – Peachtree Street, Atlanta
122. Willis F. Peck Residence, built 1885 – 335 Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]

123. R. H. Richards Residence, built 1885 and demolished 1925 for construction of Davison-Paxon-Stokes Company building – 190 Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]
124. Residential duplex for Miles & Horn, built 1885 – SE corner of Walton and Spring Streets, Atlanta – later site of Centennial Tower, Downtown [Map]
125. Pavilion and landscape improvements, built 1885 – Salt Springs, Georgia – later Lithia Springs, Georgia [Map]
126. Kennedy Free Library, built 1885 – NE corner of Public Square; Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]
127. Atlanta National Bank renovation, 1886 – 15 East Alabama Street, Atlanta – later site of Underground Atlanta, Downtown [Map]
128. Arthur H. Locke Residence, built 1886 and demolished circa 1911 for the construction of Davis-Fischer Sanatorium – 19 Cox Street, Atlanta [Map]
129. Willis E. Ragan Residence, built 1886 and demolished circa 1928 for the construction of Fox Theatre – 574 Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]
130. S.H. Phelan Residence, built 1886 – 304 Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]
131. James Akers Residence, built 1886 and likely demolished circa 1919 for United Motors Building – 333 Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]
132. Martin Grahame Residence, “Muirdrum”, built 1886 – Carlier Springs, near Rome, Georgia – later site of Callier Springs Country Club [Map]
133. Sweet Water Park Hotel, built 1886-87 and destroyed by fire on January 12, 1912 – Lithia Springs, Georgia [Map]

134. Main Building at Piedmont Exposition, built 1887 and converted into Transportation Building for Cotton States and International Exposition, 1895; destroyed by fire on November 15, 1901 – Piedmont Park, Atlanta [Map]
135. Machinery Hall at Piedmont Exposition, built 1887 and demolished February 1895 – Piedmont Park, Atlanta [Map]
136. Agricultural Hall at Piedmont Exposition, built 1887 and demolished 1895 – Piedmont Park, Atlanta [Map]
137. Grandstand at Piedmont Exposition, built 1887 and converted into Auditorium for Cotton States and International Exposition, 1895; demolished 1908 – Piedmont Park, Atlanta [Map]
138. Depot at Piedmont Exposition, built 1887 and demolished 1895 – Piedmont Park, Atlanta [Map]
139. Restaurant at Piedmont Exposition, built 1887 and demolished 1895 – Piedmont Park, Atlanta [Map]
140. Public Comfort Building at Piedmont Exposition, built 1887 and demolished 1895 – Piedmont Park, Atlanta [Map]
141. Main Entrance for Piedmont Exposition, built 1887 and demolished February 20, 1895 – Piedmont Park, Atlanta [Map]
142. Capitol City Bank, built 1887 – 23 Whitehall Street, NW corner of Whitehall and Alabama Streets [Map]
143. J.H. Nunnally Residence, built 1887 and likely demolished for construction of Atlanta Expressway (I-75/85) – 285 Peachtree Street, SE corner of Peachtree and Currier Streets, Atlanta [Map]
144. Renovation of F.T. Powell Residence, completed 1887 and likely demolished for construction of Atlanta Expressway (I-75/85) – 281 Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]
145. Andrew M. Bergstrom Residence, built 1887 – 114 South Pryor Street, Atlanta [Map]
146. Bath house, built by 1887 – Salt Springs, Georgia (now Lithia Springs, Georgia)
147. Jack King Residence, built 1887 – Howard Street (later East 2nd Avenue), Rome, Georgia
148. George Lewis Residence, built 1887 and demolished before 1963 – 601 East Park Avenue, NE corner of Park Avenue and North Gadsden Street, Tallahassee, Florida [Map]
149. DeForest Allgood Residence, built 1887 and destroyed by fire on February 24, 1903 – Trion, Georgia

150. Armstrong Hotel, Opened October 1, 1888, and demolished in 1934, with a portion of the ground floor incorporated into the new building – East 2nd Avenue, Rome, Georgia [Map]
151. Hebrew Orphans’ Home, built 1888-9 and demolished circa January 1974 following construction of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home – 478 Washington Street, Atlanta [Map]
152. James C. Freeman Residence, built 1889-90 – 759 Peachtree Street, NE corner of Peachtree and 8th Streets, Atlanta [Map]
153. George V. Gress Residence, built 1889-90 – 301 Peachtree Street, Atlanta – later site of SunTrust Plaza, Downtown [Map]
154. William J. Speer Residence, built 1889-90 – 544 Peachtree Street, NW corner of Peachtree Street and North Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
155. Laboratory for Ewbank’s Topaz Cinchona Cordial, built 1889 – Marietta Street, Atlanta (Building partially visible on far right of linked image, with “Remedies” sign) [Map]
156. Block of 4 tenement houses for Robert Winship, built 1889 – SE or NE corner (possibly both) of Cain and Ivy Streets, Atlanta [Map]
157. T.A. Hammond Residence, built 1889 – 151 Spring Street, Atlanta – later site of Atlanta Merchandise Mart, Peachtree Center [Map]
158. Double tenement house, built 1889 – Forsyth Street, Atlanta
159. Willard H. Nutting Residence, built 1889 – 51 Merritts Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
160. J.R. Nutting Residence, built 1889 – 46 Merritts Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
161. Willis E. Venable Residence, built 1889 — 182 Gordon Street, West End, Atlanta [Map]
162. Double houses for Jacob Haas, built 1889 — 285-303 Washington Street [Map]
163. Exchange Building, built 1889 – intersection of Edgewood Avenue and Gilmer Street, Atlanta [Map]
164. George V. Gress Zoo, built 1889 – Grant Park, Atlanta – later site of Zoo Atlanta [Map]
165. Dr. W.D. Bizzell Residence, additions built 1889 – 53 Forrest Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
166. H.M. Potts Residence, built 1889 – 248 Gordon Street, SE corner of Gordon Street and Gordon Place, West End, Atlanta [Map]
167. Joseph P. Thompson Residence, “Brookwood”, built 1889 and demolished 1907 – Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]

168. Bellevue Hotel, built 1889 and destroyed by fire on June 4, 1912 – Bellevue Drive, Gadsden, Alabama [Map]
169. George V. Gress business block, built 1890 – 89-91 Whitehall Street, Atlanta [Map]
170. Hirsch Brothers clothing store, built 1890; top 3 floors demolished and lower floors altered 1935 – 40-44 Whitehall Street, Atlanta [Map]
171. Isaac Liebman Residence, built 1890 – 248 Washington Street, NE corner of Washington and Richardson Streets, Atlanta [Map]
172. Augustus O.M. Gay Residence, built 1890 and likely demolished for construction of Atlanta Expressway (I-75/85) – 323 Spring Street, NE corner of Spring and West Pine Streets, Atlanta
173. Harvey Johnson Residence, built 1890 – 730 Peachtree Street, SW corner of Peachtree and 7th Streets, Atlanta [Map]
174. Edmund Berkeley Residence, built 1890 – 311 West Peachtree Street, SE corner of West Peachtree and 3rd Streets, Atlanta [Map]
175. James C. Daniel Residence, built 1890 – 196 Gordon Street, West End, Atlanta [Map]

176. Brady-Miller Feed & Sale Stables, built 1890 and demolished January 1936 – SW corner of Marietta and Bartow Streets, Atlanta [Map]
177. Alexander King Residence, built 1890 – 894 Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]
178. Residence constructed for Crankshaw & Company, built 1890 – Corner Edgewood Avenue and Jackson Street, likely NE corner lot at 342 Edgewood Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
179. A.E. Thornton Residence, “Thornhurst”, built 1890 – Vinings, Georgia
180. Bartow M. Blount Residence, built 1890 – SW corner of Main Street and Thompson Avenue, East Point, Georgia [Map]
181. Jackson Street School, originally built 1859, renovation and addition of new north and south classroom wings designed by Norrman in 1890; demolished May 1914 for construction of Furlow Grammar School – NW corner of South Jackson and College Streets, Americus, Georgia [Map]
182. Cottage at 36 Powers Street for Porter Brothers and Black, and resided in by John Black, built 1890 – SW corner of Powers and Spring Streets, Atlanta [Map]
183. Cottage at 38 Powers Street for Porter Brothers and J.R. Black, built 1890 – near SW corner of Powers and Spring Streets, Atlanta [Map]
184. Cottage at 42 Powers Street for Porter Brothers and J.R. Black, built 1890 – near SW corner of Powers and Spring Streets, Atlanta [Map]
185. Cottage at 46 Powers Street for Porter Brothers and J.R. Black, built 1890 – near SW corner of Powers and Spring Streets, Atlanta [Map]
186. Cottage at 48 Powers Street for Porter Brothers and J.R. Black, built 1890 – near SW corner of Powers and Spring Streets, Atlanta [Map]
187. Cottage at 50 Powers Street for Porter Brothers and J.R. Black, built 1890 – near SW corner of Powers and Spring Streets, Atlanta [Map]
188. Cottage at 228 Spring Street for Porter Brothers and J.R. Black, built 1890 – near SW corner of Powers and Spring Streets, Atlanta [Map]
189. Cottage at 232 Spring Street for Porter Brothers and J.R. Black, built 1890 – near SW corner of Powers and Spring Streets, Atlanta [Map]
190. Guy Louis Winthrop Residence, built 1890 – 610 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida

191. Latta Park Pavilion, also known as “4 C’s Pavilion” (Charlotte Consolidated Construction Company), opened May 20, 1891, and was demolished in 1911 – Dilworth, Charlotte, North Carolina [Map]

192. Thompson & Anderson jewelry store interiors, opened October 1, 1891, inside Windsor Hotel and closed March 17, 1893 – 404 Jackson Street, Americus, Georgia [Map]
193. Hotel Carrolina, built 1891 and demolished 1907 – NE corner of Corcoran and Peabody Streets; Durham, North Carolina [Map]
194. Duncan Building, built 1891, gutted by fire on March 3, 1975, and demolished in September 1975 – NE corner of Morgan Square and Magnolia Street; Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]
195. Dime Savings Bank, building renovated and given a new facade, 1891-92; the structure still exists, but all elements of Norrman’s design have been removed – 280 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina [Map]
196. St. Mary’s Catholic Church, built in 1892, demolished in February 1961 for a new sanctuary – 332 South Lee Street; Americus, Georgia [Map]
197. Police station adjoining city hall, completed September 1891 and demolished 1948 – North Lee Street, Americus, Georgia [Map]
198. College Hall at West Florida Seminary (now Florida State University), built 1891 and demolished 1912 – Tallahassee, Florida [Map]
199. Ware County Courthouse, built 1891 and demolished 1957 – Waycross, Georgia [Map]

200. Office of G.L. Norrman, built 1892 – Suites 801, 802, and 804, Equitable Building, Atlanta [Map]

201. Atlanta Police Headquarters, built 1892 and demolished 1959 – 171-179 Decatur Street, Atlanta [Map]
202. Paul Romare House, built 1892 – 17 East North Avenue, Atlanta – later site of Bank America Plaza, SoNo [Map]
203. T. Howard Bell House, built 1892 – 665 Peachtree Street, NE corner of Peachtree and Fifth Streets, Atlanta [Map]
204. Renovation of Chamber of Commerce building, 1892 – NE corner of Hunter and Pryor Streets, Atlanta [Map]
205. Dr. John D. Turner House, built 1892 – 50 Cone Street, west corner of Cone and Luckie Streets, Atlanta [Map]
206. Hebrew Benevolent Congregation, originally built in 1875, renovated according to Norrman design in 1892 – SE corner of South Forsyth and Garnett Streets, Atlanta – later site of Garnett Station, Downtown [Map]
207. Sumter County Jail, built in 1892 and demolished in 1959 for a parking lot – North Lee Street, Americus, Georgia [Map]
208. City Hall, built 1893 – SW corner of Tryon and 5th Streets; Charlotte, North Carolina [Map]
209. Peck Building, built 1893 and demolished 1941 – Intersection of Peachtree, Pryor, and Houston Streets, Atlanta [Map]

