Athens’ First AME Church on 521 North Hull Street is displayed. This church is one historical site that community members can visit by taking the Athens African American History Self-guided Tour organized by the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation. “Originally known as Pierce’s Chapel, the city’s first black church was organized in 1866 by Henry McNeal Turner, the first black chaplain in the U.S. Army,” the foundation states in the tour informational guide. “The church, designed by the first American trained black architect, was built at its current Hull Street location in 1916.” Photo by Audrey Enghauser
The Holmes-Hunter Academic Building
Those who frequent downtown or the University of Georgia’s North Campus are likely familiar with this large white building. According to the UGA website, in 2001, it was renamed the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building after Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes, the first two Black students admitted to UGA back in 1961, registered for their classes in this building. It is a combination of two library buildings that now serve as UGA’s academic building. Photo by Audrey Enghauser
Wilson’s His and Hers Styling Salon
This quintessential brick building houses one of the few Black businesses left on “Hot Corner”, located on the corner of Hull and Washington. “Hot Corner” is a historic African American business district according to Athens for Everyone, and used to be home to many successful Black-owned businesses. This business used to be the “Athens Republique”, an independent Black newspaper in Athens, according to an article published by the ‘Boom Athens’ magazine. The shop is right across the street from a mural painted in 2019 to commemorate the history of Black businesses on “Hot Corner”. Photo by Audrey Enghauser
First African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church
The AME Church was Athens’ first black church, organized by Henry McNeal Turner and designed by the first American trained Black architect, Louis H. Persley. This church sits near Downtown Athens at North Hull Street and still operates as a church and an educational center today. Work began for this educational center in 1964 according to the church’s website. “In 1964, Rev. Dr. Clayton Duke Wilkerson was appointed pastor and served for 11 years. The church was twice renovated, a pew fund and the first Christian Education Department were established; (Young People’s Division) activities were led by siblings James R. Smith, Ms. Willie Mae Smith and others. For the very first time, air conditioning was installed and a $20,000 Building Fund drive (was) launched for a new educational center,” the church’s website says. Photo by Audrey Enghauser
Athens High and Industrial School
Originally called the Reece Street School, this was Georgia’s only public Black high school in 1916. In 1955, it moved to what is now the H.T. Edwards building and its name was changed to Burney-Harris High School, according to a marker erected by the Athens-Clarke Historic foundation. The original building, shown here, was sold to the Athens Masonic Association, which has goals to restore the school building. It is one of few buildings left from that time period and now sits in the Reece Street Historic District in the middle of a neighborhood in West Athens. Photo by Audrey Enghauser
The historic Susan Medical Center, now the Green Law Firm
Originally the Susan Medical Center, this building was Athens’ first African American maternity hospital. This charming, simple blue building stands out in the middle of the neighborhood on Hancock Avenue. It is now a personal injury law firm run by descendants of Dr. Donarell Green, who bought the building in 1954 and continued to run it as a hospital and then medical center until his death in 1980, according to the Green Law Firm’s website. Photo by Audrey Enghauser
