Old Fourth Ward in Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Nowell Family House

530 Auburn Avenue

— Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park —

Nowell Family House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 11, 2023

1. Nowell Family House Marker

Inscription. The Nowell family purchased this home in 1936 and took in boarders, or short-term renters, for over 70 years. The King family at 501 Auburn Avenue also welcomed boarders to earn extra income and support their community.

Boarding houses like the ones on Auburn Avenue were often the only option for Black travelers – including everyone from businessmen to preachers to laborers. This discrimination inspired the creation of The Negro Motorist Green Book, a guidebook that listed Black-friendly businesses by city and state.

“[My family] shared stories about our family's legacy, Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, how my aunts provided Dr. King with childcare on occasions, and how my father played with Dr. King. These stories had a profound influence on me.” – Gail Barnes Goodwin

[Captions (top to bottom)]
• Jettie Nowell was the family matriarch, owner of the home and friend of Mrs. Alberta King and Mrs. Haugabrooks. She also worked as a missionary to help people down on their luck in her community. Jettie reconfigured the home to house boarders in the basement and second floor.
Jettie's daughter Annie Nowell-Johnson worked as a seamstress and continued the tradition of housing boarders after she inherited the home.
• Victor

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Green founded The Green Book in New York City, and it quickly became popular across the country. The book's purpose, Green wrote, “was to save black travelers as many difficulties and embarrassments as possible.”

Erected 2023 by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1936.

Location. 33° 45.331′ N, 84° 22.209′ W. Marker is in Atlanta, Georgia, in Fulton County. It is in the Old Fourth Ward. Marker is at the intersection of Auburn Avenue Northeast and Howell Street Northeast, on the right when traveling west on Auburn Avenue Northeast. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 530 Auburn Ave NE, Atlanta GA 30312, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bryant Preparatory Institute (a few steps from this marker); Harper House (a few steps from this marker); A Relaxing Atmosphere (a few steps from this marker); Neighborhood Transformed (within shouting distance of this marker); Bryant-Graves House (within shouting distance of this marker); Neighborhood Pride (within shouting distance of this marker); Apartment House

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 11, 2023

2. Nowell Family House Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Stepping Up (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atlanta.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 180 times since then and 116 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 3, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.