210. Formwalt Street School, built 1893 and demolished 1969 – NE corner of Formwalt and Eugenia Streets [Map]
211. Young Men’s Library Association Library, renovation and expansion of existing residential structure in 1893, demolished 1923 – 101 Marietta Street, NW corner of Marietta and Cone Streets, Atlanta – later site of Centennial Tower [Map]
212. John Silvey & Company Building, built 1893-94 and demolished 1936 for construction of Olympia Building – 6-8 Decatur Street and 5-7 Edgewood Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
213. Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Building, built 1893-94 and demolished 1952 – 78 South Pryor Street, NE corner of Mitchell and Pryor Streets, Atlanta – later site of Fulton County Civil-Criminal Court Building [Map]
214. Atlanta National Bank, built 1893 – 15 East Alabama Street, Atlanta – later site of Underground Atlanta [Map]
215. Merchants Bank – existing building remodeled with new facade to Norrman’s design 1893, demolished 1909 for construction of Third National Bank – 45 North Broad Street, Atlanta [Map]
216. Hugh L. McKee Residence, built 1893 and demolished before 1990 – 701 Piedmont Avenue, SE corner of Piedmont Avenue and 7th Street, Atlanta [Map]
217. William Alanson Gregg Residence, built 1893 and demolished 1958 for construction of East-West Expressway (I-20) – 176 Capitol Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
218. Edwin C. Merry Residence, built 1893 and likely demolished for construction of East-West Expressway (I-20) – 144 Lee Street, West End, Atlanta [Map]

219. Norcross Building, built 1894 and destroyed by fire on December 9, 1902 – 2-4 Marietta Street and 12-20 Peachtree Street, SW corner of Peachtree and Marietta, Atlanta [Map]
220. R.L. Foreman Residence, built 1894 – 130 Peeples Street, SE corner of Peeples and Oak Streets, West End, Atlanta [Map]
221. Dr. J.S. Todd Residence, built 1894 – 322 Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]
222. Hotel Jackson – existing office building constructed in 1889, renovated and converted to a hotel in 1895 according to Norrman’s design – NE corner of Pryor and Alabama Streets, Atlanta – later site of Underground Atlanta [Map]
223. Georgia Manufacturers’ Building at Cotton States and International Exposition, built 1895 and demolished January 18, 1896 – Piedmont Park, Atlanta [Map]
224. Chinese Village at Cotton States and International Exposition, built 1895 and demolished January 1896 – Piedmont Park, Atlanta [Map]
225. New York Herald Building at Cotton States and International Exposition, built 1895 and demolished January 1896 – Piedmont Park, Atlanta [Map]

226. Hebrew Orphans’ Home addition, built 1895 and demolished circa January 1974 following construction of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home – 478 Washington Street, Atlanta [Map]
227. Charles A. Read Residence, built 1895 – 309 West Peachtree Street, near SE Corner of West Peachtree and 3rd Streets, Atlanta [Map]
228. Preston Arkwright Residence, built 1895 – SW corner of Juniper and 7th Streets, Atlanta [Map]
229. Preston Arkwright servants’ house, built 1895 – SW corner of Juniper and 7th Streets, Atlanta [Map]
230. Frederick Wagner Residence, built 1895 – 270 Gordon Street, SE corner of Gordon and Peeples Streets, West End, Atlanta [Map]
231. St. Julien Ravenel Residence, built 1895 – 159 East North Avenue, SW corner of North Avenue and Myrtle Street [Map]
232. Virgil O. Hardon Residence, built 1895 – 283 Peachtree Street [Map]
233. St. Mary’s Chapel, built 1891-96 – SE corner of 3rd Avenue and 17th Street, Columbus, Georgia [Map]
234. Restaurant at Kimball House Hotel – existing structure renovated according to Norrman’s design in 1896, demolished June 1959 – Block bound by Peachtree, Wall, Lloyd, and Decatur Streets, Atlanta [Map]
235. W.D. Ellis, Jr. Residence, built 1896 – 46 West North Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
236. Dr. Logan M. Crichton Residence, built 1896 and demolished before 1959 – 680 Piedmont Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
237. Grady Hospital Children’s Ward, built 1896-7 and demolished 1959 – North Butler Street, Atlanta [Map]
238. Joseph H. Leinkauf Residence, built 1896 – 242 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta (later site of Life of Georgia Tower, Midtown) [Map]
239. Apartment house for Harry English, built 1896 – 70-72 Spring Street, Atlanta [Map]
240. Jacobs’ Pharmacy, designed in 1896 and demolished in 1930 for the expansion of First National Bank – 6-8 Marietta Street, Atlanta [Map]
241. Southern Agricultural Works factory expansion, built in 1896 and destroyed by fire on August 29, 1905 – NW corner of Marietta and Jones Streets, Atlanta [Map]
242. William H. Clark Residence, built 1896 – SW corner of East Main Street and Pine Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]
243. George Washington Scott Residence, “Gulf Haven”, built 1896 – NE corner of Osceola and Pierce Avenues, Clearwater Harbor, Florida [Map]

244. Moore & Marsh Building renovation, existing structure built 1881 and designed byCalvin Fay, renovated according to Norrman’s design in 1897, demolished May 1972 for construction of Woodruff Park – NW corner of Edgewood Avenue and Pryor Street, Atlanta [Map]
245. Markham House Company Block, built 1897 and destroyed by fire on February 21, 1901 – 20 Loyd Street [Map]
246. Elkin & Cooper Sanitorium, built 1897 and demolished circa 1916 for construction of Southern Express Building – 29 Luckie Street, NE corner of Luckie and Fairlie Streets, Atlanta [Map]
247. Seamen’s Bethel for Savannah Port Society, built 1897 and demolished 1953 – 301-307 East Saint Julian Street, SW corner of East Saint Julian and Lincoln Streets, Savannah [Map]
248. Oregon Hotel, built in 1898 and destroyed by fire on March 3, 1912 – Greenwood, South Carolina [Map]
249. W.E. Hawkins Residence, built 1898 and destroyed by fire on December 10, 1986 – 635 Piedmont Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
250. Christian Science Church, built 1898-9 – 17 Baker Street, Atlanta [Map]
251. The Fairfax, apartment building for Dr. Hunter P. Cooper, built 1899 and demolished circa 1925 – 220 Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]
252. Bertha Rich Residence renovation, completed 1899 – 324 South Pryor Street, Atlanta [Map]
253. Eugene R. Black Residence, built 1899 and demolished circa 1930 for construction of a gas station – 893 Peachtree Street, SE corner of Peachtree and 12th Streets, Atlanta [Map]
254. James William Thomas Residence, built 1899 and demolished circa 1927 – 568 Spring Street, SW corner of Spring and 5th Streets, Atlanta [Map]
255. Atlanta Police Barracks, rebuilt in 1899 according to Norrman’s same design from 1892 – Butler Street, Atlanta [Map]
256. N.P. Pratt Chemical Laboratory, built 1899 and demolished 1926 – 88-90 Auburn Avenue, NW corner of Auburn Avenue and Courtland Street, Atlanta [Map]

257. Hardman Sanitorium, built 1899 and demolished after 1960 – 57 North Elm Street, SW corner of North Elm Street and Central Avenue, Commerce, Georgia [Map]
258. Bostwick Hall at North Georgia Agricultural College (later University of North Georgia), built 1900 and destroyed by fire on September 25, 1912 – Dahlonega, Georgia [Map]
259. Florida Soap Works, built 1900 – Corner of Evergreen Avenue and Eighth Street – Jacksonville, Florida
260. S.H. Phelan Residence, built 1900 and demolished circa April 1915 for Phelan Apartments – 790 Peachtree Street, SW corner of Peachtree Street and Peachtree Place, Atlanta [Map]
261. Bienville Hotel, built in 1900 and demolished by 1969 – St. Francis and St. Joseph Streets, Mobile, Alabama [Map]
262. A.R. Colcord Residence, built 1901 and demolished circa 1949 for the construction of a Sears store – 197 Gordon Street, West End, Atlanta [Map]
263. Markham House Company Block, rebuilt 1901 after fire on February 21, 1901 destroyed the previous building designed by Norrman in 1897, demolished circa 1946 for construction of Centra Avenue Viaduct – 20 Loyd Street, Atlanta [Map]

264. Leon D. Lewman Residence, built 1901 – 31 Peachtree Place, NW corner of Peachtree Place and Columbia Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
265. Lewis C. Fletcher Residence, built 1901 – 172 Juniper Street, Atlanta [Map]
266. Joseph Van Holt Nash Residence, built 1901 and demolished circa 1946 – 524 Spring Street, NW corner of Spring and 4th Streets, Atlanta [Map]
267. John Moreland Speer Residence, built 1901 and demolished after 1975 for a parking lot – 430 South Pryor Street, SE corner of Pryor and Glenn Street, Atlanta [Map]
268. Julius Peek business block, built 1901 and demolished circa 1960 for a parking lot – 381-384 Main Street, Cedartown, Georgia [Map]
269. West Building, built 1901 and demolished circa 1970 for construction of Independent Life Building – 48-56 West Bay Street, SE corner of West Bay and Laura Streets, Jacksonville, Florida [Map]
270. Baldwin Building, built 1901 and demolished circa 1970 for construction of a parking garage – 11-25 West Bay Street, Jacksonville, Florida [Map]
271. James L. Munoz Residence, built 1901 and demolished before 1963 – 1101 Riverside Avenue, SW corner of Riverside Avenue and Post Street, Jacksonville, Florida [Map]
272. Lawrence Haynes Residence, built 1902 and demolished by 1953 – 399 West Duval Street, NE corner of West Duval and Cedar Streets, Jacksonville, Florida [Map]
273. P. Dell Cassidey Residence, built 1902 and demolished September 1937 – 34 West Church Street, Jacksonville, Florida [Map]
274. Brady Union Stock Yards, built 1902 and demolished by 1930 – Howell Mill Road, Atlanta [Map]
275. Florence Hotel at Brady Union Stock Yards, built 1902 and demolished November 1930 – Howell Mill Road, Atlanta [Map]
276. James H. Nunnally Residence, “Woodlawn”, built 1902 and demolished June 1958 for construction of Burke Dowling Adams, Inc. offices – 1470 Peachtree Road, Atlanta [Map]

277. Milton Dargan Residence, built 1903 and demolished November 1947 – 58 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NW corner of Ponce de Leon and Piedmont Avenues, Atlanta [Map]
278. Pierce Hall at Emory College (later Emory University), built in 1903 and demolished in 1961 for the construction of the present Pierce Hall – Oxford, Georgia [Map]
279. Citizens Bank, Liberty Street Branch, built 1903 and demolished circa 1965 for a parking lot – NW corner of Liberty and Montgomery Streets, Savannah, Georgia [Map]
280. Graded School, built 1903-04 and demolished after 1976 – NW corner of West Walnut and Cherry Streets, Troy, Alabama [Map]
281. Harvey M. Smith Residence, built 1904 – 278 West Peachtree Street, SW corner of West Peachtree and West Kimball Streets, Atlanta [Map]
282. Benjamin H. Abrams Residence, built 1904 and demolished after 1973 – 660 Piedmont Avenue, NW corner of Piedmont Avenue and 5th Street, Atlanta [Map]
283. Residential duplex for Christine and Louise Romare, built 1906 and demolished circa 1946 – 487-89 Spring Street, SE corner of Spring and West 3rd Streets, Atlanta [Map]
284. Office of G.L. Norrman, completed 1906 – Suites 330 and 331, Candler Building, Atlanta
285. First Baptist Church, completed 1906 and demolished January 1929 for construction of Regenstein’s store – 209 Peachtree Street, SE corner of Peachtree and Cain Streets, Atlanta [Map]

