Norris article brings back memories, PTC resident says

Last week's column did not generate any response from members of the Norris family, I'm sorry to say, but it did generate an interesting letter from a Peachtree City resident who once worked in the Norris Building in downtown Atlanta. It also spurred memories of a very famous event in Atlanta.

Judge William Cooper wrote about the Norris Building:

"Mrs. Kilgore:

"Your article about your relative and founder of Norris Candy Company brought back some memories of long gone days.

"I had just been employed by CIT Finance Company, on Dec. 1, 1939, and had been in a training program. The CIT Office was located on the second floor of the Norris Building at that time.

"Your article brought me back to J. P. Allen, on the nearest corner, towards the Atlanta Library, Candler Building, and just down Peachtree, and catty-cornered, from Davison-Paxon Department Store.

"You probably do not remember any of these stores and buildings, but it was part of our world in Atlanta during the 30s.

"I am a resident of Peachtree City now, and instead of being in my 20s as was the case when I became a part of the Norris Building, I am 89 years of age.

"But the reason I thought you might be interested is that our offices were located on the Peachtree side, and had big windows for light and an excellent view to the street itself. Thus, we had ringside seats, so to speak to one of the most famous events in the City of Atlanta's history.

"On the 15th of December, 1939, Margaret Mitchell's great novel, 'Gone With The Wind' became a movie and art classic with its premier opening at the Loew's Grand Theater. Mayor William Hartsfield gave the keys of the City to all of the major personages connected with the movie, and organized a super parade from the Georgian Terrace Hotel to the Square in front of the Loew's.

"(The parade included) the stars, Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Haviland, Hattie McDaniel, Thomas Mitchell, Evelyn Keyes (incidentally, an Atlanta girl), Butterfly McQueen, and all the rest of the cast, and producer, David Selznick, and director, Victor Fleming.

"We watched the whole parade pass right under our windows, and since all of the cast were in open touring cars, mostly Cadillacs and Packards, we observed every one of the occupants. Mayor Hartsfield rode with Vivian and Clark in the leading car. All people who were 'Who's Who' attended a Grand Ball that evening in the Georgian Terrace Hotel.

"No, I was not invited.

"Judge William Cooper, Peachtree City"

Well, Judge Cooper was right about my not remembering the event, since I was only eight months old. But I do remember when Davison's (now Macy's) was Davison-Paxon, and, when I was about 13, I took piano lessons on the third floor of the Loew's grand building. My Mom worked for Oberdorfer's insurance at the time of the parade, I believe, and later worked for Hyman Meltz & Co. in the building diagonally across from Davison's, above Walgreen's drug store. I do have fond memories of Atlanta, also ... Atlanta as it used to be.

I really appreciate Judge Cooper's sharing his memories with me. It brought back some of my own.

I found more information on the Norris Candy Company that Randall Smith had sent me a couple of years ago.

Apparently, the company enjoyed family ownership until 1964, when an article in the business section of the Atlanta Journal & Constitution told of a change. The headline said, "Northerners Buy Norris Candy Co." (Apparently we were still "yankee-sensitive" even back then, given their choice of headlines.) The article was dated Sunday, Aug. 23, 1964 and read, in part:

"Norris Candy Co., Atlanta candy manufacturer since 1905, has been sold to New England Confectionery Co. (NECCO) of Cambridge, Mass., for an undetermined price, it was announced Saturday.

"At the same time, Norris said it had moved into a new 35,000-square-foot, air conditioned building at 2125 Mountain Industrial Blvd. in Stone Mountain Industrial Park at Tucker.

"The building will house Norris' general offices, warehouse and shipping activities. Actual production of candy, which had been done at the company's old building, 223 Peachtree St., NE, has been discontinued."

Although two major figures remained as board members, W.B.R. Rhyne, former sales manager, and Sydney A. Rushin, former vice president, the Norris Candy Company was no more. Sad, isn't it? The "Northerners" had bitten off another piece of Atlanta.

I do hope that descendants of this Norris family will contact me eventually. I think I may have found another son, James C. Norris, in Cobb County in 1880.

I also found several Norris graves at Union Grove Baptist Church cemetery in Douglas County. This is where I finally found Lucy Ann Norris Fowler McFalls' grave, along with some of her children and grandchildren. Many of the Norris boys (sons of Jethro Norris) were born between 1831 and 1844, so they may have fought and died during the Civil War.

I also had some good news from Norma Gunby of Newnan who called the Georgia Archives about the family files being barred from public view. Norma said she was told that if you go to the call desk and ask for a specific file, it will be pulled for you. (That's what I did last September and they wouldn't let me see it. The policy must have changed.) She also said that a spokesperson for the Archives said they hoped the entire collection would be back out and available to the public by July 1. Guess I'll have to make another trip to Atlanta and look for Jethro Norris' file once more. Finding that family, I hope, will open up a whole new world of research for me.

Got a tale about your Georgia ancestors? Write to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; E-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!