5 facts about alonzo herndon

He called it the Crystal Palace after the famous structure built for the 1851 Worlds Fair in London. Many white men used African-American barbers in these years. The firm grew rapidly in the 1920s, expanding its operations. } Civil Rights Movement Mid- to Late 20th Century Topics . Herndon employed an acquisition strategy where he bought out failing insurance businesses and merged them with his company. } }body,p{ Alonzo Herndon rose to prime prominence as a Entrepreneur. font-size:14px; He passed away on 21 July 1927. The shop was a success, but Herndon was pulled to Atlanta and he struck gold there. On this episode of Georgia Stories; Alonzo Herndon, a former slave born in 1858 in Social Circle, sought to better himself and ultimately became Atlanta's fi. Herndon studied barbering, and owned and managed a string of barbershops in downtown Atlanta after the Civil War, one of which was considered to be the most elegant in the . Jan. 03 1992. At the time, she was teaching drama and elocution at Atlanta University, from which she had only recently graduated, and was the sole African American woman on its faculty. ." Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Ryan Cameron Opens Dough Boy Pizza In Atlanta, Six Flags Over Georgia: Everything You Need To Know Before You Go, ATL Entrepreneur Has A Juicee Way To Distribute Beauty Products, Atlanta Safari Park Opening In March 2023, Ultimate Atlanta Festival Guide 2023: Events & Fun Things To Do, Best Things To Do In Atlanta This Weekend: March 3-5, Atlanta Brunch Festival 2023: Info, Dates, Schedule, Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival 2023: Dates, Time, Info, Heres The List Of Movies Being Filmed In Atlanta, Georgia Right Now, Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes 2023: Dates, Time, Info, Here Are The Best Things To Do In Buckhead, Best Things To Do In Atlanta On A Wednesday. His mother was Sophenie, an enslaved woman. His father was his mother's White owner, so he was kept on the man's farm. There he opened his first barbershop. Its barbers were African American, but the establishment served a white clientele only, and quickly became one of the city's leading barbershops. As his earnings grew, Herndon began to invest in real estate, purchasing more than 100 rental houses, commercial property along Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, and a plantation near Tavares, Florida. An African American barber and entrepreneur, Alonzo Herndon was founder and president of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the most successful black-owned insurance businesses in the nation. The Crystal Palace became an instant landmark, drawing customers and tourists from across the south and beyond. Make a list of the character traits possessed by Alonzo Herndon according to what was shown in the video. The New Georgia Encyclopedia is supported by funding from A More Perfect Union, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Herndon supplemented the family income by working as day laborer and peddler of peanuts, homemade molasses, and axle grease. .header-wrap-top .top-social-icon li a:hover{color:#f4c85e;} 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. } fbq('init', '213902435871547'); letter-spacing:0.7px; He was born on June 26, 1858 and his birthplace is Georgia. Atlanta, GA 30318 Death: Immediate Family: Son of Stephen C Herndon and Lucinda Philpot McGowan. Herndon ventured into the realm of racial politics at the turn of the century by joining Booker T. Washington in establishing the National Negro Business League. American executive Alonzo Franklin Herndon (1858-1927) founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the leading insurers in the American South. Norris Herndon eventually established the Herndon Foundation, which became the new majority stockholder of Atlanta Life and a major donor to the city's cultural institutions. In 1910, the house was built. New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Jul 14, 2020. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/alonzo-herndon-1858-1927/, Henderson, A. Herndons mother, Sophenie, was a black slave; his father, Frank Herndon, was a white slave owner. Herndons first wife passed in 1910, and he married Jessie Herndon in 1910. He passed away on 21 July 1927. } Much of the Herndon mansions design has been attributed to the taste and aspirations of the Adrienne Herndons wife Adrienne, who envisioned the rooftop terrace as a performance venue. After some years, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business. 56. "My knees quaked with fear for I thought I was being telegraphed," he recalled, according to the Merritt book. FUN FACTS. Web site: http://www.chubb.com Norris B. Herndon, his son also contributed a lot to the company since he made it into a multimillion dollar company. } Norris also gave the land on which Atlanta University's Herndon Stadium was built in 1948, and donated heavily to civil-rights causes in the 1960s. She hired herself out by the day and as there was money in the country, she received as pay potatoes, molasses, and peas enough to keep us from starving.". Henderson, Alexa. Georgias rise from the ashes of civil war sparked a debate about development and the future of the state. The move was a success and Herndon became the premier barber among Atlantas rich and powerful. Featured Content. Freed by the 13th Amendment, Herndon and his mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparents became sharecroppers. Present this to the class. Guided in part by advice and information he picked up from his wealthy, influential clientele, Herndon invested the majority of his profits in real estate. That same year, he re-opened for business at an address of 66 Peachtree Street that would become his flagship enterprise for the next several decades. Emancipated at the end of the Civil War (1861-65), he was sent away from his birthplace by his father. He also put aside a small portion as savings, which he earmarked for the purpose of leaving Social Circle as soon as possible to improve his economic and social condition. border: 1px solid #f4c85e; Alonzo is also well known as, Famous for founding and heading the successful Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company, he is also remembered as the city of Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. .navigation .menu > li > a:hover,.navigation ul li a:hover,header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:hover:after,.navigation ul ul.sub-menu a:hover,.smaller .navigation ul li a:hover, .home .smaller .navigation .menu > li > a:hover,.navigation ul .current-menu-item > a, } In addition to serving as a role model and inspiration to generations of African American entrepreneurs, Herndon left a significant family legacy. (2004). Five years later he was one of the original members of the W.E.B. Though Herndons successful businesses and investments made him a wealthy man, they did not protect him from the negative effects of racism. They had to become entrepreneurs to rise out of the role of servant, farmer, or menial worker. On his way to becoming Atlanta's first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. 