Norrman & Falkner (1906-1908)

286. “The Avalon”, apartment building for E.M. Yow, built 1906 and demolished 1929 for construction of a gas station – 249 West Peachtree Street, SE corner of West Peachtree Street and East North Avenue, Atlanta [Map]
287. Marion Hotel Annex – built 1907 and destroyed by fire in the Terminal District Conflagration on May 8, 1908 – 55-57 West Mitchell Street, Atlanta [Map]
288. Double apartment houses for J.T. Hall, Jr., built 1907 – 25-31 West Baker Street, NE corner of Baker and Spring Streets, Atlanta [Map]
289. Apartment house for Jennie Golden, built 1907 – 174-178 South Pryor Street, NE corner of South Pryor and Brotherton Streets, Atlanta [Map]
290. Dormitory at North Georgia Agricultural College (now University of North Georgia), built 1907 – Dahlonega, Georgia
291. Trinity Methodist Church Annex/Atlanta Boys’ Club building, renovation and expansion of former parsonage completed 1907 and demolished December 1912 – SW corner of Whitehall Street and Trinity Avenue, Downtown [Map]
292. W.M. McKenzie Residence at “Brookwood”, former property of Joseph P. Thompson, built 1908, Atlanta
293. Commercial building for David Woodward, built 1908 and demolished after 1971 – 262-268 Peters Street, SE corner of Peters Street and Curtis Alley, Atlanta [Map]
294. James O. Wynn Residence, built 1908 and demolished circa 1958 – 1126 Peachtree Street, Atlanta [Map]
295. Henry E. Harman Residence, “Mildorella”, built 1909-10 and demolished after 1926 (plans credited to Norrman & Falkner) – Likely located south of Glenwood Avenue opposite East Lake Golf Club, East Lake, Atlanta

G.L. Norrman

296. John Slaughter Candler Residence, built 1909 and demolished September 1952 for construction of Druid Hills Methodist Church – 850 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE corner of Ponce de Leon and Moreland Avenues, Atlanta

Norrman, Hentz & Reid (1909-10)

297. A.G. Rembert Residence, built 1909 – 267 North Church Street, SE corner of North Church and East Charles Streets, Spartanburg, South Carolina [Map]

Lost Works Attributed to G.L. Norrman

298. Mrs. E. E. Evins Residence, built 1879 – North Liberty Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina. The January 7, 1880, issue of The Spartanburg Herald described this and 2 other recently completed homes as “three of the nicest residences in town”, adding that “They do credit to the architect who drew the plans.” As Norrman was the only architect in Spartanburg at that time, the home was likely of his design. [Map]
299. Mr. Holtzclaw Residence, built 1879 – North Liberty Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina. The January 7, 1880, issue of The Spartanburg Herald described this and 2 other recently completed homes as “three of the nicest residences in town”, adding that “They do credit to the architect who drew the plans.” As Norrman was the only architect in Spartanburg at that time, the home was likely of his design. [Map]
300. W.I. Harris Residence, built 1879 – North Liberty Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina. The January 7, 1880, issue of The Spartanburg Herald described this and 2 other recently completed homes as “three of the nicest residences in town”, adding that “They do credit to the architect who drew the plans.” As Norrman was the only architect in Spartanburg at that time, the home was likely of his design. [Map]

301. Dr. Jesse Cleveland Residence, built in 1882 and demolished in November 1938 for the construction of Cleveland Junior High School – SW corner of Howard and Franklin Streets, Spartanburg, South Carolina. Jesse Cleveland and his brother, John B. Cleveland, built identical Second Empire-style homes in the 1880s, with the first built by Jesse Cleveland in 1882. Although unconfirmed, the plan for both homes was likely designed by Norrman, based on a strong similarity to the architect’s other works at the time, including Stone Hall in Atlanta, also built in 1882. As additional evidence of Norrman’s involvement, an article in the April 29, 1990, issue of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal stated that the architect of Bon Haven also designed the Cleveland Law Range in Spartanburg — Norrman was almost certainly the designer of that building. [Map]
302. John B. Cleveland Residence, “Bon Haven”, built 1884 and demolished September 2017 – Church Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina. A duplicate of the earlier home designed for Jesse Cleveland, the home was given an extensive renovation and Neoclassical-style overlay circa 1920. After many years of abandonment, the home was demolished by the Cleveland family in September 2017, despite extensive public efforts to spare the structure. [Map]
303. C.E. Fleming Residence, built before 1884 – Main Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina. Based on photographs of this residence, its design can be easily attributed to Norrman, based on its similarity to his other home designs in the late 1870s and early 1880s.
304. Albert H. Twichell Residence, built in 1882 and demolished in 1979 – 235 South Pine Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina. With a prominent central tower and 2-story porch on the front elevation, this rambling Queen Anne-style home appears to have been the forerunner of numerous residential designs by Norrman in the 1880s and 90s, including the T.A. Latham House in Atlanta and the R.O. Barksdale House in Washington, Georgia. [Map]

305. T.B. Neal Residence, built 1887 and likely demolished for construction of East-West Expressway (I-20) – 78 Washington Street, SE corner of Washington and Fair Streets, Atlanta. A photograph of this home reveals a strong resemblance to several of Norrman’s residential designs of the 1880s, including the Edward C. Peters House in Atlanta and the George A. Noble House in Anniston, Alabama. [Map]
306. Thomas Sumner Lewis Residence, built circa 1889 and destroyed by fire on May 21, 1917 – 246 North Jackson Street, Atlanta. This home can be easily attributed to Norrman based on its characteristic massing and distinct resemblance to other works by the architect; the structure appears to have been destroyed in the Great Atlanta Fire of 1917. [Map]
307. Andrew P. Thompson Residence, built 1889 and demolished circa 1910 – 76 North Spring Street, Atlanta. The building permit for this home was issued in August 1889, and while its designer is not officially known, based on an aerial photograph of Atlanta circa 1895, the structure appeared very similar to other Norrman homes from the time, and included the distinctive round tower the architect incorporated in designs such as the W.W Duncan House in Spartanburg, South Carolina; and the E.B. Hawkins House and Windsor Hotel in Americus, Georgia. [Map]
308. John S. Paden Residence, built in 1891 and demolished in the 1960s – 906 Forrest Avenue, SW corner of Forrest Avenue and 9th Street, Gadsden, Alabama. This handsome Colonial Revival-style home was likely one of 2 houses Norrman reportedly designed in Gadsden circa 1890. [Additional image] [Map]
309. T.S. Kyle Residence, building date unknown and demolished in the 1960s – 834 Forrest Avenue, SE corner of Forrest Avenue and 9th Street, Gadsden, Alabama. Built across the street from the John S. Paden House, this Queen Anne-style home was likely one of 2 houses Norrman reportedly designed in Gadsden circa 1890. [Additional image] [Map]

310. Dexter E. Converse Residence, completed March 1891. This elaborate Queen Anne-style home included several distinctive features of a Norrman design. Converse was also the brother-in-law of A.H. Twichell, likely a former client of Norrman’s.
311. Max Kutz Residence, built 1892 and demolished circa 1958 – 245 Washington Street, Atlanta. This home was built for a leading Jewish merchant who also served on the board of directors for the Hebrew Orphans’ Home, which Norrman designed. Despite its unusual Gothic inspiration, the striking residence had the unmistakable massing of a Norrman design. The home was demolished for the construction of the 106-acre Capitol Avenue Interchange (now I-75/85/20 Interchange). [Map]
312. Commercial building for East Atlanta Land Company, built 1892 and demolished 1939 – 161-165 Edgewood Avenue, SW corner of Edgewood Avenue and Piedmont Avenue, Atlanta. This was one of at least 3 speculative commercial buildings constructed by the East Atlanta Land Company along Edgewood Avenue — Norrman was the confirmed designer for one (Exchange Building), and likely designed the other two, based on their similarity to his other works from the time. First occupied by the Klouse & Cheny Meat Market, this 3-story building was demolished for the construction of Hurt Park. [Map]

313. Benjamin H. Wilson Residence, built 1892 and demolished 1952 – 570 East Main Street, NW corner of East Main Street and North Fairview Avenue, Spartanburg, South Carolina. This home was built for B.H. Wilson — the president of Converse College — on land that adjoined the college property. The home’s massing and Moorish-inspired design clearly indicate Norrman’s involvement. The home was later owned for many years by J.H. Sloan, a local industrialist. [Map]
314. Benjamin F. Abbott Residence, built 1892 — Peachtree Road, Atlanta. In October 1891, Abbott sold his existing home on Peachtree Street — designed by Norrman in 1884 — to Dr. W.S. Elkin, who would later become a client of Norrman’s. Abbott built a new “country home” in the English View area of Peachtree Road, close to the Joseph P. Thompson House, also designed by Norrman. The second Abbott home was completed in September 1891, and a photograph of the structure suggests that Norrman was likely its designer.
315. U.S. Army Headquarters, Atlanta. 1904 alteration to Leyden House, built in 1858 and designed by John Beutell – 124 Peachtree Street, Atlanta. This landmark 2-story Greek Revival mansion was built for H.H. Tarver in 1858 and notably served as the Union Army’s headquarters during its occupation of Atlanta in 1864. The structure was converted into a boarding house in the 1870s and was substantially rebuilt after being gutted by fire in February 1885. Norrman himself rented a room in the home circa 1894-95. The December 25, 1903, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Willis R. Biggers, “with J.R. Norman, architect”, was in charge of renovating and expanding the home for its temporary use by the United States Army’s Department of the Gulf. Biggers had worked as a draughtsman for Norrman in 1893 and 1894 and was employed by multiple Atlanta architects before establishing a solo career in the 20th century. Assuming “J.R. Norman” refers to G.L. Norrman, it appears Biggers was once again working for Norrman circa 1903-04. The renovation of the Leyden House included the conversion of the front rooms to offices, the addition of a private bathroom in each bedroom, carpeting, tiling, and painting. The renovation was completed in January 1904, and the Department of the Gulf occupied the building until February 1906. The home was demolished in 1914. [Map]

