FULTON COUNTY, GA - History - Old Soldier's Home

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Archives by: Shirley Holland  sdholland@mindspring.com  


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This is for any one seeking info on the Old Soldiers Home:


The Campbell News-1909

To the Editor:  I presume all Georgians feel more or
less interest in the Soldiers' Home of Atlanta.  It
was established by the legislature in 1891 for the
purpose of caring for old soldiers of the Civil War
who, because of age of physical disability, are
unable to earn support. 


It is located 4 miles SE of the Georga State
Capital, on Confederate Ave., in East Atlanta and is
a large, two story brick building divided into
numerous bedrooms,kitchen,dining hall, library,
chapel and bathrooms, etc.  A seperate building is
used as a hospital.  The entire establishment is
heated by steam radiators and a gate in each room,
lighted by gas and supplied with water from the city
reservoir. The institution is under the control of a
Board of Trustees, consisting of one member from
each Congressional district.  The Board elects a
Superintendent or Captain who resides at the Home
and is responsible for the discipline and care of
the inmates.  

The eating department is in charge of a matron, who
controls everything relating to the preparation and
serving of food.  The menu is varied and ample,
consisting of meats, fish,bread,butter,vegetables
and coffee.  The tables in the dining hall will
accommodate six persons. Three square meals a day
are furnished.

The chapel is free to ministers of all
denominations, including the Salvation Army.

In addition, many Christian and cultured ladies of
the city often visit the Home and render vocal and
instrumental music.  All the services are well
attended and highly appreciated.  

Eash inmate has a seperate bed, clean sheets and a
number of blankets. The Home consist of 120 acres of
land with about 30 being cultivated in corn and
vegetables.

Dr. Ams Fox, treasurer and purchasing agent, attends
to the buying and distributing of everything
consumed by the 114 inmates.  Yearly expenses
aggregate about $29,000, including salaries of
officals, which approximates $170.00 per capita.

The Home has a fine library with many historical and
other works.  It also receives many daily papers
sent by publishers all over the state. Since the
Home was established 406 veterans have been
admitted: 167 have died.  When a death occurs the
body is sent to an undertaker to be preapred to
burial.  Friends are notified, if they desire can
inter the body wherever they choose, the State
furnishing the coffin.  But if friends do not come,
the undertaker, aided by six comrads, inter at West
View Cemetery.  With nothing to do and free board,
it seems like the old soldier ought to be contented.
But when the change for carfare and postage
vanishes, life at the Home becomes monotonous. Every
evening the sergeant calls the roll and each old
soldier answers: "here".  But the time is rapidly
coming when the last old "Vet" will answer the final
call and join his comrades of the long ago.  W.G.R.


The above article was written by W. G. Roberts.  He
was the Coroner of Campbell County in 1909 when he
decided to go into the Confederate Soliers' Home
because of bad health.  He resigned his position of
Coroner and R. P. Mathews was apointed to fill the
office.


West View Cemetery is located off I-20. Exit off at
Martin Luther King Dr and turn left-You will see the
cemetery located on West View Dr.  


To my knowledge the Old Soldiers' Home is closed.  I do not know if it still stands on Confederate Ave or not.  Will have to check with the State of GA.


Shirley
sdholland@mindspring.com