A magical
afternoon happened today as I was finally able to meet with Ms. Betty Jean
Butler. I met her at her place of
residence in an assisted living apartment building in the Poncey Highlands area
of Atlanta.
Because she
is such a private and guarded person, I was unable to video or photograph our
meeting but was able to record it.
My deepest
gratitude for her taking time to meet with me and for shedding so much light on
my quest to find the truths associated with this listening device constructed
by Louise Taylor.
Our conversation.
T. – Hello and thank you so much for taking the time to
talk with me Ms .Butler.
BJ – PLEASE call me BJ
T. – As I mentioned on the phone, over the years I had
been walking past this odd contraption located near Ponce de Leon by the
railroad tracks and by several coincidences decided to collect it after it was pushed
down during the ongoing construction of the Atlanta Beltline.
Your name
was given to me by Alice Linn after meeting her at the Inman Park Festival -
another coincidence - and learning from
her that a lady by the name of Louise Taylor had built it in memory of her
friend Mel Mann. I have also learned that Louise moved to Atlanta from Alabama
in 1967 and that is pretty much where it ends.
So I have
some questions for you and may I start with, “Are you familiar with the
structure”?
BJ – Of course. Such an angry thing and so sad all at
the same time. Everyday her hammering and sitting and hammering and sitting.
T. – So Louise built this thing. I was told it was in
memory of her friend Mel Mann.
BJ – She did build it. It is actually a device….let me
back up…Louise built this after Mel was struck by a car while crossing Ponce de
Leon. You see Mel and Louise were an item. Louise had come over here after
meeting Mel at a teacher’s conference in Atlanta in …probably 1965. This was a
turbulent and exciting time for Atlanta with the civil rights movement
happening, the race riots, the war protests and Atlanta getting a pro football
team…and Mel loved that.
I think she
visited again in 1966. Mel had scored tickets to the Barbra Streisand Show at
the Atlanta Stadium and Lou was a big fan. As bohemian as Mel was….there was
also a softer side.
So she moved
here in the summer of 1967 I believe and moved in with Mel. Mel and I had been
friends for years. Mel was a sort of “character” around town in the bohemian
circles. Was a fixture at civil rights protests….and also a fixture from Ponce
de Leon all the way to Pershing Point…back then these areas were where a lot of
beatniks and hippies hung out. Oh and the poetry circles…..Mel was always there.
Mel’s poems were often way too honest and political….that few others were brave
enough to present such writing.
Both Mel and
I were born in Atlanta. At the time Atlanta was filled with more local people.
It wasn’t until the 80s that so many outsiders started moving here. She and I met at the Atlanta Girl's School in Grant Park.
T – So what did Mel ever say about Louise?
BJ – Well, Mel was in love and I can say Mel had been
around the block more than a few times….just had such a magnetic personality
that drew everyone near….so I was shocked when I learned of them actually
living together. I never thought I would see the day. Louise was also madly in
love with Mel and Atlanta and all that was happening at that time. Louise was
very sweet ….and played the piano so well…..several times she would play the
background music while Mel recited poems.
Louise was a
real person. Some of us had not seen a real person for many years…(a big laugh).
I think it
was her innocent, honest, country girl simplicity that caught Mel’s eye. They
were always out and about together. Mel paraded Louise around like a trophy
wife though they were the same age.
-long pause-
OK, then
about 6 months after Louise moved here, Mel was struck by that car. December
16, 1967. Ironically Mel’s birthday. It was horrible, just horrible. The closest
loss most of us had ever suffered.
Oh and there
was a huge memorial service….attended by artists and outcast shoulder to
shoulder with the movers and shakers of the civil rights movement and even some
local politicians. Blacks and whites
together which at the time was very taboo.
Mel was
cremated which was also not well accepted at the time. The ashes were scattered
at Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park. Mel spent a lot of time there contemplating
projects, writing poetry and trying to come up with the next big thing….and of
course the picnics with Louise and an occasional dip in the lake.