Unbuilt Projects by G.L. Norrman

316. First Presbyterian Church in Anderson, South Carolina. Norrman submitted plans for a sanctuary as described in a letter dated July 12, 1878, sent from Norrman to W.W. Humphreys of the church’s building committee. The completed project was built from 1879 to 1882 and designed by “Architect Russell” of Charleston, South Carolina, and Jeptha F. Wilson of Anderson.
317. Watkins Institute in Nashville, Tennessee. Norrman & Weed was one of six architectural firms that submitted plans on October 6, 1881, for an educational facility including a library and lecture hall. The contract was awarded to Bruce & Morgan of Atlanta. A.C. Bruce (with T.H. Morgan as his draftsman) had originally practiced in Nashville, and the pair designed several works in that region.
318. Jack W. Johnson Residence in Atlanta. The March 1, 1882, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Humphries & Norrman were designing a home for Jack Johnson, which it predicted would be “the tastiest building on Peachtree street”. It appears the home was never built, as Johnson continued living in hotels and apartment houses before moving to Birmingham, Alabama, in 1887. In March 1883, Johnson bought a lot on the “upper end of Peachtree” next to William Dickson and Willis Ragan, with the stated intention of building a residence. Dickson and Ragan both began building homes designed by Norrman, but Johnson sold his lot to Ragan in August 1883.
319. Lewis Beck Residence in Atlanta. The Atlanta Constitution reported in April and May 1882 that Humphries & Norrman were planning a home for Lewis Beck, following his purchase of half of the W.H. Venable lot on Peachtree Street. Beck apparently never built the home and continued his residence for many years in the Kimball House Hotel.
320. Julius Brown Residence in Atlanta. Norrman was originally hired to design this home, but after he and Brown violently feuded, Bruce & Morgan of Atlanta took over the project. Brown later falsely claimed sole credit for the home’s design.
321. Chamber of Commerce Building in Atlanta. An open competition was held in 1883, with designs submitted by Humphries & Norrman, Bruce & Morgan, E.G. Lind of Atlanta, and Fay & Eichberg of Atlanta. The winning proposal was designed by Fay & Eichberg.
322. Swift Specific Company in Atlanta. The June 10, 1883, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that plans were ordered from Humphries & Norrman for a $12,000 factory building for this company. The October 20, 1883, issue of The American Architect and Building News reported that E.G. Lind was the architect for the completed project, which Lind’s own records also verify.
323. Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. Humphries & Norrman was one of 9 firms that submitted plans for the state capitol building in January 1884. Following a contentious examination process, the building committee narrowed down their selection to just 3 designs, one of which was Norrman’s. The committee asked George B. Post, an architect of New York, to examine the 3 plans. Post dismissed Norrman’s plan as “very picturesque” and favored the design by Chicago’s Edbrooke & Burnham, who were awarded the project in February 1884.
324. Chatham County Jail in Savannah, Georgia. The October 2, 1885, issue of Savannah Morning News reported that Norrman and E.G. Lind — using the name Lind & Norrman — submitted plans for a county jail in an open competition. Based on this project’s absence from Lind’s personal records, it appears that Norrman was the designer, and this may have been an attempt to form a partnership between the 2 architects after the dissolution of Humphries & Norrman. Thirteen plans were submitted in the competition, and on January 13, 1886, McDonald Brothers of Louisville, Kentucky, were selected to design the jail. Norrman and Lind did not enter into a partnership.
325. Five stores in Atlanta, circa 1885. The November 22, 1887, issue of The Atlanta Constitution published a quote from Norrman claiming that he “had some drawings made for five stores, two years ago, but they were not built, as the owner did not think it would pay to build them after prohibition started”.
326. $40,000 business block in Gadsden, Alabama. The March 8, 1888, issue of The Gadsden Weekly Times and News reported that Norrman bought a lot for $1500 at the corner of Locust and 4th Streets in Gadsden — across from the Printup Hotel — with the intent of building a block of businesses on the property. This report was further confirmed in the March 21, 1888, issue of The American Engineer. Based on Sanborn maps, the project was never executed.
327. Renovation and expansion of Screven House Hotel in Savannah, Georgia. The December 8, 1888, issue of The Morning News reported that Norrman was drawing plans for a $100,000 renovation and expansion of the Screven House Hotel, which opened in 1854 and was enlarged in 1857 and 1860. The hotel was located on the southeast corner of Congress and Bull Streets at Johnson Square. With a planned start date of May 1, 1889, the expansion project designed by Norrman does not appear to have been executed, and the entire complex was demolished in 1923.
328. G.L. Norrman Residence in Inman Park, Atlanta. The May 9, 1889, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that Norrman had “bought a lot in Inman Park, on Waverly Way, opposite Crystal Lake, and will build there during the summer.” Norrman planned to build his own home on the property, but he never developed the lot, and the city marshal’s office sold it for unpaid taxes in November 1896.
329. Hotel in Vicksburg, Mississippi. In May 1889, Norrman was invited by officers of the Vicksburg Hotel Company to submit plans for building a large hotel of four or five stories in that city, citing his recent work on the Armstrong Hotel in Rome, Georgia. Later named the Carroll Hotel, the project was awarded to Thomas Sully of Sully, Toledano & Patton in New Orleans and opened in 1893.
330. Confederate Soldiers’ Home in Atlanta. In September 1889, Norrman submitted plans for this project in competition with Bruce & Morgan and L.B. Wheeler of Atlanta; Bruce & Morgan won the commission.
331. Renovation and expansion of Tryon Street Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. In June 1890, Norrman inspected the church to draw plans for a possible expansion and renovation of the facility. The project began in 1891, but E.C. Gardner of Atlanta appears to have been the architect.
332. Americus Social and Athletic Club in Americus, Georgia. The October 17, 1890, issue of the Americus Recorder reported that plans by Norrman had been accepted for a 2-story club building with “an elegant basement, a ground floor, and a dancing hall above”. Construction began that month at the southwest corner of Jackson and Church Streets, but the project was abandoned when the club disbanded in November 1890, and the lot was sold in November 1892. In 1893, the R.L. McMath home, designed by T.A. Kluttz of Americus, was constructed on the club’s foundations.
333. W.E. Murphey Residence in Americus, Georgia. The October 29, 1890, issue of the Americus Recorder reported that Norrman had drawn plans for a $16,000 home, “colonial style, two story, with pretty alcoves and verandahs” for W.E Murphey. Earlier reports stated that the home would be built on the corner of Lee and Furlow Streets. Murphey instead bought an antebellum Greek Revival style home in the Brooklyn Heights suburb of northwest Americus, and the home was not built. In 1892, a home attributed to Norrman was built for John T. Taylor, on the same lot at the corner of Lee and Furlow. The home was also designed in Colonial Revival style, and may have been based on the original plans for the Murphey house.
334. Expansion and renovation of 1871 Union Station in Atlanta. The February 23, 1896, issue of The Atlanta Constitution published an illustration and description of a plan submitted by Norrman in 1890 for a possible expansion of the city’s second Union Station, built in 1871. The project did not materialize, and the depot was finally replaced by Atlanta’s third Union Station in 1930.
335. Savannah Volunteer Guards Armory in Savannah, Georgia. Norrman was initially hired to design this structure, with an illustration of the building published in the January 31, 1892, issue of The Morning News, and construction bids were solicited the same month. Contractors were selected, with construction set to begin in February 1892. For unclear reasons, the structure was ultimately designed by W. G. Preston of Boston, who previously designed the DeSoto Hotel and Chatham County Courthouse in Savannah.
336. Joel Hurt Residence in Inman Park, Atlanta. The April 20, 1891, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that Norrman was making plans for “a fine house” for Joel Hurt, president of the East Atlanta Land Company, to be located at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Euclid Avenue in Inman Park. Hurt didn’t build a residence on the property until 1904, and that structure was designed by W.T. Downing of Atlanta.
337. Floyd County Courthouse in Rome, Georgia. The May 13, 1891, issue of Chattooga News reported that Norrman presented plans for the Floyd County courthouse in competition with 4 other architectural firms. None of the initial bidders was chosen, and the project was awarded to Bruce & Morgan in June 1891 and completed in 1893.

338. Georgia Building at World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. In January 1892, Norrman was appointed by Georgia’s governor to design a $10,000 Classical Revival-style building to represent the state at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. The plans were abandoned in March 1892 when Norrman reported that the location provided at the exposition was too small and too far from the main attractions; the project also lacked sufficient funds.
339. Inman Park church in Atlanta. In a summary of Norrman’s recent work, the July 13, 1892 edition of The Atlanta Constitution listed “Inman Park church, $30,000.” This was likely the Edgewood Methodist Church, which in 1891 had been donated property by the East Atlanta Land Company at the NE corner of Edgewood Avenue and Waverly Way, with W.W. Goodrich of Atlanta designing plans for a sanctuary to cost $10,000 to $15,000. The building was not constructed, and in January 1892, the congregation split into 2 different churches: Epworth Methodist Church and Edgewood Methodist Church. In February 1892, Edgewood Methodist Church announced plans to build a $25,000 sanctuary on the donated lot in Inman Park, with “work to commence in early spring”. However, that structure was also not built, and in 1899, the Ernest Woodruff house was constructed on the property, designed by W.T. Downing.
340. Dougherty County Courthouse in Albany, Georgia. In July 1892, Norrman won an open competition for the renovation and expansion of the county’s existing 1856 courthouse, winning over submissions from Bruce & Morgan, McDonald Brothers, and W.R. Gunn of Albany. An illustration of Norrman’s design for the courthouse was published in the July 16, 1892, issue of the Albany Weekly Herald, but the project had already been halted due to local opposition over the county commission’s plan to fund the estimated $20,000 project without voter approval. The plans were never executed, and the courthouse was finally demolished in 1902 for a new structure designed by T.F. Lockwood of Columbus, Georgia.

341. Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. In August 1892, Fulton County commissioners met with Norrman to request plans for a new jail on the site of the aging and overcrowded prison on Fraser Street. Norrman estimated that the project would cost around $100,000 and stated that the new facility would incorporate portions of the old building. The plans were not executed, and news of the meeting spurred a public petition by residents who lived near the existing jail, requesting that the county build a new facility at a different site.
342. Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. The February 14, 1893, issue of The Times in Richmond, Virginia, reported that Norrman was one of 12 architectural firms to submit qualifying plans for the design of the Jefferson Hotel in that city. The winning plan was submitted by Carrere & Hastings of New York, and the hotel opened in 1895.
343. Dormitory at Georgia Normal and Industrial College in Milledgeville, Georgia. In May 1893, both The Atlanta Constitution and Atlanta Journal stated that Norrman promised to donate plans for a dormitory to house Fulton County girls at the Georgia Normal and Industrial College, which had become overcrowded, reportedly housing 8 girls to a room. In the January 14, 1894, issue of The Atlanta Constitution, Mrs. M.L. McLendon of the Fulton County Industrial Loan Association noted that: “We are anxious to build a dormitory college at Milledgeville, and Mr. Norman, the architect, has promised to give … the plan when we secure the money to build it.” The project wasn’t executed, and a new dormitory designed by Bruce & Morgan was built in 1896.
344. Standard Southern Cotton Warehouse Plan. The June 23, 1893, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that Norrman was one of nearly 100 designers — seven were from Atlanta — who submitted designs for a cotton warehouse plan to be built in towns throughout the Southeast, in a competition held by the German-American Insurance Company. The winning bid was submitted by a layman: James A. Beasley of Memphis, Tennessee.
345. Boys’ High School in Atlanta. In July 1894, Norrman and 7 other architectural firms submitted plans in an open competition for the design of a new high school building. The winning proposal was selected in September 1894, designed by Golucke & Stewart of Atlanta. Norrman publicly derided the plans as “an architectural monstrosity” — among other things — and compared the chairman of the building committee to an “assistant hog drover”. The building was indeed hideous, and after a long delay, construction began in February 1896 and was completed by September 1896.
346. Robert F. Maddox Residence in Atlanta. The February 23, 1894, issue of Manufacturer’s Record reported that Norrman was designing a “residence of brick and stone” for Robert F. Maddox for $15,000. The completed home at 183 Peachtree Street was built in 1895 and designed by W.T. Downing; the structure was demolished on August 30, 1915.
347. Armistead Residence in Atlanta. The March 24, 1895, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman had drawn plans for a home for “Mrs. Armstead” [sic] at the corner of Williams and 5th Streets, with a projected cost of $4,000. City directories from the time show a few people with the name Armistead, but none named Armstead — and none of the Armisteads lived near Williams and 5th Streets. A short street called Armstead Place was originally known as Armistead Place, and still exists one block east of Williams and 5th Streets.
348. Joel Hurt Residence in Inman Park, Atlanta. The April 13, 1895, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that Norrman had made plans for a $25,000 residence for Joel Hurt, who would build on “one of the most strikingly beautiful lots in Inman Park”. This was the second time in 4 years that Norrman had made plans for Hurt’s residence, and as in 1891, the plans were not executed. Hurt did not build a residence until 1904, and that structure was designed by W.T. Downing.
349. Morris Hirsch Residence in Atlanta. The April 13, 1895, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that construction would “proceed at once” on an $11,000 home designed by Norrman for “Morris Hisch” [sic], located on Washington Street, “a few doors beyond Ormond”. It appears that Hirsch did not build the home, as city directories from the time indicate that he continued living in his existing residence on South Forsyth Street for many years.
350. Carraway Residence in Atlanta. The April 13, 1895, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that Norrman made plans for a $12,000 residence for “Mrs. Carroway” [sic], which was “to be built at once” on the north corner of Peachtree and Poplar Streets. The information given about the home’s planned location appears to be incorrect, as the intersection of Peachtree and Poplar was primarily a commercial area by 1895, and the English-American Building (Flatiron Building) was built on the site in 1897. In July 1895, M.C. Carraway was reported to be building a home on Ponce de Leon Avenue, with a design by W.T. Downing.
351. Holliday Residence in Atlanta. The April 13, 1895, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that Norrman had made plans for an $8,000 residence on “Jackson boulevard” (likely Jackson Street). This is likely the S.H. Holliday House, which was constructed on Forrest Avenue in 1895 and designed by W.T. Downing.
352. Colonial Building at the Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta. The June 10, 1895, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that the “colonial committee” for the upcoming Cotton States Exposition determined that the space allotted in the Women’s Building for a Colonial exhibit was insufficient, and a separate structure would need to be constructed, contingent on funding. According to the article, “Several plans for the colonial building have already been submitted, one of them recently drawn by Mr. Norman would be a reproduction of the earliest colonial house in America.” The building was not constructed, and the Colonial exhibit remained in the Women’s Building.

