In 1816, local developer and industrialist John Armstrong constructed the homes known as Mechanic’s Row, which are now celebrated as some of Kentucky’s finest examples of New Orleans-inspired architecture. The name “Mechanic’s Row” reflects the trades of the early residents, skilled craftsmen and merchants, who once lived there.
The Blair Building is an Art Moderne office building located in Decatur, Georgia. Built in 1939 by the Farnell Blair Company, the company used the second floor for its offices.
In 1946, Guy Rutland Sr. purchased the building to use as the headquarters for his trucking company, real estate business, and farm operations. Rutland served in the state legislature from 1953 to 1964. The building stayed in the Rutland family until 1994.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 2002.
On April 8, 1866, Zion Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia, was established by 88 formerly enslaved individuals who left First Baptist Church to form their own congregation. Rev. Ephraem B. Rucker, Zion’s first pastor, laid the foundation with deacons and Sunday School. Growth continued, and it was determined that the church would build its first physical home in 1888 at the corner of Haynes & Lemon Streets.
Eventually, the church built a much larger building across the street to house its much larger congregation. The church is still active today.
The original building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Charles Duckett (1860-1947) was a prominent businessman in Laurens, South Carolina. He owned multiple businesses, most notable were a funeral home and lumberyard. He was considered one of the most successful Black lumberyard owners in the South. This Eastlake style home is in need of some serious love, though. It was hard to photograph, but a tree has fallen on the left side of the house. There was a fundraiser listed in 2020, but I couldn’t find any other info on future plans.
At the beginning of the 20th century, steel magnate Andrew Carnegie funded the creation of thousands of libraries across the U.S., including 15 in South Carolina. The first of these in the state was the Carnegie Free Library in Union County, commissioned in 1903 and built in 1905. Designed in the Beaux Arts style by Wheeler & Runge, the library became a local landmark with its notable architectural features. Today, it remains one of only four Carnegie Libraries still standing in South Carolina and fewer than 1,000 nationwide.
Buffalo’s Forest Lawn Cemetery is filled with incredible works of art. It’s most famous marker is a mausoleum for the Blocher family. At the cost of $100,000 in 1884, John and Elizabeth Blocher built the mausoleum to remember their son, Nelson. Nelson Blocher died at the age of 37 after a long illness.
John Blocher was a successful businessman who ran a successful dry goods store and made money off real estate foreclosures. His son worked in shoe manufacturing but enjoyed traveling the world.
Supposedly Nelson fell in love with a maid named Katherine Sullivan. His parents disapproved and sent him away to Italy. Supposedly the parents let Katherine go and told her to never return. Upon Nelson’s return he became bereft that Katherine was gone. Only her Bible was left behind.
Grief-stricken, Elizabeth implored her husband to create a memorial to honor their son. John designed the mausoleum, which is made of granite. The giant tomb is covered by a dome of one large piece of granite. It sits upon five pilasters, allowing three panes of glass to be installed for three ways to peer inside the mausoleum.
He employed the talents of sculptor Frank Torrey, who carved the four figures inside the mausoleum out of Carrara marble. John and Elizabeth look over their son, who clutches a Bible. Hovering above Nelson is an angel who reportedly looks like Katherine.Radiating from the mausoleum are three granite benches with each of the Blocher’s name etched into the bench.
Whether the story is true or a fable, it is clear the Blochers wanted their son to be memorialized in a grand way.
