Resilience on Howell Street

A historic home in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn district stands as both a witness to pivotal events—from the aftermath of slavery and the Atlanta Race Massacre to World Wars and the ongoing fight for civil rights—and a testament to the lives and memories woven into its architecture. Saying farewell in the course of business to such a deeply meaningful symbol of humanity is heartfelt. It has been an honor.

It was a farewell of sorts, except that I was the only one visibly and verbally communicating. I found myself straddling two worlds, physically standing on the threshold between the parlor and foyer, but metaphorically existing both in the present and in an era too far gone for even the elders of our time to remember.

By happenstance or perhaps perfect timing, the moment came that could be put off no longer. Images splayed before my mind like a flipbook, and I struggled to absorb them one after another after another. Snippets of life, of everything it means to be human and to have truly lived. The joy, the fear, the laughter, the grief, and the resilience. Left alone for a fleeting spec in the wheel of time and absorbing as much as I could, I steeled myself for the words I could bravely say now, in the silence, to no one but the intended recipient.

For you see, the recipient was not a person, but a place. A historic building, a bed and breakfast location, and a contract for my husband’s company. But this building, before it was any of those other things, it was a home. And at the depths of its being, it longed to be a home once more.

Gone were the footsteps that echoed up and down the hall, from the scampering feet of little ones to the hesitant steps of a body lined with age. Absent were the sound of voices lilting from upstairs and down, full of excitement for the upcoming social events and concern for when others, and the very world itself, struggled to persevere.

Wooden rocking chairs stilled on the wide front porch, waiting simultaneously for visitors and word of its future to arrive.

This place had a story to tell. Historic buildings will speak to you; you only have to listen. To fully appreciate the story of this abode, you must first know of its history.

Nestled in the historic Sweet Auburn district in Atlanta, Georgia, most people rightly associate this specific area with the birth home of Martin Luther King Jr., The King Center, or Ebeneezer Baptist Church. All important places with histories all their own. Less well known and located on Howell Street is what is known as The Hamilton Howell House.

Alexander Hamilton Jr., Atlanta’s leading African American contractor and builder, built this home in 1893 for his own family. A home built only 28 years after the ratification of the thirteenth amendment in 1865 which abolished slavery. Comparatively speaking, twenty-eight years is the same difference as 1997 is to 2025, so in other words, the not-so-distant past.

The blue, two-story house with white trim is large, full of light, and was lovingly restored due to the efforts of its owners, who kept many of the historic details from the period. Framed by intricate columns, the front porch welcomes visitors to take a closer look at the stained-glass details. Upon entering the front door, you are greeted with soaring ceiling heights and an original fireplace, one of seven throughout the house. Pocket doors and built-in cabinets indicative of the time add character to a cup that already overfloweth. Truly, the charm and love that went into the construction of this home is readily apparent, even for those who do not openly appreciate such details.

History is in the architecture, but so too is this house a witness to history. Thirteen years after being built came the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre. The fear, the concern, the prayers that would have been uttered without end amidst the terror unleashed against fellow African Americans during this dark period seeped into the very marrow of this house’s bones.

World War I, the Great Migration, the Great Depression, and World War II followed in short successive order. Communications were different then, slower and more personal. More often than not, people gathered on the front steps waiting for word to arrive from letters and newspapers, adding context to the radio’s reports, which inevitably fell short of ameliorating the worry etched into the fabric of everyday life. The fight for civil rights began and continues on.

In 1976, this neighborhood long known as Sweet Auburn was designated a National Historic Landmark. History lives here, but resilience lives here too.

Time comes marching for us all, even for properties. Real estate must be sold, undergo changes in ownership or be repurposed for the moment. And so it was that such a time came for The Hamilton Howell House.

I placed my palm on the doorframe in the parlor and took a deep breath. Eloquence absconded into the ether when the time for farewell arrived and so my heart spoke plainly.

I thanked the house for the honor it was for our family business, All Bright Superior Cleaning, Inc., to service it and in some small way to be a part of its story. Its beauty and history brought inspiration and appreciation, and it was my sincere hope that the next chapter of its life would find owners worthy of continuing its legacy and with a deep love for not only the architecture and floor plan, but for what it represents.

Resilience.