353. Hotel Venable/Venable Building in Atlanta. In April 1895, the Venable Brothers announced plans for a new 10-story hotel made of Stone Mountain granite, to be designed by Norrman and built on their property at the SW corner of Marietta and Forsyth Streets, with a projected completion date of September 1895. The foundations were laid, but the project was abandoned. In January 1896, the Venable Brothers claimed the hotel would begin construction in June 1896, but in April 1896, the hotel concept was dropped in favor of a 10-story office building on the same site, also designed by Norrman. The Venable Brothers convinced the Atlanta city council to sign a lease agreement for the building, which would serve as the new Atlanta city hall, with a projected completion date of March 1897. In January 1897, when construction still hadn’t begun on the project, the city dropped its agreement with the Venables. Finally, on March 3, 1898, The Atlanta Constitution reported that the Venable Brothers would begin construction on the office building “within the next four weeks”. To the surprise of no one, the project never started.
354. Mecklenburg County Courthouse in Charlotte, North Carolina. In May 1895, Norrman and over a dozen other architects submitted plans for a courthouse building in what was advertised as an open competition. Instead, each plan was examined separately, “the architects being admitted one at a time to the counsel room”, according to The Charlotte Observer. After 2 days of deliberation with no decision by the examining committee, Norrman withdrew his plans. As the Mecklenburg Times explained, Norrman and W. Chamberlain of Knoxville, “got into a huff Tuesday afternoon, picked up their plans and told the committee good day.” The Observer reported that “several of the architects got offended and withdrew their plans”, adding that “Mr. Normann [sic] favored open competition, not a private seance with each architect”. The winning bid was designed by Frank P. Milburn of Winston, North Carolina, and built in 1896.
355. Renovation and expansion of the Muscogee County Courthouse in Columbus, Georgia. The July 16, 1895, issue of the Daily Enquirer-Sun reported that Norrman submitted plans for this project in competition with Golucke & Stewart, A.J. Bryan of Atlanta, R.L. Jones of Atlanta, R.H. Hunt of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lockwood Brothers, and T.W. Smith & Company of Columbus, and Charles Wheelock & Company of Birmingham, Alabama. A.J. Bryan’s design was ultimately selected.
356. Fulton County Jail in Atlanta. In May 1896, the Fulton County Commission held an open competition for a new “model jail”. Norrman refused to submit plans because the winning design was to be supervised by Grant Wilkins, a local engineer who was not a trained architect. In June 1896, the commission rejected all 5 bids for being too expensive and handed the contract for the jail’s design to Wilkins. After the bids were rejected, Norrman privately shared his own plans for a $150,000 jail design with a member of the commission, likely hoping to curry favor. Norrman was rebuffed, and in July 1896, he and 4 other architects issued a formal protest against the commission, but the Wilkins plans were accepted later that year. Norrman publicly criticized Wilkins’ design for the jail, which was completed in 1898.
357. Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi. The July 15, 1896, issue of the Daily Clarion-Ledger reported that Norrman had registered at the Edwards House Hotel in Jackson. The visit was concurrent with an open competition requesting designs for a new state capitol, with a $1,000 prize offered for the winning submission. The Vicksburg Post later confirmed Norrman’s participation, identifying him as “A.H. Noorman”, competing with 13 other architectural firms. The winning plan by Weathers & Weathers of Memphis was finally selected in December 1896, but in May 1897, the state legislature unexpectedly adopted a new set of plans by James Riely Gordon of San Antonio. Those plans were vetoed by the governor within days, based on widespread allegations that Gordon was a fraud and that his plans for the capitol were actually designs for a courthouse in Texas. Another open competition was held in 1900, and the state didn’t receive a new capitol until 1903. Mississippi is a mess.
358. Monument for Georgia Confederate soldiers at Chickamauga Battlefield in Georgia. In August 1896, Norrman submitted plans in open competition for a $25,000 monument at the Chickamauga Battlefield in northeast Georgia. Of the 30 to 35 designs submitted, Norrman’s was selected as one of the top 9 contenders, described by The Atlanta Journal as “a granite arch on which is the coat of arms of Georgia”. Muldoon and Company of Louisville, Kentucky, won the bid.
359. Atlanta Paper Company building facade in Atlanta. The March 5, 1897, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that the city building inspector had condemned a 5-story warehouse building at the southwest corner of South Pryor and East Mitchell Streets, stating that the front wall was built too thin and had subsequently disintegrated, making it “dangerous and likely to collapse”. The building’s owner, Moses Adler, was reportedly conferring with Norrman about designing a new front, and the building was undergoing repairs on April 23, 1897, when 3 sides of the structure — not including the front wall — collapsed. The structure was subsequently demolished.
360. Masonic Temple in Atlanta. The February 24, 1898, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that Norrman had submitted plans for a new Masonic temple, in competition with Bruce & Morgan, Golucke & Stewart, J.A. LeSuer, James H. Dinwiddie, and Land & Cox, all of Atlanta. Bruce & Morgan won the commission for the $50,000 project in March 1898, but the plans were abandoned, and the Masonic lot at the northwest corner of Auburn Avenue and Pryor Streets remained vacant until it was sold in 1905.
361. Isolation ward and ambulance barn at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta. The February 25, 1898, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman was designing plans for an isolation ward and ambulance barn to be built behind the hospital’s main building. “With a few slight changes yet to be made the plans made by Architect Norman [sic] will be approved and the work of building the ward will begin at once” the report claimed. The March 6, 1898, issue of the Constitution reported that Grady trustees had been granted $5,000 for the project, but requested an additional $3,000 from the city council’s finance committee, “asserting that it was absolutely necessary to complete the ward”. The committee refused the request, and the project was not constructed.
362. Shoe factory in Atlanta. Among the lowest points of Norrman’s career, in April 1898, plans were announced in both The Atlanta Constitution and The Atlanta Journal for a $225,000 shoe factory of 7 to 8 floors that would be built in Atlanta and designed by Norrman. The project’s representative, a W.B. McBride of Chicago, also claimed that a tannery would be constructed in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to supply the Atlanta factory. The May 19, 1898, issue of Engineering News reported that Norrman “informs us that the proposition to construct a new shoe factory in this city has not been consummated and probably will not be.” The May 18, 1898, issue of Boot and Shoe Recorder gave more detail, reporting that McBride had similarly promised a $200,000 8-story hotel in Nashville, and “a brewery in some other Southern city”. The journal explained: “He tried to work his friends here [in Atlanta] for several sums of greater or less amount, and went off leaving his board bill at the Kimball [House Hotel] unpaid, G.L. Norrman, the well-known architect, had to foot the bill.”
363. Fulton County Courthouse Annex in Atlanta. The August 3, 1899, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman was one of seven architects who submitted plans for a proposed $100,000 courthouse annex in Atlanta, competing with B.A. Pugin; Bruce & Morgan; Grant Wilkins; Golucke & Stewart; Hayden, Wheeler & Schwend; and A.J. Bryan. Wilkins won the competition, and the annex was completed in 1900. Later described by the Constitution as “an inexcusable botch of a building”, the structure was demolished in 1911 for the construction of a new courthouse designed by A. Ten Eyck Brown and Morgan & Dillon of Atlanta.
364. Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. The October 29, 1899, issue of the Birmingham Age-Herald reported that Norrman, “who but two days ago moved to Birmingham”, had secured a commission to convert the Walker Building at the northeast corner of First Avenue and 21st Street into a hotel consisting of more than 100 rooms, with 2 new floors planned to be added to the structure. The hotel was not constructed, and the Walker Building was used as an event space until September 1900, when it was leased to a dry goods establishment; the structure is now demolished.
365. Hotel and business block in Augusta, Georgia. The January 5, 1900, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman was in Augusta to meet with Bryan Lawrence, J.B. White, and Thomas W. Coskery about designing a hotel and business block to replace buildings that were destroyed by fire on December 10, 1899. The article stated: “Mr. Norrman has had several conferences with them, and it is quite likely that he will make plans for the new block.” In March 1900, the project was awarded to W.F. Denny of Atlanta.
366. School building for Chatham Academy in Savannah, Georgia. The March 3, 1900, issue of The Morning News reported that Norrman had submitted a plan to the president of the local school board for a new building to replace the city’s aging public school, Chatham Academy. In a joint meeting of the school board and the trustees of the academy, Norrman’s plan was rejected, with the stated objection that the design would cost more than $100,000 to build, although Norrman estimated the project would cost no more than $45,000.
367. Union Depot in Savannah, Georgia. The October 27, 1900, issue of The Morning News reported that Norrman submitted a design for a new depot in Savannah, in competition with Grant Wilkins, Frank Pierce Milburn of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Bradford L. Gilbert of New York. Milburn was awarded the design in November 1900 — the project was built in 1902 and demolished in 1963.
368. Masonic Temple in Mobile, Alabama. The December 16, 1900, issue of the Mobile Daily Register reported that Norrman made plans for a 6-story Masonic temple to be built on St. Joseph Street. The newspaper described the proposed structure as being “in composite style of architecture, partaking mostly of the fifteenth century features.” Make of that what you will. The building was constructed in 1902, but the final design was by Stone Brothers of New Orleans.
369. Classroom building for State Normal College in Athens, Georgia. The July 20, 1901, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman was preparing plans for a 2-story building at the State Normal College, 6 months after he was awarded the contract for a dormitory and mess hall at the nearby University of Georgia. Designed with a “classical and imposing front”, the building was to contain classrooms, a library, and an auditorium, with construction set to begin in September 1901, contingent on the school receiving the necessary funds. The building was not constructed, and in 1903, the school opened a 3-story “practical school” building and the Winnie Davis Memorial Hall, both designed by Charles Edward Choate of Augusta, Georgia.
370. Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Florida. In September 1901, Norrman submitted plans in competition with 13 other architects for the design of the Duval County Courthouse, following the destruction of the previous courthouse in the Great Fire of 1901. The September 24, 1901, issue of The Evening Metropolis reported that 5 county officials wrote a letter to the county commission endorsing Norrman’s plan, but there were reportedly objections to Norrman’s proposal to cover the building in stucco. Norrman wrote a letter defending his choice, concluding that “All the old buildings of Charleston, Savannah and New Orleans are finished in stucco… In my own practice I had been using stucco on buildings for the past twenty-five years, with very satisfactory results.” Norrman’s plan was rejected in favor of a clumsy stone structure designed by Rutledge Holmes.