20042023 Georgia Humanities, University of Georgia Press. His new venture became the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association, and by 1907 had 23 offices across Georgia. By 1916, the Association was reorganized as a stock company capitalized at $25,000, most of which Herndon bought. He also became the president of this company. background:#111; Herndon was born a slave on June 26, 1858, in a small town near Atlanta, Georgia, known as Social Circle. Famous for founding and heading the successful Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company, he is also remembered as the city of Atlanta's first African-American millionaire. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. A1; August 18, 2002, p. G1. Alonzo Herndon embodied the American Dream while leading the way for financial freedom for African Americans.With lively illustrations, The Story of Alonzo Herndon introduces Alonzo Herndon to young readers and inspires them to achieve greatness. Herndons business thrived. An entrepreneur at heart, he learned barbering and eventually opened his own shop in Atlanta called the Crystal Palace and later founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Herndon died in Atlanta on July 21, 1927 at the age of 69. Find ou another businessman in Alberto Alessi facts. [2] In 1922, the company was reorganized as Atlanta Life Insurance Company, and became one of five African-American insurance companies at the time to achieve legal reserve status. It was an architectural wonder when it was built in 1910 by an all-black team of laborers and tradesmen. The New Georgia Encyclopedia does not hold the copyright for this media resource and can neither grant nor deny permission to republish or reproduce the image online or in print. Upcoming Entrepreneur birthdays. He was a member of W.E.B. Stock Exchanges: N, One Liberty Place Herndons death in 1927, his son, Norris B. Herndon, took over the company and continued in his fathers philanthropic footsteps by contributing to the United Negro College Fund, Atlanta University, and the National Urban League. After starting in the shop of another black man in Atlanta, Herndon later owned three barbershops in Atlanta, including a large one at 66 Peachtree Street that he fitted out with luxurious furnishings. Murals in its living room depicted scenes from Herndon's life, including tilling the red-clay fields of Social Circle. He also invented his money in real estate. His success in barbering was spectacular, and as his earnings grew, he invested in real estate in Atlanta and in Florida. Merritt, Carole, The Herndons: An Atlanta Family, University of Georgia Press, 2002. 1. After six months Herndon purchased half interest in the shop, entering into a partnership with one of the few free Blacks operating barbering establishments since before the Civil War. .flex-slider li .caption-content a{color:#fff;} } /*margin-digbar*/ In New Georgia Encyclopedia. .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline.simplesocial-simple-round button{ That year Herndon changed the name of the company to Atlanta Life Insurance Company. "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin The son of an enslaved African-American named Sophenie and a white plantation owner named Frank Herndon, he was freed from slavery at the age of seven. AboutPressCopyrightContact. According to the Atlanta Journal, Herndon and his all-Black barbering staff were known from Richmond all the way to Mobile as the best barbers in the South. Following the racial practices of the era, the Black barbers served an exclusively white clientele composed of the citys leading lawyers, judges, politicians, and businessmen. Herndons barbershop expanded to three shops, attracting Black Atlantas elite. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) Whenever possible, he reinsured the policyholders and merged the faltering business into Atlanta Life in an effort to conserve confidence in Black businesses and save jobs for Black men and women. "Herndon, Alonzo Franklin Alexa Benson Herndon, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Alexa Benson Henderson, Alonzo Herndon and Black Insurance in Atlanta, 1904-1915, Atlanta Historical Bulletin 21 (spring 1977). color:#dd9933; Merged with two other firms and renamed the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the firm prospered. he had great clientelle with the money he was getting he was able to invest in real estate.he bought more than 100 rental houses and commercial property in auburn avenue in atlanta. Their son, Norris Bumstead Herndon, was born in July of 1897, and Adrienne made her stage debut in Boston seven years later using the name Anne Du Bignon. Do you find this information helpful? Drawing customers and tourists from across the south and beyond wealthy man, they did protect! Where he bought out failing Insurance businesses and merged them with his Company.,... 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A special initiative of the National Endowment for the 1851 Worlds Fair in London on Insurance! Traits possessed by Alonzo Herndon rose to prime prominence as a stock Company capitalized at 25,000... Palace after the famous structure built for the Humanities in 1910, and axle.. $ 25,000, most of which Herndon bought with his Company. the Insurance business C Herndon and Philpot... The 13th Amendment, Herndon decided to get in on the Insurance business rapidly in the south!
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