Located at 695 North Avenue in Atlanta, the Dupre Excelsior Mill (the actual name as of 1911 was "Du Pree Manufacturing Company Excelsior Factory")[1] may have been built as early as 1890 by DuPre (also spelled Du Pree) Manufacturing Company.[1] However, the mill fails to appear on Atlanta city maps in 1892[2] and 1899,[3] which both show the property as vacant. The first possible reference to the mill exists in the report of the death of Hubert Neal on July 17, 1899. According to the report, his accident occurred at the Atlanta Excelsior Works,[4] which may or may not be the same facility since at the time there were three excelsior factories in Atlanta.[5] The earliest concrete confirmation of the mill seems to be three lawsuits filed against Dupre in 1907 for accidents that occurred at the facility.[6] The mill does appear on the Sanborn-Perris fire insurance map of 1911 (section 250). At that time, the only road connecting it was Angier Street. It was noted to have been heated by steam power, no lighting, and a private water supply from a well 10 feet in diameter and 40 feet deep. A watchman made hourly rounds to seven stations.[1][5][7]
DuPre Excelsior Mill
The Masquerade, January 2006
Former names
Du Pree Manufacturing Company Excelsior Factory, Standard Excelsior Works
A concert at The Masquerade when it was located at the DuPre MillDuPree Mfrg. Co. Excelsior Factory on a 1911 Sanborn map
The Post-depression era saw an expansion of the mill in the late 1930s and early 1940s. After World War II, the demand for excelsior was radically reduced.[8] The introduction of foam rubber virtually eliminated the use of excelsior as stuffing material. Even so, the secondary packing material market continued for a short time. By the 1960s, the demand for excelsior was non-existent and the mill operated more as a storage facility than active production facility. By 1977, all the major mills in the Atlanta area had shut their doors.[9]
In 1977–1978, the mill was converted over to a pizzeria and barrio. With a Wurlitzer Organ as part of the setting, the Excelsior Mill featured everything from movies to bands to Shakespearian plays over its decade-long run; the pizza and barrio house survived until 1989. The Excelsior Mill, in its later years, is fondly remembered by blues fans as the residence of blues legend Willie "Piano Red" Perryman and an in-house pipe organ.[10] In September 1989, it closed for a time and subsequently re-opened as The Masquerade, becoming a well-known nightclub and concert venue.[11][12]
After the owner sold the property for a mixed-useland development, now called North + Line, locals and preservationists obtained historic protection for the original buildings, which were to be included in the redevelopment as a restaurant. The Masquerade announced in late June 2016 that it would reopen in the Blandtown section of West Midtown at 1421 Fairmont Ave in late August, just a week after closing its historic mill location.[13][14] However, this was thwarted by a lawsuit filed by a developer planning to build single-family homes across the street in the industrial area. In mid-September, a deal was reached to temporarily house the club in Kenny's Alley, the bottom level of Underground Atlanta, starting in late October, though the first concert wasn't held there until late November, just two days before Thanksgiving. The last show at the mill was on the 19th of that month.
On December 27, 2019, one wall of the building partially collapsed during construction.[15] As of February 9, 2021, the collapsed wall was repaired and the new space almost ready for tenants.[16]
^"Neal Is Killed By A Loose Belt: Hurled Against Floor and Ceiling by Belt Which Held Him". The Atlanta Constitution. July 17, 1899. p. 5. Retrieved October 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Diversified Industries". The Atlanta Constitution. September 29, 1886. p. 7. Retrieved October 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Three damage suits against one man". Atlanta Georgian and News. April 19, 1907. p. 2.
^Seventh Annual Report of the Commissioner of Commerce and Labor of the State of Georgia for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 1918. Georgia. Dept. of Commerce and Labor. 1919. p. 81. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
^. riverreporter.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-25.