371. W.B. Owen Residence in Jacksonville, Florida. The October 13, 1901, issue of The Sunday Times-Union and Citizen published an illustration and description of a proposed 2-story, 8-room frame residence designed by Norrman, to be “started as soon as Judge and Mrs. Owen return from their Western trip.” A blend of several past designs, including the W.L. Reynolds Residence in Atlanta and the R.O. Barksdale Residence in Washington, Georgia, the proposed structure was very typically Norrman, with Romanesque massing, a tented roof, an exposed chimney on the front, and a wraparound vaulted porch with Tuscan columns. As the newspaper explained: “No special style of architecture has been adopted other than the picturesque…”, although the primary influence was Colonial Revival. The Owens returned from their trip, but the home was not constructed. In 1903, Owen built a home on Laura Street designed by a local contractor.
372. Confederate Soldiers’ Home in Atlanta. The October 4, 1901, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman had offered to donate plans “free of cost” for the rebuilding of the Confederate Soldiers’ Home, which was destroyed by fire on September 30, 1901. Despite Norrman’s offer, an open competition was held with 4 architectural firms participating — Norrman did not take part, and the winning plan was designed by Bruce & Morgan, who also planned the previous structure. The building was demolished in February 1965.
373. Hotel Victoria in Macon, Georgia. The March 31, 1902, issue of The Macon News reported that Edward A. Horne was in Atlanta consulting Norrman about plans for a 6-story hotel, which the April 22, 1902, issue of the Engineering Record stated would cost “about $225,000.” Horne first announced his intention to build a hotel in February 1902, with a planned location on Cherry Street in Macon, between 3rd and 4th Streets, calling the new hotel the “Victoria”. The project was contingent on the Winn-Johnson Company vacating its existing building on the property; the firm refused to move, and the hotel was not built.
374. Bourbon County Courthouse in Paris, Kentucky. The May 13, 1902, issue of The Bourbon News reported that Norrman and 13 other architects had submitted plans for a new courthouse; the winning plan was designed by Frank Pierce Milburn.
375. Hotel in Savannah, Georgia. The September 17, 1902, issue of The Philadelphia Real Estate Record & Guide reported that Norrman had “prepared plans for a large hotel to be erected at Savannah, Ga.” This project does not appear to have been constructed.
376. Southern Railway Depot in Asheville, North Carolina. In November 1902, Norrman visited Asheville, North Carolina, to survey the site of a planned depot for the Southern Railway. Described as “one of the Southern’s architects”, Norrman was reported to be designing a train station “entirely different from anything of the kind ever undertaken”. In December 1902, the railway announced new plans by Frank Pierce Milburn; the depot finally opened in 1905, designed by “Architect Elvin of Columbia, S.C.”
377. Germania Bank Building in Savannah, Georgia. The July 17, 1902 issue of Savannah Morning News reported that Norrman was one of 9 architects who submitted plans for the design of an 8-story office building at the corner of Bull and Congress Streets in Savannah. Frank Pierce Milburn was initially hired for the project, but his plans were rejected as too costly. The job was ultimately awarded to Bruce & Morgan, with H.W. Witcover of Savannah as supervising architect. The Germania Bank Building opened in 1904 and was demolished in 1975.
378. Edward H. Inman Residence in Atlanta. The January 16, 1903, issue of The Southern Architect reported that Norrman was soliciting bids for a home on West Peachtree Street for Edward Inman, described as “strictly ‘Normanesque’ but picturesque as well”. The January 30 issue reported that Norrman had received bids, but the home was apparently never built.
379. Terminal Station in Atlanta. The April 18, 1903, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman was one of 15 architects who submitted plans for the Terminal Station passenger depot in Atlanta. In May 1903, the project was awarded to P. Thornton Marye of Washington, D.C., who subsequently moved his practice to Atlanta. The Terminal Station opened in 1905 and was demolished in 1972, replaced by the Richard B. Russell Federal Building.

380. City Hall in Savannah, Georgia. In May 1903, Norrman submitted plans in open competition for a new city hall in Savannah, and the May 20, 1903, issue of Savannah Morning News reported that members of the committee choosing the plans considered them “the best of the fourteen plans submitted”. It was a puzzling development when all 14 submissions were rejected by the building committee — led by the mayor, Herman Myers — and the job was awarded to H.W. Witcover. The January 5, 1907 issue of The Searchlight later explained that “The plans the City liked best, were those of Mr. G.L. Norrman of Atlanta, but he had no pull with the machine.” The newspaper alleged that Norrman’s plans were handed over to Witcover — “a friend of the administration” — who was paid over $10,000 to design plans nearly identical to Norrman’s. The city hall was completed in 1906 and is indeed nearly identical to Norrman’s design.
381. National Bank of Savannah. The May 19, 1903, issue of Savannah Morning News reported that Norrman was one of 6 architects who submitted plans “by invitation” for a 4-story office building at the corner of Bull and Broughton Streets in Savannah. H.W. Witcover was ultimately awarded the project, which was completed as a 10-story building in 1905 and demolished in 1975.
382. Chinese Village at The Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. The June 20, 1903, issue of The Chattanooga News reported that Norrman had been employed to design the buildings for the Chinese exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, held in 1904. This claim was further supported by a report in the July 2, 1903, issue of Construction News-Record, but it appears that Norrman’s involvement in the fair never materialized. The October 1903 issue of World’s Fair Bulletin explained that the original plans for the exhibit, designed by Atkinson & Dallas of Shanghai, were “incomplete”, and that Charles Dietering of St. Louis was later hired as supervising architect for the project, “drawing the working plans of the structure after the American fashion”.
383. Marion M. Jackson Residence in Atlanta. The September 11, 1904, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Jackson “had Mr. Norman prepare handsome plans for a home on his lot in English View”, a residential subdivision on Peachtree Road developed on the former property of James W. English. It appears Jackson did not build the home, as he continued living in his existing home at Capitol Square, and in July 1909, purchased a home on West Peachtree Street.
384. Second Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia. The October 29, 1904, issue of The Augusta Chronicle reported that Norrman visited the city the previous day to submit plans for the Second Baptist Church. The church had previously accepted plans by J.F. Leitner of Columbia, South Carolina, in September 1904, and the project was ultimately constructed in 1907, with a design by MacMurphy & Story of Augusta.
385. Renovation of the Capital City Club in Atlanta. The January 1905 issue of The Builder reported that “Extensive alterations and improvements to the Capital City Club…is now in Mr. Norrman’s office.” Norrman had just suffered a stroke, and the plans were not executed, nor was the club renovated. In March 1906, the members of the club were still debating whether to conduct a $100,000 renovation of the existing building or build an entirely new one. The Capital City Club finally moved into a new building in 1911, designed by Donn Barber of New York and P. Thornton Marye.
386. High school building in Tifton, Georgia. The December 1, 1905, issue of The Tifton Gazette reported that the Tifton city council had considered plans for a new high school building submitted by Norrman, along with a competing plan by Lockwood Brothers; the Lockwood design was chosen.
387. H.T. Inman Residence in Ansley Park, Atlanta. The March 25, 1906, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman had been consulting with H.T. Inman “for some time” about a new home on “Inman hill”, an area in Ansley Park bound by Peachtree Circle, 17th Street, and the Prado; the residence was not built.
388. First Baptist Church pastorium in Montgomery, Alabama. The March 9, 1905, issue of The Mongtomgery Advertiser reported on a pastorium to be built in conjunction with the sanctuary for the First Baptist Church, designed by Norrman: “Work will immediately begin in the erection of the handsome church edifice which will front on Perry Street and the Pastorium which will front on Lawrence Street.” The sanctuary was completed in 1916, but the pastorium was not constructed.
389. City Armory-Auditorium in Atlanta. The September 30, 1906, issue of The Atlanta Constitution published preliminary plans by Norrman for a prospective military armory and city auditorium, stated as a necessary addition following the Atlanta race massacre. “The citizens as well as the members of the state troops are taking hold of the proposition with a vim and vigor characteristic of the Atlanta spirit,” the paper reported. In February 1907, plans designed by Morgan & Dillon of Atlanta were formally accepted, and the project was completed in 1909.
390. Church building for St. Philip’s Cathedral in Atlanta. The January 15, 1908 issue of The Atlanta Georgian and News reported plans for a 3-story “church home” designed by Norrman & Falkner, to contain a lecture room, Sunday School room, parish school, dormitories and offices, stating that it would be “one of the largest, most modern and costly buildings of the kind in the city”, with construction set to begin “within the next month or so.” However, no other references to the project have been found, and fire maps from 1911 do not show a building matching that description at the church property, located on the NE corner of Washington and Hunter Streets.

Projects by G.L. Norrman with Unknown Status

391. Six-room houses in Spartanburg, South Carolina, built in 1880. In the January 14, 1892, issue of The Atlanta Constitution, Norrman shared the following anecdote in a letter about the construction of cheap houses: “Twelve years ago I built a number of … houses, with six rooms each at Spartanburg, S.C., at an expense of $350 each, including material and labor. They are still standing. It is remarkable how cheap you can build a comfortable house.”
392. Town hall in Union, South Carolina. The November 13, 1880, issue of The American Architect and Building News reported that Norrman was making plans for a $9,000 town hall for this location. The town charter, as published in the January 14, 1881, issue of The Weekly Union Times, indicated that the building would contain a public hall, council chamber, fire engine, jail, and town clock. No further information can be found about the construction of a town hall, and an 1884 fire map of the town does not show the structure.
393. Residence in Union, South Carolina. The November 13, 1880, issue of The American Architect and Building News reported that Norrman was designing a home for this location, set to cost $6,000. It is not clear if the home was ever built, and there are no existing homes in Union that appear to be of Norrman’s design.
394. J.B. Davis Residence, 1882. The August 26, 1882, issue of The American Architect & Building News referenced this home as “being erected” by Humphries & Norrman. However, no other information has been found about this project, and no person by that name is listed in Atlanta city directories from that time.
395. Two-story frame building in Columbia, South Carolina. The April 7, 1885, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that “M.L. Morman” was building a two-story frame building for “Mr. Bev. K. Wright” in Columbia, South Carolina. This reference is undoubtedly a misspelling of G.L. Norrman, and the client was likely George K. Wright, a prominent insurance agent and real estate broker. The project may have been for Wright’s residence, which was located at the southwest corner of Blanding and Pickens Streets; the home was later operated for many years as the Blanding Tourist Home and was destroyed by fire in the 1970s. Wright’s office was a one-story brick building on N. Richardson Street.
396. Brick store building in Rome, Georgia. The March 1, 1886, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that Norrman was making plans for a $10,000 brick store building in Rome, Georgia. It is unclear if the project was built, and there are no existing store buildings in Rome that appear to be of Norrman’s design.
397. Residence in Rome, Georgia. The March 1, 1886, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that Norrman was building 3 residences in Rome, Georgia. It’s unclear if all 3 homes were built, as only 2 residences are confirmed to have been built by Norrman in Rome, both demolished:
     • Jack King House – built 1886
     • Martin Grahame House – built 1886

