From Downtown

This is one of my favorite buildings in the historic downtown Douglasville Georgia. Douglasville is located about 20 minutes west of my town, but it's where my gym is located.

First, a little history. This was Douglasville’s 2nd bank, the Farmers and Merchants Bank, opened in May 1, 1907, two years after Douglasville’s 1st bank, the Douglasville Banking Co. The Farmers and Merchants Bank was part of a banking chain known as the Whilham system. It's on the corner of Broad and Campbellton Streets and had assets totaling $25,000. The banks’ significant architectural style is an example of the quality of buildings being constructed in Douglasville at that time. The round window above the door and the fan shaped windows were handmade German glass and crystal. Town history lists this plot of land as a vacant lot as late as 1905, but in 1911, describe the plot as "Farmers and Merchants Bank w/vault."

I don't know if the vault is still inside. It's a good bet, considering the size of bank vaults - in other buildings of this type, bank vaults are so large they are just too inconvenient to remove. But as you can see, it's for rent now. I hope someone with money does something with it.

When it gets warmer, I may take a ramble along downtown and get some more pictures. This area has been relatively lucky in that a bunch of nice restaurants have moved into some of these old buildings, and they have banded together to have entertainment in the city square regularly during the spring and summer months. It is, however, dominated by eateries. Retail is a bit harder to come by, and you have to wonder how they do.

Atlanta is a commuter city. The irony here is that while downtown has made a bit of a comeback in this case, most people still have to drive to it, and do that after a long commute from Atlanta proper, which can take upwards of an hour. Downtowns really aren't supposed to be like that, are they? The family is supposed to be able to stroll down there. At the very least, they should be able to see a lot and do a lot while they are there. If people are too tired after a long drive to have a nice evening strolling the outdoor mall, they just won't do it.

This may tell you why so many folks here are chubby. Well okay, the double breaded fried chicken may also have SOMETHING to do with it.

--Laura