24 November 1910: Thanksgiving at the Athenaeum Cafe

On this day in 1910, the Athenaeum Cafe downtown offered the following reprieve from cooking at home: 

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The price of 50 cents would be equal today to a charge of $11.80.

The Athenaeum Cafe was next door to the Athenaeum pool hall, and both were below the two floors of the Athenaeum Hotel, owned by Victor Petropol. In the 1909 Athens city directory, some travelling salesmen and the hotel's clerk, W. G. McNair, list the hotel as their residence.

Today, the space where the hotel was located has been divided. The pool hall is occupied by Frontier, and the cafe is occupied by Native America Gallery.

Learn More:

• Athens Banner, July 1910 - Dec. 1910 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for Athens, Georgia via the Digital Library of Georgia.
• 1909 Athens City Directory on Microfilm (1889 - 1927) in the Heritage collection.
• Measuring Worth website.
• Thanksgiving: An American Holiday, An American History by Diana Karter Appelbaum in the general collection.
• Thanksgiving Dinner by Kathryn K. Blue in the general collection.
• The Southern Heritage Pies and Pastry Cookbook by Southern Living in the general collection.
• The Thanksgiving Cookbook by Holly Garrison in the general collection.
• Wild Turkeys: Hunting and Watching by John J. Mettler in the general collection.
• The Pie and Pastry Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum in the general collection. 
• Holiday Feasts: Festive Cooking for Family and Friends by Lou Seibert Pappas in the general collection.
• Turkey Monster Thanksgiving by Anne Warren Smith in the children's fiction collection.
• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by Charles Schulz in the children's DVD collection.

4 October 1914: Delmar's Lunch Reopens

On this day, Delmar's Lunch announced its reopening on Clayton Street:

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Delmar's had been gutted by fire in the early morning hours of June 6th, causing their restaurant, the Woolen Mills Company, and the dentistry practice of L. C. Hiram, who also lived above the establishment, to be entirely destroyed. Dr. Hiram, his wife, and child escaped with only "the clothes in which they came out of the fiery building," losing everything else.


The building had been built by Pink Morton, with a "marble front, and was well constructed." Mr. A. H. Talmage owned the building, and did carry insurance to cover rebuilding costs. Delmar's owner, Mr. W. A. Ivey, also had insurance, but the owner of the Woolen Mills Company and Dr. Hiram had only some coverage, and not enough to fully replace all their lost goods. 


Though early newspaper reports anticipated a reopening within 60 days, it took over 90 for Delmar's to be ready to serve meals again. During that time, Mr. Ivey tried to obtain a partial refund of his business license from the city council, but his pleas were not entertained. 


Over the next four years, Delmar's rarely advertised their meals and specials in the city paper, but did advertise in the University of Georgia paper, the Red and Black, noting their business was run by "Two Americans." Their location on Clayton Street, between the Majestic and Elite Theatres, made them convenient a convenient meal option for the many businessmen, shoppers, and University students that came into downtown daily.  


In 1918, new management took over the restaurant, promising the same good coffee and high standards, despite the food shortages associated with World War I. However, in May, 1921, the business was sold again, and while they continued to host post-meeting dinners for the Confederate Veterans and the Masons, by December, 1921, Delmar's Lunch had gone out of business and its fixtures and equipment went up for auction. In later years, ads for other businesses would use "Delmar's old stand" as a way of indicating exactly where on Clayton they were located.


Today, the building is home to the local gift shop Helix.




Learn More:

• Athens Banner, Sep. 1914 - Feb. 21, 1915 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Athens Historic Newspaper Archive collection in the Digital Library of Georgia.
• Red and Black Newspaper Archive collection on the UGA Libraries website.
• Minutes of the Mayor and City Council of Athens, Georgia, 1847 - 1960 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• A Postcard History of Athens, Georgia by Gary L. Doster in the Reference and general collections.
• Athens, Georgia: A Pictorial History, 1801-2001 by James K. Reap in the Heritage and general collections.
• The Comfort Diner Cookbook: A World of Classic Diner Delights by Ira Freehof in the general collection.
• The Everything Guide to Starting and Running a Restaurant Business by Ronald Lee in the general collection.
• The American Heritage Cookbook: An Illustrated History of American Eating and Drinking by Cleveland Amory in the general collection.
• It Ain't All About the Cookin' by Paula H. Deen in the Biography collection.
• Starting a Small Restaurant: How to Make Your Dream a Reality by Daniel Miller in the general collection.
• Diner: The Best of Casual American Cooking by Diane Rossen Worthington.
• The Lunchroom of Doom by Daniel Pinkwater in the children's fiction collection.

