Before it became the Hanley Funeral Home, the building initially served as the District Grand Lodge No. 1 of Georgia of Independent Benevolent Order. Built in 1915, the building became the Hanley Funeral Home in 1925. The location handled two of Atlanta’s largest funerals, boxer Tiger Flowers in 1927 and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.
Located in Sweet Auburn, a historic Black neighborhood in Atlanta, this is one of my favorite buildings on Auburn Avenue. The six-story high tower was opened in 1912, and the two-story annex was opened in 1913. It served as the headquarters for the District Grand Lodge No. 18, Jurisdiction of Georgia, of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America.
The building had businesses at street level, offices in the tower, and a theater. For a time, it was the only movie theater where Black Atlantans could see movies during segregation. Additionally, the roof of the Annex hosted dances and other socials. Some of the early businesses were The Gate City Drug Store, Curry-Hall Haberdasher, Sportsman Smoke House, and Baileys Royal Theater.
The building has been documented twice for the Historic American Building Survey. Here are some of the photos that can be found on the Library of Congress’s website.
Located near the intersection of Auburn Avenue and Hilliard St. NE, the Madam C. J. Walker’s Beauty Shoppe Museum and WERDSTUDIO honor the legacy of the first American self-made millionaire woman, Madam C. J. Walker, and the first Black-owned radio station, WERD.
Walker made her wealth by creating her own haircare and cosmetics line for Black women. There were beauty salons throughout the country that bore her name. Atlanta was one of the locations.
Ricci de Forest, the founder of the museum, is the steward of the space. After he purchased the salon space, he found out that the first Black-owned radio station was above the beauty shop. He married the two spaces together to create a museum celebrating their heritage. If you’re in Atlanta, I highly recommend a visit. Make sure you save time to hear the stories from Ricci.
