Atlanta And Its Builders, Vol. 2 - A Comprehensive History Of The Gate City Of The South. Thomas H. Martin

      CHAPTER IV. ATLANTA FROM 1870 TO 1880

      The compiler of this work is indebted to Col E. Y. Clarke's valuable little history of Atlanta for many of the facts contained in this chapter. This author deals exhaustively in personal movements during the period indicated in the foregoing title, and as the city waxes greater and early memories grow dim, it is well to preserve such interesting reminiscences.

      By 1870, Atlanta — whatever may be said of Georgia — was pretty well "reconstructed." Atlanta had reason to feel rather kindly toward the reconstructionists, for the city was their headquarters during the period of military rule, and after the civil machinery was in motion, the capital of the state was permanently located in Atlanta.

      The beginning of the decade of which this chapter treats witnessed unprecedented activity in Atlanta. The town was booming, to borrow a westernism, and real estate in desirable localities was held at fancy figures and transfers made on that basis. One of the finest buildings of a public nature erected at this time was the De Give opera house, now known as the Columbia theatre. Atlanta was immensely proud of her new opera house, which Forrest, Booth and other great actors who have retired from life's stage, pronounced unsurpassed in acoustic properties. With the grandeur of De Give's grand opera house before us, the following description of what was regarded as the finest play-house of the early '70's in the South, taken from an illustrated pamphlet on Atlanta of that period, will interest many:

      "From the days of the Roman and Grecian amphitheaters, when the plaudits of the people greeted the productions of the ancient playwrights, the stage has occupied an historical place in the annals of nations. The names and works of men who have become eminent in the world of letters from Sophocles to Shakespeare, have been perpetuated not more by the intrinsic merit of their genius, than by the influence and popularity of the theatres and the effective presentation of their drama. There is as much ability, good judgment and business knowledge requisite in the management of a first-class opera house, so called in modern nomenclature, as in any other business pursuit in life. Most cities in Europe and in this country of any metropolitan pretensions consider an opera house a necessary institution, and one of the best evidences of culture and refinement, and a certain indication of commercial progress and wealth. Among Atlanta's public buildings the opera house occupies the place of honor in the front rank. It is at once a credit and an ornament to the city, and is regarded by its citizens with justifiable pride. The house was built in 1869, and remodeled and enlarged in 1871. It was again enlarged and the front of the building changed in 1882. The interior arrangements are admirable. The auditorium is divided into parquette, balcony and gallery, and has a seating capacity of 2,000. The seats are comfortable, and the decorations elegant and attractive. The stage is complete in all its appointments, its area being 37 x 67 feet. The dressing rooms are nine in number, supplied with every convenience, water, gas, etc. The building is four stories high, and has a frontage on Marietta street of 100 feet, extending back on Forsyth street 105 feet. It is disconnected with any other building on three sides, and is provided with five exits, affording every facility for the speedy evacuation of the building in case of fire. It is lighted by gas and heated by hot air throughout. In fact, everything is elegant, pleasing and attractive. A series of entertainments are given, which embrace all the leading artists in all departments of the histrionic art, presenting a round of amusements which never fail to draw crowded houses and give entire satisfaction to the patrons of the theatre. M. L. De Give, the owner and manager of this handsome and attractive place of amusement, has resided in Atlanta for twenty-five years, and among his fellow citizens is highly esteemed for integrity, reliability, liberality and enterprise. Socially, he is the best of companions, and in business he has attained an enviable reputation for honorable and upright transactions. He takes great pride in the profession, and superintends in person the entire business of the theatre. A visit to his opera house cannot fail to be productive of much pleasure and enjoyment."

      It was in 1870 that H. I. Kimball built the first Kimball House — a magnificent six-story structure, in few respects, inferior to the present beautiful building built on the same site. In the same year, the corner-stone of the Catholic church was laid by Father Ryan; the Fourth Baptist Church was built by John H. James, and among the more pretentious residences erected were those of Richard H. Clark, on McDonough street, and B. F. Wyley, on Washington street. The famous Republic Block, in its day the finest business block in Atlanta, was built on Pryor street by ex-Governor Joseph E. Brown, Judge O. A. Lochrane, and a number of other prominent Atlantans, in 1871, during which year some four hundred buildings went up in the city. Among them was the present decrepit "car-shed," then the magnificent "union passenger depot," the pride of the Atlantese. Historian Clarke referred to the effete structure as "one of the largest and finest iron depots in the United States, jointly constructed by the railroad companies." The first "Austell Building" was built on Decatur street that year; also the beautiful residence of Judge John L. Hopkins, on the corner of Gilmer and Collins streets; that of Z. D. Harrison, clerk of the Supreme Court, on McDonough street; those of A. G. Howard and W. A. Hemphill, on Pryor street. In 1872 another church — the Fifth Baptist, was built by John H. James; a three-story building on Broad street by ex-Governor Brown; a splendid 52 by 140 feet, slate bank-vault, agricultural warehouse, by Mark W. Johnson; a building for his hardware business, by Thomas M. Clarke; and residences by John N. Fain, on Pryor street, J. T. Eichburg, on Forsyth street, Rober & Clarke, on Houston street, and W. B. Cox, on Ivy street. In 1873 James R. Wylie built a two-story brick on Broad street; Daniel Pittman one on Wall street; Julius L. Brown a residence on Washington street; J. T. Glenn one on the same street; James R. Wylie one on Peachtree street; and Joseph Thompson, jr., and others, erected residences.

      "In 1870 came W. C. Dodson, the job printer, now at the head of Dodson's Printers" Supply Co., doing an extensive business in every Southern state east of the Mississippi; the Wilsons — -W. S. and J. C. — the latter becoming the largest coal dealer in the city; also John B. Goodwin, from Cobb county, who was admitted to the bar in 1871, and three times elected to council. In 1871 came James H. Low and Clarence F. Low, from New Orleans, leading insurance agents, and E. H. Thornton, of the firm of Lynch & Thornton, booksellers. This year also brought us valuable citizens from the North and West, among them W. G. Goodnow, from Wisconsin, a man of great energy and business capacity, who planned the Republic Block, got up the stock of and organized the Citizens' Bank, and was at a later date made general business manager of the Atlanta Rolling Mill. Among valuable citizens from the North may be mentioned W. C. Morrill, a gentleman of large means and liberality, and who has contributed greatly to the success of the Library Association."

      In 1873 the local census showed a bona fide population of 30,869. This was the dark "panic year" that brought so much disaster to the entire country, and of which Colonel Clarke says: "The Air Line Railroad was finished, and many improvements, under way at the beginning of the year,