Atlanta Stories -

In 1881 these two men of the South began a partnership that we can still see hints of today.  The Miller & Brady firm sold feed, kept stables, and sold horses and mules. When Captain Miller died Brady purchased property around Marietta St. and Howell Mill Rd. and continued to grow the business.

Atlanta became the second-largest mule market outside St Louis. As satisfying as it was to be the second-largest mule market, it did have some downsides. The now-named Brady Union Stockyards often ran “mule parades” driving the animals down the streets of Atlanta from their location in south Atlanta around Loyd Street, now Central Ave, near the train station to north Atlanta around today’s Brady Ave.

The fine people of Atlanta and their vehicles would often find themselves pushed off the streets to make way for the crush of animals moving through the city center.

Eventually, it was decided this was not the look of the sophisticated, cosmopolitan city Atlanta was trying to promote. The “parades” of livestock had to be curtailed.

As I write, I am curious about the aftermath of one of these animal drives through the city. The smell, manure, and damage had to be of note and possibly extensive. In spite of this, the area around what is now Brady and 10th thrived. Hotel Florence was built to house the workers and stock owners. When Brady left Atlanta in 1905, the new owners renamed the business Miller Union Stockyards.

Today a restaurant of that name can be found, but thankfully (or sadly) the mules are gone. 

For more information check out “Atlanta and Its Environs” by Franklin M. Garrett.