Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-03
MANY MOURN AS
HEAD Of BELL
HOUSE DIES
Beloved Woman Had Mothered'
Scores Of AtIanta's Best
Known Men.

Hundreds Tuesday were mourning
the deata Of Mrs Emma r. Bel, mis-
iress Of the Bel House home u
some or AtIania's best known men.
For several weeks Mrs Bells condi-
ton had been serious Monday she
sank rapidly. and died. surrounded
by many members Of the Bel House
colony
Funeral arrangements have not
been completed Surviving the de-
tease5 are a daughter Hrs. JACK GUt-
Ter. ~ Macon and son, Rcnard
Bell, Of Detroit
in 1874 Mrs Bell founded her ia
nous boa -ding mouse II was FIRST
located on Walton street. near Fair
lie. Then IL was moved into the old
Leyden house on Peaehfree. and then
on Pryor street, on the lot now oc-
cupied by the Marion Hotel For the
PAST few years il has occupied the
old Ben Hin home on Peachtree. next
10 the Capital city Club
Famous Retreat tor Bachelors.
For years it has been the "happ|
hunting ground" Of bachelors Few
Bell House boys ever married and
those who did always came back when
wife" went on her vacation. and
from them came no Iovelorn signs.
Thus IL came 10 be almost a prov
CRIB. once a Bell House boy. al
ways one
Like the old inns where English
men OF letters gathered was the Bell
House Il has sheltered more men
Nho have risen 10 prominence than
any other similar institution in the
South
a geo. ~ tho v,.at ts,,,,,.,, .tt.,.,,.e.
who formerly enjoyed tho delicious
meals ~ the Bell House are Preston
s. Arkwright. Or IS. $. Elkin. Judge
Andy Calhoun, Percy II Adams. John
W. Grant. Robert l.. Foreman, r b.
Paine and Tom Erwin.
Currier "Star 5oarder" 50 Years.
The Oldest df the present colony Of
bachelors is Charles f. Currier, pres
ident OF the Atlanta National Bank.
He has been one of Mrs Bells star
hoarders for IS years Mex is Myron
+. Freeman who has resided at the
Bell House for = years
II think she was the best woman
who ever lived, said Mr. Currier OF
Mrs Bell
Mr. Cunier spoke feelingly Of the
years he had been under the home
supervision of Mrs Bell, with scores
Sine was like a mother To Us ali
he said. IT'S a thing you can't talk
about some way. SO as TO make any
body understand the relations that
existed between Mrs Bell and her
great family Of boys
Insisted on Good Boarders.
Where the Marion Hotel is now.
on Pryor street / became "A member
~ the Bell House circle IN 1851 Tom
Paine was there AT that time and
Hugn Mckeldln ana Jim MckeidnL
Tom lives ont Al East Lake Bowg the
others are dead Eighteen years ago
Mrs Bell moved To the house al No.
25S PeaChJree street. known as the
Bell House to-day
she was the best woman / ever
knew She cared nothing for money,
but she surrounded her boys with an
atmosphere that made IL harder Go get
into the Bell House than into the
most exclusive club. unless YOU We're
the right sort. and had some member
Of the circle to Vouch for You
Mrs. Bell From Mississippi.
Mrs Bel was Miss Emma Edwards
before her marriage 10 John Bell
Born ia Nieksburg. Miss. Go years
ago. she came 10 Atlanta in the early
eos.
Thousands throughout the South
viii regret 10 hear Of Mrs Bells
death. During her eight weeks ill.,
Tess she had received hundreds 81 let
tiers Perhaps no woman in private
life in the South was better known.
Certainly none was better beloved.
Mrs Bells funeral viii be held ON
"Wednesday at b u. at the residence.
No 2JS Peachtree. the Rev. Richard
DFme Finn Of the North Avenue