^Godshalk, Merrell (July 26, 1985). "'Piano Red' Perryman dies of cancer at 73". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 3-A. Retrieved October 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Drennen, Eileen M. (September 1, 1989). "Mill to Masquerade, New Club Unveiled". The Atlanta Constitution. p. E1, E4. Retrieved October 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^DeVault, Russ (September 5, 1992). "The Masquerade turns 3, and it's one big party". The Atlanta Constitution. p. Leisure 12. Retrieved October 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Green, Josh (June 22, 2016). "Exclusive: Meet the Future Home of The Masquerade". Curbed Atlanta. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
^Ruggieri, Melissa (June 22, 2016). "The Masquerade reveals plans for new home on Atlanta's westside". Atlanta News Now. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
^"Historic DuPre Excelsior Mill Partially Collapses During Construction". Georgia Public Broadcasting. 2019-12-28. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
^"Legendary Masquerade building has rebounded after structural collapse". Urbanize Atlanta. 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
Insurance maps of Atlanta, Georgia, Volume 2, 1911, Sanborn-Perris Map Co. Limited 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
1892 bird's eye view map of Atlanta 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
Insurance maps of Atlanta, Georgia, 1899, Sanborn-Perris Map Co. Limited 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
Atlanta Constitution, 17 July 1899
External linksedit
Official website
Painted Black: The History of 695 North Avenue, the Masquerade, and the Atlanta Alternative Music Scene
The Masquerade page on MySpace, includes list of artists who have performed at the venue
DuPree Excelsior Mill page on Georgia Society for the Paranormal Science site
March 17, 2024
dupre, excelsior, mill, located, north, avenue, atlanta, dupre, excelsior, mill, actual, name, 1911, pree, manufacturing, company, excelsior, factory, have, been, built, early, 1890, dupre, also, spelled, pree, manufacturing, company, however, mill, fails, app. Located at 695 North Avenue in Atlanta the Dupre Excelsior Mill the actual name as of 1911 was Du Pree Manufacturing Company Excelsior Factory 1 may have been built as early as 1890 by DuPre also spelled Du Pree Manufacturing Company 1 However the mill fails to appear on Atlanta city maps in 1892 2 and 1899 3 which both show the property as vacant The first possible reference to the mill exists in the report of the death of Hubert Neal on July 17 1899 According to the report his accident occurred at the Atlanta Excelsior Works 4 which may or may not be the same facility since at the time there were three excelsior factories in Atlanta 5 The earliest concrete confirmation of the mill seems to be three lawsuits filed against Dupre in 1907 for accidents that occurred at the facility 6 The mill does appear on the Sanborn Perris fire insurance map of 1911 section 250 At that time the only road connecting it was Angier Street It was noted to have been heated by steam power no lighting and a private water supply from a well 10 feet in diameter and 40 feet deep A watchman made hourly rounds to seven stations 1 5 7 DuPre Excelsior MillThe Masquerade January 2006Former namesDu Pree Manufacturing Company Excelsior Factory Standard Excelsior WorksLocation695 North Avenue Atlanta Georgia 30318ConstructionBuilt1890 or 1895 or 1905 A concert at The Masquerade when it was located at the DuPre MillDuPree Mfrg Co Excelsior Factory on a 1911 Sanborn mapThe Post depression era saw an expansion of the mill in the late 1930s and early 1940s After World War II the demand for excelsior was radically reduced 8 The introduction of foam rubber virtually eliminated the use of excelsior as stuffing material Even so the secondary packing material market continued for a short time By the 1960s the demand for excelsior was non existent and the mill operated more as a storage facility than active production facility By 1977 all the major mills in the Atlanta area had shut their doors 9 In 1977 1978 the mill was converted over to a pizzeria and barrio With a Wurlitzer Organ as part of the setting the Excelsior Mill featured everything from movies to bands to Shakespearian plays over its decade long run the pizza and barrio house survived until 1989 The Excelsior Mill in its later years is fondly remembered by blues fans as the residence of blues legend Willie Piano Red Perryman and an in house pipe