22 March 1904: Free Cake for the Ladies

On this day in 1904, the Athens Banner ran this announcement from local ice cream vendor, W. D. Bowden:

The cake was part of a promotion by Gold Leaf Flour. Over the course of the week, in a newly vacated office on the corner of College Avenue and Broad Street, the Cape County Milling Company of Jackson, Missouri, would be holding blind comparisons of flour brands and flour demonstrations to show bread made of their product was "whiter than any flour manufactured. Comparisons and investigation solicited." 

The company also offered to add to their exhibit any locally produced bread made with their flour, and distributed free slices of "Aunt Laura Billups cake" and coffee to those who attended, noting that  "Ladies are requested to bring their friends."

The Cape County Milling Company went out of business in 1953, but the mill is now a Missouri state park.

W. D. Bowden is listed in the 1904 Athens City Directory as an ice cream manufacturer, though he was also active in real estate. Bowden did not have his own store, so likely sold his products to the many cafes, department store lunch counters, diners, and local grocery stores in Athens and surrounding areas. He lived in Athens until his death in 1920, and is buried at Oconee Hill Cemetery.

Learn More:

• Athens Banner, Feb. 1904 - Nov. 1905 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• 1904 Athens City Directory in the Heritage collection.
• Oconee Hill Cemetery, Athens, Georgia, Volume I by Charlotte Thomas Marshall in the Heritage and general collections.
• The Great American Ice Cream Book by Paul Dickson in the general collection.
• The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz in the general collection.
• Ice Cream by Mary Goodbody in the general collection.
• Ice-Cream Larry by Daniel Manus Pinkwater in the children's fiction collection.
• New Southern Baking: Classic Flavors for Today's Cooks by Damon Lee Fowler in the general collection.
• BakeWise: The Hows and Whys of Successful Baking with Over 200 Magnificent Recipes by Shirley O. Corriher in the general collection.
• Chocolate Cake by Michele Urvater in the general collecion.
• The Complete Book of Pastry, Sweet and Savory by Bernard Clayton in the general collection.
• Everybody Bakes Bread by Norah Dooley in the children's collection.
• The Bread Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum in the general collection. 
• Great Coffee Cakes, Sticky Buns, Muffins and More by Carole Walter in the general collection.
• Tea Breads and Coffee Cakes by Elizabeth Alston in the general collection.
• The Cook's Encyclopedia of Cookies by Hilaire Walden in the general collection. 
• C is for Cookie Monster by Emilio Delgado in the DVD collection. 

20 December 1978: Downtown Varsity Closes Its Doors

On this day in 1978, the Varsity's downtown location served its last meals. Though the Varsity Drive-In on the corner of Broad Street and Milledge Avenue would remain open, the downtown location was packed in its last days as people returned to relive memories at what had been an Athens institution for over 46 years.

The Varsity opened in 1932 on the corner of College Avenue and Broad Street, across from the Arch (where Five Guys Burgers and Fries are today). The 1850s building had originally been built by Elizur L. Newton as the Newton House hotel, considered the most "pretentious and commodious" in town. In 1854, the University of Georgia hosted their commencement ball in the Newton Hotel Saloon. The building had a bellfry and "a bell almost the size of a locomotive bell" that would alert local residents at noon each day that dinner was being served.

At the time of the Varsity's opening, the buildings on North Campus included dormitories, and the Varsity would stay open to the wee hours of the morning to cater to their student customers. Though "ladies didn't come in" to the establishment when it first opened, they were served by car hops or would have their dates bring the food back to the car.

However, over the years, the buildings on North Campus were converted to Administration buildings while dormitories were built on South Campus and near Baxter Street. Parking became "a rare downtown commodity," according to Varsity owner Frank Gordy, and without nearby students, it was too expensive to stay open late. He repeatedly told reporters that "it breaks his heart to close the restaurant," but he didn't have a choice.