398. W.P. Lay Residence in Gadsden, Alabama. The December 3, 1887, issue of The Chattanooga Daily Times reported that W.P. Lay, founder of the Alabama Power Company, was having Norrman prepare plans for his home in Gadsden. No evidence has been found that Norrman’s plans were implemented, and the W.P. Lay House pictured at the link does not appear to be of Norrman’s design.
399. Thomas H. Kennedy Residence in Atlanta. The January 14, 1890, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman had plans for a $5,000 home to be built by Thomas H. Kennedy on Simpson Street. However, Kennedy lived in the same home at 20 Powers Street for many years, on property known as “Elm Grove”, which fronted on both Powers and Simpson Streets. It’s possible that a new home was planned for the Simpson Street side of the property, but was not constructed.
400. Two residences in Americus, Georgia, circa 1890. The October 3, 1890, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman had 6 homes “on hand” in Americus. However, only 4 homes in Americus at that time can be accounted for as Norrman designs:
     • E.A. Hawkins Residence – confirmed design by Norrman, completed October 1890
     • W.E. Murphey Residence – confirmed design by Norrman, not built
     • W.L. Glessner Residence – attributed to Norrman, began construction in June 1890
     • M.B. Council Residence – attributed to Norrman, began construction circa October 1890 and completed circa April 1891

401. Three residences in Spartanburg, South Carolina, circa 1890. The October 3, 1890, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman was designing 4 residences in Spartanburg, although only one home has been found from this time that was likely designed by Norrman:
     • Dexter E. Converse House – completed March 1891
402. Residence in Charlotte, North Carolina. The October 3, 1890, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman had plans for a Charlotte residence “in hand”. This may be the “keepers’ house” in Latta Park, referenced in the September 20, 1890, issue of Charlotte Chronicle as being designed by Norrman. No other information has been found about residential work by Norrman in Charlotte, and there are no existing structures in the city that appear to be of his design.
403. Public library building in Tallahassee, Florida. The October 3, 1890, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman was building “a schoolhouse, a public library building, and a residence in Tallahassee, Fla.” The “schoolhouse” was College Hall at West Florida Seminary, and the residence was the Guy Louis Winthrop House. No record has been found of a library constructed in that city during that time, although this may refer to the library located inside College Hall.
404. Schley County Jail in Ellaville, Georgia. The July 9, 1891, issue of the Schley County News reported that “Architect Norman from Atlanta, was at commissioners court consulting about the new jail. As soon as the plan is agreed on bids will be had for the contract and work commenced at once.” Advertising for bids began 2 weeks later; construction on the jail building began in October 1891 and was completed in March 1892. The building still exists but has been altered [Map]. Nothing about the structure’s design indicates that Norrman was the architect, and no further information about any other possible designer can be found.
405. 3-story brick building in Atlanta. The July 13, 1892, issue of The Atlanta Constitution reported that Norrman was furnishing plans for “a three-story brick building for Mrs. Phillips”, although it’s unclear if the building was constructed. The name likely refers to Mary S. Phillips, the widowed wife of Colonel W.R. Phillips, a prominent Atlanta citizen. Mrs. Phillips’ 2-story home at the SE corner of North Forsyth and Luckie Streets was sold at auction in late 1891, converted to a boarding house and later an office and retail complex, standing through the early 20th century. An additional lot owned by Phillips at the NE corner of Fairlie and Poplar Streets contained a residential duplex that was built before 1886 and demolished in 1912.
406. J.R. Dyson Residence in Washington, Georgia. The March 1893 issue of The Southern Architect reported that plans drawn by Norrman for this project had been accepted; it is unclear if the home was built.
407. Marble house in Atlanta. The February 23, 1894, issue of Manufacturers’ Record reported that Norrman was preparing plans for a residence to be built of marble, with an estimated cost of $15,000. No further details of this project can be found.
408. Unidentified residence. The March 1898 issue of The Southern Architect published an illustration of an unidentified residence designed by Norrman. The project was likely planned circa 1893, based on 2 factors:
     • The illustration appears to have been drawn by W.L. Stoddart, who worked for Norrman from 1893 to 1894.
     • The central chimney depicted in the illustration includes the same classically-styled niche element used in the Paul Romare House, designed by Norrman, and the C.D. Hurt House, attributed to Norrman. Both homes were built in 1893.
409. L.G. Hardman Residence in Commerce, Georgia. The July 1899 issue of The Southern Architect reported that Norrman was drawing plans for a residence for L.G. Hardman of Harmony Grove, Georgia (later Commerce, Georgia). Norrman designed the Hardman Sanitorium for L.G. Hardman that same year, but no information has been found about a possible residence. The existing L.G. Hardman House in Commerce was built in 1921.
410. Decorations for Admiral Schley Celebration in Birmingham, Alabama. The October 28, 1899, issue of The Age-Herald reported that Norrman had “furnished the citizens’ committee with some handsome designs for decorating the city in honor of Admiral Schley.” Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley visited Birmingham from November 6-7, 1899, and was widely feted during his 2 days in the city; it is unknown if Norrman’s designs were ultimately used.
411. One or more structures in Macon, Georgia. An article in the January 5, 1900, issue of The Atlanta Constitution stated: “Mr. Norrman is one of the most prominent architects in the state, having erected buildings in Savannah, Macon, Atlanta, and many other places…” While Norrman’s work in Atlanta and Savannah is well-documented, there is no specific information about projects he may have completed in Macon.
412. Residential duplex for Lucy A. Romare in Atlanta. The May 13, 1904, issue of The Southern Architect reported that Norrman was designing a residential duplex for Mrs. Paul Romare, newly widowed, on Peachtree Place in Atlanta. However, no building permit or other supporting evidence has been found to indicate that the project was built.
413. “Peachtree House”, referenced in the June 23, 1904, issue of The Southern Architect.
414. “Atlanta Residence” referenced in the July 15, 1904, issue of The Southern Architect.
415. Addition to Bienville Hotel in Mobile, Alabama. The August 23, 1904, issue of The Montgomery Advertiser reported that plans had been drawn — presumably by Norrman — for a 6-story annex to be connected to the existing Bienville Hotel, which Norrman designed. The annex was to be built “directly to the rear of the present structure, having an entrance on St. Michael street”. It’s unclear if the project was ever executed.
416. “Atlanta Residence” referenced in the September 16, 1904, issue of The Southern Architect.
417. “Atlanta Residence” referenced in the November 12, 1904, issue of The Southern Architect.
418. Possible works in New Orleans, Mobile, Alabama, Montgomery, Alabama, and Birmingham, Alabama. Following Norrman’s stroke in January 1905, a widely-circulated news report by the Associated Press claimed that he had “erected a number of public buildings in [Atlanta] and other Southern cities, notably New Orleans, Mobile, Montgomery and Birmingham.” The report seems to be based in part on an article from the January 11, 1905 issue of The Atlanta Journal which made several erroneous claims, crediting Norrman as the architect for the J.R. Hopkins House in Atlanta, designed by Nixon & Lindsey; the Hotel Hillman in Birmingham, Alabama, designed by Thomas Sully; and “a large number…of county court houses in Georgia and elsewhere”, although Norrman only designed one. Norrman’s known associations with each of the 4 cities are:
     • New Orleans: No evidence has been found to confirm that Norrman worked in New Orleans, but he made at least 4 visits to that city between 1893 and 1894: twice in December 1893, including a visit that lasted from Christmas Eve to mid-January; once in June 1894; and finally in November 1894 to attend the wedding of Walter D. Welborn, formerly of Atlanta, who then lived in New Orleans. “He will be absent several weeks,” The Atlanta Journal noted.
     • Mobile, Alabama: In 1900, Norrman designed the Bienville Hotel, which is his only known project completed in that city. A plan by Norrman for the Masonic Temple was not executed, and a 6-story annex for the Bienville Hotel was planned in 1904, although it is unclear if Norrman was the designer or if the project was constructed.
     • Montgomery, Alabama: Norrman’s stroke occurred 2 months before construction began on his design for the First Baptist Church of Montgomery. No record has been found to indicate he designed any other buildings in that city.
     • Birmingham, Alabama: Norrman spent significant time in Birmingham between 1899 and 1900, and was considering moving his practice there. His one known project for that city, a proposed hotel, was not constructed.
419. Mrs. Lena F. Fitzsimmmons Residence in Atlanta. The April 25, 1909, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that Norrman was designing a $7,000 2-story frame residence “on Piedmont Avenue in front of the Piedmont Driving Club”. A permit for the home was issued in June 1909, with an estimated cost of $8,500, although it’s unclear if Norrman was the designer. The home still exists at 1198 Piedmont Avenue NE, and has been altered.
420. Home on Fifth Street near Williams Street, Atlanta. The April 25, 1909, issue of The Atlanta Journal reported that Norrman was “planning a $6,000 home for Fifth street, near Williams”. It is unclear if the structure was built.

See also: Introduction to G.L. Norrman

The Background

This is the fifth in a series of articles published by The Atlanta Journal in 1898 featuring illustrations and floor plans of residences designed by Atlanta architects.

The article highlights the E.C. Merry House, designed by G.L. Norrman in 1893 and located in Atlanta’s West End neighborhood. At the time the article was published, the 5-year-old home was owned by Ovid Stewart.

Norrman was primarily an architect of large residences, and it appears he gave up smaller projects entirely by the late 1890s. Thus, it’s a genuine treat to have an illustration and floor plan for this charming 8-room cottage of his design.

There are a few interesting aspects here:

• The plan is described as “simplicity itself”, and that’s no exaggeration: No bathroom was included, and it’s unclear if the home was even wired for electricity — with a total cost of $1,770, it probably wasn’t.
• The Journal’s description describes the home’s “quaint, homelike Quaker suit”, and it appears the home was at least partially inspired by the vernacular architecture of colonial New England, much like Norrman’s design for the C.D. Hurt House the same year. I prefer this interpretation.
• Norrman packed in several signature touches here: tapered chimneys, an eyebrow dormer on the front, Tuscan columns on the porch, and a balustrade and finials on the roof.

Located at 144 Lee Street (later 510 Lee Street SW), the home still belonged to Ovid Stewart when it was “badly burned” by a fire in February 1909,^{1 2} although the structure was swiftly repaired.^{3 4}

Within a year, the property was occupied by Mrs. Stewart’s brother and sister-in-law, L.B. Langford and E.E. Langford,⁵ who spent $1,350 in additions⁶ — nearly as much as the home originally cost.

The Stewarts divorced in 1912,⁷ and after the death of Mrs. Langford in April 1914,^{8 9} followed by her husband in September 1916,^{10 11} the home became a rental property.¹²

Based on city directories, the house survived another 42 years, meeting the same fate as thousands of other historic homes and buildings in Atlanta when it was apparently demolished circa 1958 for the construction of the East-West Expressway (now I-20).¹³

Today, the site is occupied by the eastbound ramp from Lee Street. Progress!

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Journal’s Model Houses; Home of Mr. Ovid Stewart

The accompanying cuts give the perspective and floor plan of Mr. Ovid Stewart’s pretty cottage on Lee street at the corner of Oak, in West End. It was built by Mr. E.C. Merry in 1893 from the plan of Mr. G.L. Norrman at a cost of $1,770, but could be duplicated now for about $1,400. It is a fine example of the grace and beauty to be found in a simple design when the skill of the architect is bestowed upon it. The plan is simplicity itself, and in a form to be the least expensive in proportion to results attained.

The floor plan shows the arrangement. This can be varied slightly without material difference in the cost, but care will have to be taken in changing it, for one of the chief beauties in the plan is in the adjustment of proportionate dimensions.

