Macon Magazine

More information to spark your creativity 1. Pine Street Median / Black Heritage Trail Marker On the median between the children's hospital and the Dunkin Donuts sits a Black Heritage Trail bronze marker to the Cotton Ave. Black Business District. This location was chosen due to its pedestrian availability and the symbolism of being next to the site of Tremont Temple Baptist Church and the Charles Douglass house, which are both no longer extant. The demolition of both sites ironically spurred an appreciation for local Black history. Other markers exist on Poplar and Mulberry St. 2. 850 Forsyth Street / Randall Memorial Mortuary Randall Memorial Mortuary, once known as Central City Funeral Home, was once based here. Originally owned by Ruth Hartley Mosley and founded by her late husband, it was acquired by "Daddy Bill" Randall. His office for a project affiliated with the famous MLK-affiliated Civil Rights organization Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) called Summer Community Organization and Political Education (SCOPE) was also on Cotton Ave., above an unknown liquor store. He was one of the first Black elected officials in Bibb County, and believed to be the first Black commissioner elected to the Bibb County Board of Commissioners. 3. 626 Spring Street / Ruth Hartley Mosley House Ruth Hartley Mosley Memorial Women's Center preserves the home of this influential nurse, business owner, and mentor to other women, who broke barriers for both women and Black people, in her day. She was a prominent activist in the Civil Rights era, and her home is now a resource center for the community. 4. 811 Forsyth St / Billingslea Commons Billingslea Commons is a revitalized development, named in honor of Black Macon civic and business leader Albert Billingslea, who owned it for decades and occupied one of the storefronts until his passing in 2011. He would hold informal meetings there, discussing local politics and community action, jokingly called the "Cotton Ave Mafia." A mural featuring Billingslea now takes up an entire wall of the building. 5. 807 Forsyth Street / H&H H&H is an iconic soul food spot, operated continuously since 1959. It was founded by the famed "Mama Louise" Hudson, alongside her friend "Mama Inez" Hill. It became a famed spot for the Allman Brothers, who ate for free when they were young and broke – they repaid Mama Louise by eventually taking her on tour with them. Fans of the band still flock there to pay homage, and take pictures next to the colorful mural featuring the ladies on the wall. 6. 591 D.T. Walton Sr. Way / Walton Building The iconic sign of the Walton Building stood for D.T. Walton, dentist and activist. Built in 1887 by John Marks with many mixed uses over the years, the nostalgia for past radio stations, candy shops, and art stores is leading an effort to restore this location in prime downtown. 7. 590 D.T. Walton Sr. Way / Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages The current office of the Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages, which Alex Habersham founded in 1991, put a focus on Black-owned businesses. He restored the 1914 building, once the Macon Pharmacy. He still advocates for Black history preservation, and runs the Downtown Diversity Initiative out of NewTown Macon and the Central Georgia Coalition of Black Businesses. 8. 536 New Street / Hutchings Funeral Home Hutchings Funeral Home is a family Black-owned business that stretches back to 1895. The present building was created in 1927, and two descendants of the original owners, Sharon Hutchings and Starr Hutchings Purdue, are still at the helm. The location is the cover of Macon Magazine's 2023 Music Issue, featuring Broadway actress and family descendent Sasha Hutchings. She's pictured with a hand-painted portrait of her grandfather in the background. 9. 535 D.T. Walton Sr. Way / Redwal Music Building This was once the Redwal Music building, an idea partnering the Walden brothers with Otis Redding in the 1960s. One of the first integrated office buildings in Macon, their roster once held more Black artists than Motown. After Redding's untimely passing, it became Capricorn Records. 10. 701 Poplar Street / Rosa Parks Square This passive park is called Rosa Parks Square, named after the nationally renowned Civil Rights activist, and is undergoing a $2.5 million renovation. The space was first named for Ozzie Belle McKay, Pleasant Hill community volunteer who founded the Federated Girl's Club. Her political prowess caused former governor Joe Frank Harris to call her the "Lt. Colonel of Georgia." The park also honors Sgt. Rodney Davis, Macon's only Medal of Honor winner. 11. 436 Cotton Avenue / Otis Redding Center for the Arts The Otis Redding Otis Redding Center for the Arts is a brand-new space for young artists to hone their craft and gain confidence. Featuring practice rooms, studio lab spaces, and more as well as an outdoor amphitheater, it's a 15,000 square foot space that is dedicated all to music education. 12. 339 Cotton Ave / Otis Redding Foundation and Museum The Otis Redding Foundation and Museum gives a picture of the extraordinary life of the "King of Soul" and bring his legacy into new generations of musicians. The foundation and new arts center are operated by Redding's widow, Zelma, along with daughter Karla Redding-Andrews. These are just a few of the extraordinary points in Macon's Black history. To learn more, book an African American Heritage tour or an African American Music Experience Tour with Visit Macon. Tear out this map and take it with you. Follow @maconmagazine for more stories and to tag us in the journey. Download the Tour Macon app today to see more sites on Visit Macon's Black Heritage Trail

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