organ 10 In September 1989 it closed for a time and subsequently re opened as The Masquerade becoming a well known nightclub and concert venue 11 12 After the owner sold the property for a mixed use land development now called North Line locals and preservationists obtained historic protection for the original buildings which were to be included in the redevelopment as a restaurant The Masquerade announced in late June 2016 that it would reopen in the Blandtown section of West Midtown at 1421 Fairmont Ave in late August just a week after closing its historic mill location 13 14 However this was thwarted by a lawsuit filed by a developer planning to build single family homes across the street in the industrial area In mid September a deal was reached to temporarily house the club in Kenny s Alley the bottom level of Underground Atlanta starting in late October though the first concert wasn t held there until late November just two days before Thanksgiving The last show at the mill was on the 19th of that month On December 27 2019 one wall of the building partially collapsed during construction 15 As of February 9 2021 the collapsed wall was repaired and the new space almost ready for tenants 16 References edit a b c Insurance maps of Atlanta Georgia Volume 2 1911 Sanborn Perris Map Co Limited http dlgcsm galib uga edu StyleServer calcrgn browser ns amp cat sanb amp wid 380 amp hei 400 amp style sanborn sanb xsl amp item atlanta fulton ga 1911 s 250 sid Archived 2011 07 20 at the Wayback Machine Archived copy Archived from the original on 2011 07 17 Retrieved 2010 10 11 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Insurance maps of Atlanta Georgia 1899 Sanborn Perris Map Co Limited http dlgcsm galib uga edu StyleServer calcrgn browser ns amp cat sanb amp wid 700 amp hei 700 amp style sanborn sanb lg xsl amp item atlanta fulton ga 1899 k 000 sid Archived 2011 07 20 at the Wayback Machine Neal Is Killed By A Loose Belt Hurled Against Floor and Ceiling by Belt Which Held Him The Atlanta Constitution July 17 1899 p 5 Retrieved October 30 2022 via Newspapers com a b Diversified Industries The Atlanta Constitution September 29 1886 p 7 Retrieved October 30 2022 via Newspapers com Three damage suits against one man Atlanta Georgian and News April 19 1907 p 2 Seventh Annual Report of the Commissioner of Commerce and Labor of the State of Georgia for the Fiscal Year ending December 31 1918 Georgia Dept of Commerce and Labor 1919 p 81 Retrieved 2019 07 29 The historic Excelsior Mill a labor of love is a family legacy riverreporter com Archived from the original on 2010 02 25 History by a Graveyard The Fulton Bag and Cotton Mills Records Robert C McMath Jr http www library gatech edu fulton bag history html Godshalk Merrell July 26 1985 Piano Red Perryman dies of cancer at 73 The Atlanta Constitution p 3 A Retrieved October 30 2022 via Newspapers com Drennen Eileen M September 1 1989 Mill to Masquerade New Club Unveiled The Atlanta Constitution p E1 E4 Retrieved October 30 2022 via Newspapers com DeVault Russ September 5 1992 The Masquerade turns 3 and it s one big party The Atlanta Constitution p Leisure 12 Retrieved October 30 2022 via Newspapers com Green Josh June 22 2016 Exclusive Meet the Future Home of The Masquerade Curbed Atlanta Retrieved 2019 07 29 Ruggieri Melissa June 22 2016 The Masquerade reveals plans for new home on Atlanta s westside Atlanta News Now Retrieved 2019 07 29 Historic DuPre Excelsior Mill Partially Collapses During Construction Georgia Public Broadcasting 2019 12 28 Retrieved 2021 08 20 Legendary Masquerade building has rebounded after structural collapse Urbanize Atlanta 2021 02 09 Retrieved 2021 08 20 TheStoryGroup com article Creative Loafing article Map 33 46 15 N 84 21 53 W 33 77083 N 84 36472 W 33 77083 84 36472 Insurance maps of Atlanta Georgia Volume 2 1911 Sanborn Perris Map Co Limited Archived 2011 07 20 at the Wayback Machine 1892 bird s eye view map of Atlanta Archived 2011 07 17 at the Wayback Machine Insurance maps of Atlanta Georgia 1899 Sanborn Perris Map Co Limited Archived 2011 07 20 at the Wayback Machine Atlanta Constitution 17 July 1899External links editOfficial website Painted Black The History of 695 North Avenue the Masquerade and the Atlanta Alternative Music Scene The Masquerade page on MySpace includes list of artists who have performed at the venue DuPree Excelsior Mill page on Georgia Society for the Paranormal Science site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title DuPre Excelsior Mill amp oldid 1207084363, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