Such a sad
day for the Atlanta arts community. People came from all over. After the
memorial service, Louise returned to their apartment on Ponce de Leon Place and
was surrounded by mostly Mel’s friends as she was still new to Atlanta. As
always over the next few weeks the support became less……well a lot less. I think that
is when she started isolating herself. I would see her occasionally at the
Majestic drinking coffee alone. I am embarrassed to say I didn’t visit her as
much as I should have. Just such sadness for all of us but mostly her….bless
her heart.
Then a few
months later I got word that she was out and building something near the
tracks over by Sears. I had heard her play the piano so beautifully several times but did not
know her to be into construction…I thought “what on earth”. It was so primitive but tall. I mean Lou was a
little ol’ thing but that girl was on a mission. I remember the day she got a
couple of guys from the neighborhood to help her stand that thing up. We
applauded her efforts but really had no idea what it was. We were just happy to
see her so excited and happy…..then things got dark…..quiet….when the chair came out there. At first I thought
it was some sort of telescope as she had expressed an interest in the stars and
such many times….then we saw her sitting there with her ear up to it. Listening.
By this time
she had become reclusive. We would bring her hot tea, coffee, cigarettes while
she sat there. We invited her to anything that was happening. She never came.
She was…..had changed. She got more and more frail and thinner than before. She
came out everyday around dusk, crossing Ponce and going to her chair. Just listening.
That was the
year Martin Luther King died and we all went down to Auburn Avenue. As
important as the civil rights movement was to Lou….she didn’t go.
Her closet friend
and one of our gang, Clara McClendon, had talked with her and Lou said it was a
listening device she had read about that might give her a chance to hear from
Mel. When I heard this I just broke down and cried.
She was
looking for any answers. Why had she waited her whole life to find someone to
love and it was all taken away. It was so unfair. It ended so quickly.
- a long pause -
So we finally knew the purpose of this thing that she built. I cannot begin to tell you how sad it all was. None of us knew what to do.
- a long pause -
So we finally knew the purpose of this thing that she built. I cannot begin to tell you how sad it all was. None of us knew what to do.
On the
anniversary of Mel’s passing, Louise was taken to Georgia Baptist Hospital on
Boulevard. We hadn’t seen her for a week or so and so Clara had a key and went
over to her apartment and found her.
Well the
doctors did all kinds of tests on her and couldn’t find any problems. It became
obvious to us that she was grieving herself to death and there was nothing that
could be done….and she did. She died 3 weeks later.
No one
really knew about her family as she was new to town.
Clara had
been back home with her one time to Alabama. So she got in touch with Lou’s
elderly parents. I guess they had heard about Louise and Mel’s living situation
and didn’t approve and gave Clara permission to handle Louise’s affairs as she
saw fit.
So she
immediately called a meeting to decide what to do. We all agreed that she
should be cremated and sprinkled where Mel had been sprinkled the year before.
That would have been January 6, 1969. I will never forget that day because they
ran Lou’s obit in the Atlanta Journal and right beside it was the piece about
Jimmy Carter seeing a flying saucer. We joked that it was Louise and Mel flying
around together.
Despite her
being so alone at the end, lots of people turned out for her memorial service.
Not much was said….it was just so horribly sad.
We talked
about what to do with her listening device and all decided to let it be. And
that is where the story ended back in 1969…….until now. I can suggest that
maybe you could locate Clara McClendon – she is from the McClendon clan. I had
heard that she moved out of town. She knew Lou the best and could shed some
light about her should you choose to continue with this.
I can say
that I have seen many things in my life…but I have never seen a love like
theirs. Just amazing.
I know I
must still have some pictures of the gang in storage but now I can not get
around like before and it might be hard for me to help much.
T – Well you have helped tremendously and I really am so
thankful to you for shedding so much light on this and helping me to absolutely
know that saving this structure was something that had to be done. Their story
needs to be told. Thank you so much and
I will keep you posted as to where this goes in the future.
BJ – Better hurry and tell me something….me buying green
bananas is pretty optimistic these days.
A heartfelt Thank
You to Betty Jean Butler and to Alice Linn for arranging our meeting.
