2023 24 Black Pages FINAL 2 - Flipbook - Page 103
Between the 1830’s and 1880’s he operated a barber shop and bath house in several loca琀椀ons in the
city. In 1872, he was one of twelve barbers, seven blacks and 昀椀ve whites. He was located at Mulberry and
Second Streets. In 1877, Woodli昀昀’s parlor was in Brown’s Hotel, which was situated at the corner of Fourth
and Plum Streets, immediately opposite the “Passenger Depot.” Financially, he was probably Macon’s most
successful barber during the nineteenth century.
In 1843, Woodli昀昀 purchased his wife, Mahalia Spicer, at a price of $800. The family residence was on
Spring Street at the corner of Wharf (Riverside Drive). He was known by his contemporaries for his
educa琀椀onal, poli琀椀cal, and economical e昀昀orts on behalf of blacks in the city.
From money accumulated as a barber, Woodli昀昀 also invested in real estate before the Civil War. As
required by Georgia laws, he purchased about twelve lots and houses through his guardian, Abner P. Powers.
Between 1847 and 1859, he acquired land in several loca琀椀ons in Macon.
The Freedman’s Savings Bank was another business established to help blacks primarily in educa琀椀on.
It had thirty-three branches, four of which were in Georgia at Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, and Savannah. During
the nine years of its existence from 1866 to 1875, the total deposits amounted to $56,000,000.00 for the
en琀椀re South.
During the period of Reconstruc琀椀on, blacks had a certain degree of poli琀椀cal and economic
opportunity. This was made possible by those who were sensi琀椀ve to their needs and the guidance and
protec琀椀on of federal troops. Blacks had a de昀椀nite role in the life of the community, although segrega琀椀on
barred them from developing their poten琀椀al. Because of the dual system, the social a琀�tudes toward blacks
were greatly in昀氀uenced by segrega琀椀on.
During this period, blacks made some gains, but with the end of Reconstruc琀椀on, poli琀椀cal and
economic par琀椀cipa琀椀on declined, and ul琀椀mately blacks were disfranchised in Georgia in 1907. Because of the
dual system, blacks were not allowed to enter most white business establishments and turned to mercan琀椀le
business. At 昀椀rst only a few succeeded; but gradually, by concentra琀椀ng on sales and services primarily to
blacks, their businesses began to prosper. Some examples are the Braswell family, James, and Willis, who
operated a barber shop on Cherry Street and blacksmith shop on Co琀琀on Ave, Lamar Clay’s Undertaker
business; and the Penny Building Loan and Investment Company with A.S. Beasley serving as presiden琀椀al and
J.M. Brown, secretary-treasurer, on Co琀琀on Avenue; and a newspaper in circula琀椀on owned by C.N. Robinson in
1896. In 1900 Charles Hutchings and F. Hubbard held partnership in a funeral business and in 1910 Hutchings
bought all rights to the business. In 1902, Alvin Glasco operated a barber shop on Cherry Street and William
Braswell was in den琀椀stry.
In 1919 two of the most important economic ac琀椀vi琀椀es in the Black community were banking and
insurance. The Liberty Loan and Investment Company was organized with a capital stock of $25,000 and in
three years it’s funds on deposit totaled $740,000. Charles Henry Douglass organiza琀椀on the Middle Georgia
Savings and Investment Company in 1921. He served as president and Rev. W.R. Forbes was the chairman of
the board of directors. The company was engaged in banking and real estate. In August of 1923 at the
previous stockholders’ mee琀椀ng, the amount of business transacted within the previous twelve months was
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