The Beacon Community

Historic Beacon Community

A brief history of Decatur’s African-American community

This material is from the permanent exhibit on view at the Beacon Municipal Center, 105 Electric Ave. A companion brochure published by City of Decatur is available to view or download. Printed copies are available at the center and at the Decatur Visitors Center.

Nurse Ivey collects height and weight information for the children of Decatur Nursery School at the Odd Fellows Hall at the inte

Left: Tom Steele’s Café was the place to go for splits — split sausage sandwiches. Steele was also a community leader, and the f

Left: Thankful Baptist Church as it appeared in the 1950s. Middle: Mr. and Mrs. John Burnett Sr., founders of the Lilly Hill Bap

Left: Teachers in the 1948 Herring Street School yearbook. Center: Charles M. Clayton, Sara T. Blackmon, Albert J. Martin.

Left: Going to a movie at the Ritz, part of the Atlanta-based Bailey Theaters chain, which catered solely to African-Americans.

eft: Jackie Robinson promotes voter registration in Decatur with Rosetta Williams, one of the founders of the DeKalb County NAAC

Left: Beacon residents were taken on “relocation tours” around DeKalb County as part of urban renewal plans.

The Beacon Community exhibit at Ebster Recreation Center tells the story of this historic community.

Supporting Documents

beacon_brochure_021417.pdf (11 MB)