Historic Structure Report: 530 Auburn Avenue, Martin Luther King, Jr
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530 Auburn Avenue Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Historic Structure Report December 2013 for Cultural Resources Division Southeast Region, National Park Service by Joseph K. Oppermann–Architect, P.A. 539 N. Trade Street Winston-Salem, NC 27101 www.jkoa.net 336/721-1711 National Park Service A A 530 Auburn Avenue HSR 530 Auburn Avenue Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Historic Structure Report December 2013 for Cultural Resources Division Southeast Region, National Park Service by Joseph K. Oppermann–Architect, P.A. 539 N. Trade Street Winston-Salem, NC 27101 www.jkoa.net 336/721-1711 National Park Service A The historic structure report presented here exists in two formats. A traditional, printed version is available for study at the park, the Southeastern Regional Offi ce of the NPS (SERO), and at a variety of other repositories. For more widespread access, the historic structure report also exists in a web-based format through ParkNet, the website of the National Park Service. Please visit www.nps.gov for more Cultural Resources Southeast Region information. National Park Service 100 Alabama St. SW Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 507-5847 2013 Historic Structure Report 530 Auburn Avenue Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site 530 Auburn Avenue LCS#: 90019 Cover image: Joseph K. Oppermann, 2011 A 530 Auburn Avenue HSR A 530 Auburn Avenue HSR Foreword We are pleased to make available this Historic Structure Report, part of our ongoing effort to provide comprehensive documentation for the historic structures and landscapes of National Park Service units in the Southeast Region. A number of individuals contributed to the successful completion of this work, but we would particularly like to thank the Project Team who authored the report. The authors would like to thank the staff at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site who assisted with the project, including Museum Specialist Adria Focht, Museum Curator Dean Rowley, and the several rangers who assisted with the inspection of the house, as well as Tommy Jones of the Southeastern Regional Offi ce for his helpful comments. We hope that this study will prove valuable to park management in ongoing efforts to preserve the build- ing and to everyone in understanding and interpreting these unique resources. Dan Scheidt, Chief Cultural Resources Division Southeast Regional Offi ce 2013 National Park Service A A 530 Auburn Avenue HSR Table of Contents Project Team ................................................................................................................................................. vii Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Administrative Data ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Part I - Developmental History A. Historical Background and Context .................................................................................................... 7 Founding and Growth of Atlanta ...........................................................................................7 Reconstruction and its Aftermath ..........................................................................................8 The Race Riot of 1906 ............................................................................................................. 9 An Emerging Middle Class ...................................................................................................10 Residential Development of Auburn Avenue......................................................................13 Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement...................................................15 Decline of Sweet Auburn.......................................................................................................16 National Historic Site.............................................................................................................17 B. Chronology of Development and Use .............................................................................................. 19 Initial Construction ................................................................................................................ 19 Early Owners and Tenants .................................................................................................... 21 From White to Black .............................................................................................................. 23 Early Changes to the House ..................................................................................................25 Subdivision of the Property Lot ...........................................................................................27 The Nowell Family ................................................................................................................. 28 A New Exterior Stairway....................................................................................................... 29 Changes to the Basement.......................................................................................................30 Gail and Walter Goodwin......................................................................................................32 Trust for Public Land and NPS.............................................................................................33 Timeline ................................................................................................................................................. 35 C. Physical Description ............................................................................................................................ 39 General Description .............................................................................................................. 39 Auburn Avenue and the Old Fourth Ward ....................................................39 530 Auburn Avenue: The Site ..........................................................................40 The Prototype House ...................................................................................... 40 530 Auburn Avenue: The House .................................................................... 41 Construction Characteristics ................................................................................................42 Structural Systems ............................................................................................42 Utility Systems .................................................................................................. 44 Exterior Features ..............................................................................................46 Description By Room ............................................................................................................53 National Park Service Av Part II - Treatment & Use A. Ultimate Treatment & Use .................................................................................................................. 99 B. Requirements for Treatment .............................................................................................................101 C. Alternatives for Treatment ................................................................................................................103 D. Recommendations .............................................................................................................................105 Bibliography ...............................................................................................................................................107 Appendices A. Chain of Title B. Prototype Houses C. Documentation Drawings: As-Found Basement Floor Plan ............................................................................................................C-1 First Floor Plan .....................................................................................................................C-2 Second Floor Plan ................................................................................................................C-3 Millwork Details...................................................................................................................C-4 Muntin Details......................................................................................................................C-5 Typical Door..........................................................................................................................C-6 B. Documentation Drawings: Sequence of Changes to First Floor 1895 First Floor Plan............................................................................................................D-1 c. 1920 First Floor Plan ....................................................................................................... D-2 By 1930 First Floor Plan ..................................................................................................... D-3 By 1931 First Floor Plan.......................................................................................................D-4 Post-1954 First Floor Plan....................................................................................................D-5 Avi 530 530 Auburn Auburn Avenue Avenue HSR HSR Project Team Building Investigation/ Joseph K. Oppermann, FAIA, Historical Architect Building Condition Assessment Joseph K. Oppermann–Architect,