15. E.E. Farley
Edwin Edward Farley (c. 1902 – 1956) was a successful Columbus realtor and developer with the assistance of his wife, Ella. That subdivision of more than 200 lots allowed African American veterans and active duty service members the opportunity to use their earned military benefits to purchase and or build homes in a segregated Columbus. Businesses, as well as residents, began moving from the traditional downtown area to the suburbs after World War I. Farley was no exception, moving from his home in the former heart of the African American community at 934 Fifth Avenue since 1930 to the new home he built on the edge of his development at 807 Illges Road in 1954. Farley died of a heart attack in late 1956 and his wife continued their business until selling it in 1971.
He was very active within the local community and his memberships within the local African American fraternal and societies gave him access to other influential civil rights leaders such as Dr. Thomas H Brewer, Primus King, and A. J. McClung. His support for the local African American YMCA began in the mid-1920s and he was instrumental in the funding of critical 1925 improvements to the 5th Avenue YMCA. His personal appeal to the wealthy African American Columbus business woman, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Lunsford yielded $15,000 of the $20,000 needed to fund the 1941 African American USO. Farley and J. A. Davis served as executives of the that organization. Farley, Brewer, and other prominent local African Americans were committee members orchestrating the annual football classic held at the A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium between Tuskegee and Morehouse since 1936. Insert picture of 934 5th Avenue house here with citation here as figure 2] Text for image 2: Figure 2 934 5th Avenue, the late Victorian Eastlake house on the life, was the Farley residence between 1930 and 1954.
Submission composed by Joyce Wade, April 3, 2017 Insert Citations here:
References and Further Reading:
Associated Negro Press 1956. “Georgia Civil Rights Leader Slain: Physician Shot to Death By Department Store Owner.” (Available at https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth403960/m1/1/ ) (Accessed March 2, 2017.)
Birk, C 2013. “Seven Decades of Success: A Brief History of the VA Home Loan.” (Available at https://www.veteransunited.com/valoans/seven-decades-success-history-va-home-loan/ ) (Accessed March 2, 2017)
Historical American Building Survey, nd. “Springer-Bize-Farley House, HABS-No. GA-2293.” Available at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ga/ga0700/ga0716/data/ga0716data.pdf and https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ga0716.photos/?sp=2 [Accessed: February 25, 2017]
Hyatt, R 2007. “The Right to Fight.” (Available at http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/latest-news/article28993384.html ) (Accessed March 2, 2017)
Ramsey, R & McClure, B nd. “The YMCA of Metropolitan Columbus, GA.: Our History.” (Available at http://www.columbusymca.com/cms-view-page.php?page=our-history) (Accessed March 2, 2017.)