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 death Of Mrs Emma j. Bel, mis-
tress Of the Bell House home Of
some Of Atlanta's bcst-knowu men.
For several weeks Mrs Bells condi-
ton had been serious. Monday sn"
sank rapidly. and died. surrounded
by many members Of the Bel House
colony
Funeral arrangements have not
been completed. Surviving the de-
ceased are a daughter. Mrs. Jack Cut
Ter OF Macon, and "a SON. Richard
Bell, OF Detroit
In 1874 Mrs Bell founded her "a
nous boarding house II was first
located on Walton street near Far
lie. Then II was moved into the old
Leyden house on Peachtree, and then
on Pryor street, on the lot now oc-
cupied by the Marion Hotel For the
past few years IL has occupied the
Aoid Ben Hill home on Peachtree, next
TO the Capital city club
Famous Retreat for Bachelors.
For years it has been the happy
hunting ground" Of bachelors. Fe"
Bell House boys ever married. and
those who did always came back when
wife" went on her vacation and
from them came no lovelorn signs.
Thus il came TO be almost q prov
erb: "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
who have risen 70 prominence than
any other similar institution in the
South.
A few Of the well known Atlantans
who formerly enjoyed the delicious
meals Of the Bel House arc Preston
S ArkWlight, DR. W. s. Elkin Judge
Andy Calhoun, Percy II. Adams John
w Grant. Robert L. Foreman, J Il.
Paine and Tom Erwin.
currer Star 5oarder" SO Years.
The oldest Of the present colony OF
bachelors Is Charles T. Currier, pres
ident Of the Atlanta National Bank.
He has been one of Mrs. Bells star
hoarders' for 50 years. Mex is Myron
T. Freeman who has resided at the
Bell House for q years
II think she was the best woman
who ever lived said Mr.. Currier, Of
Mrs Bell
Mr. Currier spoke feelingly Of the
years he had been under the home
supervision OF Mrs. Bell, with scores
Of other fortunate bachelors.
She was like mother TO us al"
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
Of the Bell House circle in 1881 Tom
Paine was there at that time and
Hugh McKeldn and Jim Mckeldin
Tom lives out at East Lake now, the
others are dead Eighteen years ago
Mrs Bell moved to the house az No
25S Peachtree 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 10 harder to get
into the Bell House than into the
most exclusive club. unless you We're
The right sort and mad some member
Of the circle to VouCh for YOU
Mrs. Bell From Mississippi.
Mrs Bell was Miss Emma Edwards
before her marriage 10 John Belt
Born iu Vickshurg Miss. sc years
ago. she came to Atlanta in the early
eos.
Thousands throughout tho South
win regret TO hear Of Mrs Bells
death During her eight weeks SUI
Uess she had received hundreds of let
fers Perhaps ~ woman in private
life in the South was better known
Certainly none was better beloved
Mrs Bells funeral viii be held on
Wednesday az D. M at the residence,
No. 25S Peachtree the Rev Richard
..f 3