The construction is thorough and the cottage is exceedingly comfortable. It rests on a solid wall and has double walls and floors. It is painted gray, with white trimmings, which gives it a quaint, homelike Quaker suit.¹⁴

References

1. “Twelve Fires Within A Day”. The Atlanta Constitution, February 2, 1909, p. 5. ↩︎
2. “Nine Fire Calls Answered Monday”. The Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, February 2, 1909, p. 1. ↩︎
3. “Personal Mention”. The Atlanta Journal, February 14, 1909, p. H5. ↩︎
4. “Building Permits”. The Atlanta Journal, February 19, 1909, p. 14. ↩︎
5. “Mortuary”. The Atlanta Constitution, August 15, 1910, p. 5. ↩︎
6. “Building Permits”. The Atlanta Journal, September 15, 1910, p. 13. ↩︎
7. “Notice Notice Notice”. The Atlanta Constitution, February 9, 1912, p. 13. ↩︎
8. “Deaths and Funerals”. The Atlanta Journal, April 17, 1914, p. 2. ↩︎
9. “Mortuary”. The Atlanta Constitution, April 18, 1914, p. 2. ↩︎
10. “Deaths and Funerals”. The Atlanta Constitution, September 1, 1916, p. 2. ↩︎
11. “Mortuary”. The Atlanta Constitution, September 2, 1916, p. 2. ↩︎
12. “For Rent–Houses”. The Atlanta Journal, November 20, 1916, p. 17. ↩︎
13. “Here’s Route Of New East-West Expressway”. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, March 23, 1958, p. 1-E. ↩︎
14. “Journal Model House; Home of Mr. Ovid Stewart” The Atlanta Journal, February 5, 1898, p. 9. ↩︎

Such was the case in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1892 and 1893, when the local press attempted to stir the public’s ire over a weather vane atop the new city hall, designed by G.L. Norrman.

When construction on the building topped out in October 1892, it was festooned with a large tin weather vane shaped like a slithering mythical dragon.^{2 3}

The Charlotte Observer was scathing in its assessment of the dragon, opining that “it may be classic, but not even its maker can say it’s pretty.”⁴ The paper added:

Yesterday afternoon after the monstrosity was placed, the universal query was “Why did they put such a looking thing up there?” The only answer that could be gotten was, “because the architect said so.” The mayor, nor any of the aldermen will own it; each declares he didn’t select it. But there’s no use in disapproving, the dragon has come to stay; may be it will improve on acquaintance.⁵

The dragon was designed by John Osborne, a Charlotte tinsmith, and Norrman reportedly pronounced it as “a work of genius”, claiming Osborne could get a position with him in Atlanta whenever he wanted. “It is hoped that this invitation includes the dragon,” the Observer cattily quipped.⁶

Norrman’s selection of the dragon no doubt stemmed from his fascination with Norse mythology, but he also had a history of adding mirthful creatures to his buildings. On the City Hall and Opera House in Newberry, South Carolina, for example, he topped the central tower with a weather vane in the shape of a garfish.

“Why this primordial and repulsive fish was chosen is not known”, a local historian later huffed — a touch overdramatic, I’d say.⁷ It’s also not known why local historians are so pompous and humorless, but that’s a discussion for another time.

A week after the dragon was placed on Charlotte’s city hall, a “Constant Reader” of the Observer anonymously wrote the following letter:

Can you kindly enlighten the public as to what the fiery dragon on top of the new city hall steeple is emblematic of? About the only reference the writer can find in regard to the dragon is found in the 20th chapter of Revelation and judging from what we read there it is not at all complimentary to the good people of Charlotte to be guarded over by a beast of that description. Why wouldn’t an American eagle or a hornets’ nest, for instance, be good enough for the Queen City?⁸

The newspaper responded: “The Observer‘s only answer to “Constant Reader’s” first interrogatory is that the design on top of the steeple is emblematic only of the way the work on the hall has drag(ged) on. Bang!”

It was a fair point: construction on Charlotte’s city hall began in December 1890⁹ and was supposed to end in December 1891.¹⁰ However, the project was plagued by delays and was finally completed in April 1893.¹¹

The Observer‘s campaign against the dragon was on a roll, and when Norrman visited Charlotte in November 1892 to check on the building’s progress, the newspaper couldn’t help but be disparaging:

Mr. Normann [sic], architect of the city hall, is here. He met with a cordial reception from the dragon–for he is its only friend. Mr. Normann says he is willing to take the dragon down if the people would prefer something else; but perhaps the dragon is a good safety valve; everyone can cuss it as much as he pleases, without fear of retaliation, and it is best for it to remain on high.¹²

Norrman’s offer to remove the dragon was unusually deferential and seemingly diffused the newspaper’s criticism, as it didn’t make another peep about the matter for weeks.

In December 1892, the Observer had apparently warmed to the dragon’s appearance, reporting: “The city hall tower shows up well from any direction around about the city–even the dragon looks handsome.”¹³

By March 1893, the Observer was clearly resigned to the dragon’s existence. In an article championing the work of the city’s mayor, R.J. Brevard, the writer proclaimed: ‘We can stand upon our city hall, beneath “that dragon” without fear, but pride, for we can say the hall and ‘dragon” are paid for…’¹⁴

In December 1893, the dragon was threatened by a zealous objector, although The Observer had nothing to say about the matter. Instead, The Charlotte News reported on the following incident from the annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South that had just concluded in the city:

“…one large portly member sprung to the aisle and said: “It is time something were done. Even here in the city of Charlotte, the dragon, the image of the old devil himself sweeps around ‘with every wind that blows,’ from the top of the city hall. The country is on a gallop to the devil and let’s head it off.“¹⁵

The newspaper added: “It cannot be denied–the brother is right. The devil overlooks Charlotte.“¹⁶ Sensationalist much?

It seems nothing came of the impassioned threat, and the dragon remained on the city hall until the building was demolished in 1926 — the only Southern city that has destroyed its historic fabric more than Atlanta is Charlotte.

The exact date of the dragon’s demise was February 2, 1926, with The Charlotte News documenting its final dramatic moments:

The giant dragon, which once proudly flaunted its head to every whim of the weather, was a mass of twisted metal and steel at the foot of the tower. Piles of brick and stone were falling upon it in utter disregard of its former proud station high above the street.¹⁷

And thus ended the saga of Charlotte’s dastardly dragon, buried in a heap of rubble after 33 years.

References

1. “The Dragon in Conference.” The Charlotte News (Charlotte, North Carolina), December 5, 1893, p. 1. ↩︎
2. “Local Briefs.” The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), October 5, 1892, p. 4. ↩︎
3. “The Dragon–It May Be Classic, But Is Not Pretty.” The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), October 7, 1892, p. 4. ↩︎
4. ibid. ↩︎
5. ibid. ↩︎
6. ibid. ↩︎
7. “No restoration in foreseeable future for opera house”. The Index-Journal (Greenwood, South Carolina), February 10, 1983, p. 8. ↩︎
8. “The Observer Has Solved the Riddle.” The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), October 15, 1892, p. 1. ↩︎
9. “Local Ripples.” The Charlotte News (Charlotte, North Carolina), December 4, 1890, p. 1. ↩︎
10. “Our New City Hall.” Charlotte Chronicle (Charlotte, North Carolina), November 29, 1890, p. 4. ↩︎
11. The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), April 8, 1893, p. 4. ↩︎
12. “A Pretty Little Theatre Could Be Made in the City Hall.” The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), November 1, 1892, p. 4. ↩︎
13. “Local Briefs.” The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), December 2, 1892, p. 4. ↩︎
14. “The Coming Municipal Election.” The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), March 25, 1893, p. 4. ↩︎
15. “The Dragon in Conference.” The Charlotte News (Charlotte, North Carolina), December 5, 1893, p. 1. ↩︎
16. ibid. ↩︎
17. “Falling Bricks at Old City Hall Menace Traffic”. The Charlotte News (Charlotte, North Carolina), February 2, 1926, p. 14. ↩︎

The following item was published in The Atlanta Journal on April 25, 1909. G.L. Norrman died 7 months later.

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The Old World

G.L. Norrman, the architect, says that in Europe one asks who designed a house, not who owns it; but here it is, who owns it, not who designed it. In the sleepy old countries of the old world the interest has the artistic and not the money tendency.⁴

References

1. “A Great Building Era Now On In The City”. The Spartanburg Herald (Spartanburg, South Carolina), May 28, 1909, p. 1. ↩︎
2. “Converse To Show Fruits Of Recent Funds Campaign”. Spartanburg Herald-Journal, October 6, 1957, p. A4. ↩︎
3. Conley, Linda. “Restoring the shine to an old jewel”. Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, South Carolina), October 17, 2008, p. D1. ↩︎
4. “The Old World”. The Atlanta Journal, April 25, 1909, p. 2. ↩︎

The Background

As if he hadn’t already gushed enough over G.L. Norrman, in a December 1902 article for The Augusta Chronicle, Wallace Putnam Reed — under the pen name Major Junius — pontificated on why he considered Norrman “the ideal of the best type of southern gentleman”.

These were Reed’s final published remarks about Norrman — he died less than 5 months later, in April 1903.⁵

Article Excerpt:

In Mr. G.L. Norrman, the well-known Atlanta architect, I have found my ideal of the best type of the southern gentleman of the old school. To me this is somewhat remarkable because Mr. Norrman is a foreigner by birth—a member of one of the noble families of Sweden.

He is a sort of “Admirable Crichton,” the master of many arts and accomplishments, a scholar, philosopher, man of society and a recognized leader in his profession.

Sam Small once said that a man could not ride a few hours side by side with Norrman in a car without getting enough ideas from him to fill a bright, strong, original book.

He is an instructive, fascinating talker, and a polished, epigrammatic writer whose contributions are always welcomed by the press. His views of character, conduct and life are those which made our ante-bellum southern gentlemen recognized the world over as the most honorable and chivalric of men. Some of his ideas were so strikingly expressed some time ago in his lecture on “Architecture As Illustrative of Religious Belief, and as a Means of Tracing Civilization,” that I hope he will be induced to deliver it again, in Atlanta and in other cities. It is just the kind of lecture to interest broad-minded, cultured fearless thinkers.⁶

References

1. “Plans Made for Bisbee Building”. The Florida Times-Union and Citizen (Jacksonville, Florida), September 17, 1901, p. 6. ↩︎
2. “Filling in the Blank Spaces”. The Florida Times-Union and Citizen (Jacksonville, Florida), February 24, 1902, p. 5. ↩︎
3. “Dr. Armstrong Back.” The Sunday Times-Union and Citizen (Jacksonville, Florida), May 25, 1902, p. 5. ↩︎
4. “H.C. Seaman.” The Sunday Times-Union and Citizen (Jacksonville, Florida), June 1, 1902, p. 5. ↩︎
5. “Wallace P. Reed Yields to Death”. The Atlanta Constitution, April 18, 1903, p. 1. ↩︎
6. Junius, Major. “Pen Pictures of Well-Known Atlanta Men”. The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Georgia), November 23, 1902, p. 11. ↩︎

The Background

Four days after his gushing comments about G.L. Norrman for the Macon press, Wallace Putnam Reed contributed the following report to The Augusta Chronicle about Norrman’s sudden late-career resurgence.

Article Excerpt:

My Augusta readers are lovers of the fine arts, and they will be glad to learn that one of their friends, Mr. G.L. Norrman, the famous Atlanta architect, is winning new honors.

When Norrman planned the splendid Hotel Bienville for Mobile he said nothing about it here. But he could not hide his light under a bushel. The Constitution‘s pictures of his designs for the new dormitory and mess hall at Athens have attracted attention everywhere, and without expecting it this modest man of genius is now overwhelmed with visitors and orders.

The matter interests me, because I have long been convinced that the man who can design and construct a great work in the architectural line is really a greater man than a poet or historian. The arts are different, but the first endures longer than the two others. In recent years we have seen the growth of public interest down south in schools of technology, and this is on the line of my remarks.

To put it more plainly, we of the south are outgrowing the old idea of a plantation aristocracy, whose younger sons must be professional men or nothing. Our young men of the future will be those who can compete with the Carnegies. Like that great Scotchman, they will start at the bottom and work their way up. When they succeed they will have all the social and political prominence they desire.¹

References

1. Reed, Wallace Putnam. “Random Gossip”. The Augusta Chronicle, May 7, 1901, p. 4. ↩︎