Gordy announced the closing on December 1st, the day before Georgia Tech came to town to lose 29-28 to the Bulldogs on national television. He thought closing before the Tech game "would be a little bit rude." The downtown location stayed open until December 20th, when lines of people caused waits of up to half an hour for lunches of chili dogs, hamburgers, chicken salad sandwiches, onion rings, grilled cheese sandwiches, milkshakes, pc drinks, and frosted oranges.

Learn More:

• Athens Banner-Herald, November - December 15, 1978 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Athens Banner-Herald, December 16, 1978 - January 31, 1979 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Athens Observer, Sept. 1978 - Dec. 1978 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Georgia vs. Georgia Tech: Gridiron Grudge Since 1893 by John Chandler Griffin in the Heritage and general collections.
• Athens, A Pictorial History by James K. Reap in the Heritage, Reference, and general collections.
• Annals of Athens by Augustus Longstreet Hull in the Heritage collection.
• History of Athens and Clarke County by H. J. Rowe in the Heritage and general collections.
• The Burger and the Hot Dog by Jim Aylesworth in the children's fiction collection.
• The Pigeon Finda a Hot Dog! by Mo Willems in the children's fiction collection.
• The Varsity website.

12 October 1920: Dinner and Supper Specials at Thornton's Luncheonette

On this day in 1920, the following ad appeared on page 8, column 2 of the Athens Banner:

The diner was owned by Asa and Minnie Thornton, who later were the proprietors of the Daffodil Cafe at 164 East Clayton Street, where the bar General Beauregard's is today.

Learn More:

• Athens Banner, Oct. 1920 - May 1921 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• 1920-1921 Athens City Directory in the Heritage collection.
• 1926-1927 Athens City Directory in the Heritage collection.
• A Gracious Plenty: Recipes and Recollections from the American South by John T. Edge in the general collection.
• Side Orders: Small Helpings of Southern Cookery & Culture by John Egerton in the general collection. 
• Butter Beans to Blackberries: Recipes From a Southern Garden by  Ronni Lundy in the general collection.
• Southern Living Comfort Food: A Delicious Trip Down Memory Lane by Julie Fisher Gunter in the general collection.
• Southern Homecoming: Traditions, Recipes, and Rememberances by Carolyn Quick Tillery in the general collection.
• The Southern Hospitality Cookbook by Winifred Green Cheney in the general collection.
• Simple, Fresh, Southern: Knockout Dishes with Down-Home Flavor by Matt Lee in the general collection.
• The New Soul Food Cookbook: Healthier Recipes for Traditional Favorites by Wilbert Jones in the general collection.

27 July 1882: Michael Brothers Open for Business

On this day in 1882, Simon and Moses G. Michael went into the dry goods business as Michael Brothers. Simon was 23 and M. G. was 20. Their store was on the corner of Jackson and Broad Streets, taking half a floor of a two-story wooden building that also housed the city jail and police court.

Within three years, their business grew large enough that they needed the whole building, so the police court and jail moved. They added wholesale to their retail business, and hired traveling salesmen to visit stores in smaller towns in the region. Five years later they built a larger, three-story brick building on the site, staying open during construction by renting sales space in the Athens Hardware building.

In 1893, they moved to the corner of Jackson and Clayton Streets. They had razed the two-story wooden laundry building on the lot to erect a five-story stone building that took up one-third of the block along Clayton Street. The first two floors were dedicated to department-store style retail, and the rest of the building used for wholesale goods. They shared the block between Jackson and Wall Streets with the Athens post office. The new building featured gas lighting and an hydraulic elevator.

When the post office moved in 1905, the Michael Brothers bought the lot and built another two-story building, taking up another third of the block facing Clayton Street. They moved their retail business to the smaller building so they could devote all five stories of the 1893 building to their wholesale business. Their slogan was "Michael Brothers: Since 1882, the Store Good Goods Made Popular."

In 1921, a fire began in the Max Joseph building at the corner of Clayton and Wall Streets. Also present in that building was automobile retailer Denny Motor Company, which had drums of petroleum stored on the first floor. Within 45 minutes, the fire had consumed the Joseph building and both Michael Brothers establishments, even melting coins held in the safe. The brothers noted after the fire that "The commercial monument which we have striven through thirty-nine years to erect was licked up in almost thirty-nine minutes by the cruel tongue of fire and flame."

