"In the mid-1800s Atlanta proved to be one of the best locations in the South for Jews." From retail business, to education, to politics, to medicine, Atlanta Jews took over. Some of the most impressive (at least in my opinion!) facts.... 1. Jews in Atlanta owned more than 10% of its retail businesses. While only 1% of the total population, Jews still conquered a lot of business. Moving beyond just peddling, Jews started to open up larger stores (think of stores such as the Department Store in Eli Evans' memoir). One Atlanta example, is the Rich's Department Store, founded in 1867. Morris Rich was a Hungarian immigrant who grew up in Ohio and then moved to Atlanta, with money borrowed from his brother, and started a dry goods store. This store did so well, that it grew and prospered all the way up until 2003, when the store's name merged with New York City's department store Macy's, and then was fully taken over by Macy's by 2005. (WOW!!- as a NY'er this is VERY impressive) Bailey, Matthew. "Rich's Department Store." New Georgia Encyclopedia. 31 January 2017. Web. 13 April 2017. 2. David Mayer, a founding and longtime member of Atlanta's school board. Mayer moved from New York, to Washington, and then to Georgia with intentions to practice dentistry. However, in 1848 he joined a fellow Southern Jew, Jacob Haas (Aaron Haas' uncle) in the business world. After his start in business and some time in politics, David Mayer helped to create Atlanta's public school system and served on the board of education from 1869 until his death in 1890. He is often referred to as "the father of public education in Atlanta." The Atlanta Public Schools establish 3 grammar schools and 2 high schools in 1872. There were already 2 schools open just for "Megro" children that had opened in 1866. Eventually, the racial boundaries lifted and schools for all types of children were established. (Provincials: A Personal History of Jews in the South- Eli Evans, http://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/25263)
3.Aaron Haas became the city's first pro-term mayor for an extended period of time (1875). He previously served on city council. He was the nephew of Jacob Haas, one of the first Jews to even settle in Atlanta. The jump from an original settler to the city's mayor was a very huge accomplishment. His family and David Mayer's (see above) families traveled together to Atlanta at that time. Aaron worked in many different fields of business/merchandise, had partial ownership of the Union Street Rail Lines, worked in insurance, and spent time as the President of Young Men's Hebrew Association. in 1874, he was elected to city council and then became the city's first pro-term mayor. (Provincials: A Personal History of Jews in the South- Eli Evans, https://books.google.com/books?id=ioNMQ9iRm5gC&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=aaron+haas+atlanta+mayor&source=bl&ots=7HG-38X71O&sig=YmphL1rkb87F1VMLzMZh9J-OhzU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8w4CNkazTAhXCQyYKHTyNDYMQ6AEIIzAA#v=onepage&q=aaron%20haas%20atlanta%20mayor&f=false)
4. Joseph Hirsch and others established Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital (1890). Grady Hospital is name after Henry W. Grady, the managing editor of the Atlanta Constitution in the 1880s. Before Grady passed away he "envisioned and actively promoted a 'New South' where all could prosper." Therefore, following his death, the city council approved the decision to build a hospital in his honor, hence Grady Memorial Hospital. Grady hospital was intended to provide health care for low-income families in Atlanta. It has been a long, bumpy road, yet currently this hospital is not only still there but is thriving. Grady Memorial Hospital today has some of the top programs including but not limited to, the largest publicly funded infections disease program in the eastern United States, a nationally acclaimed diabetes center and burn unit, and the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence.....and all this started by a fellow Jew!