Total losses to downtown businesses was estimated at $2 million, with at least half borne by Simon and M.G Michael. They announced immediately that they would rebuild, and that they needed more space anyway. Never ones to let construction interfere with the business, they set up temporary offices at the Georgian Hotel within a week of the fire, announcing their location in newspaper ads that noted, "We have lost our store buildings and our stock of merchandise--we are deeply thankful that we have not lost a single friend." They also promised that "The Michael method of merchandising will be maintained in every respect."

The new building opened in summer of 1922. It was Athens' first building with overhead sprinklers. It also featured a classic design with giant, electrically illuminated display windows and walnut paneling on the walls, showcases, counters, and back storage units. Men's furnishings were to the immediate left of the front door, with stationery and books in the section behind; women's cosmetics, jewelry, and accessories were to the immediate right of the door. The building also featured large ceiling and wall fans to keep the air circulating and cool.

Each brother focused on a different area of the business. Simon ran the wholesale side, managing sales to other stores of ready-to-wear clothing, sewing items, accessories, and home furnishings. M. G. ran the public department store with sales of clothing, furs, millinery, costume jewelry, sewing supplies and notions, books, stationery, linens, glassware, lamps, rugs, drapes, toys, and small appliances. Their tailoring department employed in-house seamstresses who could alter or create clothing for customers, and do customized upholstery and other items for the home. Certain departments, such as women's shoes, leased space to outside companies. By the 1930s, the Mezzanine level added a hairdressing department. Every July, they had a store-wide anniversary sale.

Many employees of the Michael Brothers stayed with the organization for their entire careers. They found Simon and M.G. to be "fair, honest, and concerned about employees individually, as people with their own lives to lead." They treated all their customers with respect and kindness, allowing them to add to their unpaid account balances during the lean years of the boll weevil and the Depression, even as Georgia's economic decline brought the end to their wholesale business.

Both brothers were involved in Athens' civic life and were strong advocates for the city. Simon was a member of the City Bond Commission, and M.G. spent many years on the Board of Education, served as president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, and helped organize Athens Lodge 790 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. Both families were active members of the Congregation Children of Israel and the Red Cross. They also had other business interests in Athens, purchasing and running the Colonial Theatre, owning other commercial real estate in town, and Simon served as Director of the National Bank of Athens.

During WWII, the third floor of the department store was converted for housing cadets from the U. S. Navy pre-flight base and soldiers brought to town for the signal training corp by installing bathrooms with showers. Michael Brothers Department Store also acted as a blood bank, hosted meetings and collection drives, and promoted War Bonds.

Sons of the original owners took over the business in 1942, but the third generation of Michaels were not interested in retail. The business was sold to Davison's in April, 1953. The 1921 building now houses private offices, Doc Chey's Noodle House, Mellow Mushroom pizza, the UGA Graduate School, and a mezzanine level event space.

Learn More:

• A Postcard History of Athens, Georgia by Gary L. Doster in the Heritage and general collections.
• Oconee Hill Cemetery, Athens, Georgia, Volume I by Charlotte Thomas Marshall in the Heritage and general collections.
• A Store's Story: Michael Brothers Inc. of Athens, Georgia by Leroy Michael, Jr., soon to be in the Heritage collection.
• Athens: A Pictorial History by James K. Reap in the Heritage and general collections.
• A Portrait of Athens and Clarke County by Frances Taliaferro Thomas in the Heritage and general collections.
• July issues of the Southern Banner, Clarke County Courier, Athens Daily Herald, Athens Banner-Watchman, Athens Daily Banner, Athens Weekly Banner, or Athens Banner-Herald between 1883 and 1953 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• A History of the Department Store by John William Ferry in the general collection.
• Start and Run a Profitable Retail Business: A Step-by-Step Business Plan by Michael M. Coltman in the general collection.
• Entrepreneur Magazine's How to Start a Wholesale Distribution Business: A Step-by-Step Guide to Success by Bridget McCrea in the Business Reference collection.
• Michael Brothers building website.
• Fire Destroys Downtown Businesses blog post.