A friend of mine died this morning. He’d lived in Selma for twenty years and devoted that time to not only restoring the Harmony Club– a Jewish social club from the turn of the last century that had been dormant for a half-century — but to trying his damndest to revive Water Avenue along Selma’s waterfront. He doggedly kept his block clean, he hosted restaurants and bars in his building, and he maintained a weekend sidewalk salon (of which I was a regular member) for years. He knew architecture and the value of Place. He was a passionate artist, a unique mind, and a genuine character. His death leaves his friends and Selma all the worse.
Tribute from a mutual friend:
I’ve never been more happy that this video exists. Rest in peace, Dave. May your castle in the sky be one in need of restoration, with room for your unique tastes to be put to work.
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He sounds like a wonderful man, someone who has touched so many others and will live on through other people. I’m sorry for your sadness at this loss and wish for the good times you remember to take the place of it soon. Take care!
Thank you. 🙂 He was an American original for sure, and a hard friend to lose.
Life has been hard on you lately. I do pray that things improve and you see more sunshine and rainbows than buffeting storms. 🌻🌞
Thank you! It’s moments like these that really expose what we’re made of.
I’m sorry to hear about your loss, Stephen. 😦 He sounds like such a charming person, a “steampunk” as he puts it! The building he restored is beautiful, too.
Thank you. And yes, the Harmony Club is beautiful. It’s unique, and made all the more so with the little touches Dave added. He’d just sold the building (and was preparing to take on another project), and I hope the development company fully restores it to its early-20th century grandeur, with the extended balconies.
Beautiful tribute to your friend. I was just watching this story about the Harmony Club on tv tonight on the show called “ You Live in What?” When I started looking for photos of the club online I noticed your beautiful tribute to your friend and his legacy.
I’m so glad! David was a wonderful person to know. So real, so opposed to the fakery and inauthenticity that rules today. Loved him dearly.
Sorry to hear this news. What has become of the Harmony Club? Is it still being used as a residence?
At the moment, yes, but just before he died (literally, 17 days prior), he’d sold the building to a development group in Florida, who wanted the HC’s other resident to stay until they were ready to begin renovating the building. That’s still 4-6 months away, so David’s friends have continued to meet on the sidewalk on a weekly basis. The conversation these days is more about movies and local news, though, lacking his more interesting architectural & philosophical debates.
DJ. Was a interesting guy, I knew him from
Childhood, always thought he would
Become a Zookeeper or Veterinarian.
Such a loss.
What was he like as a kid? I first met him in 2010 when he had already become the character he was. I seem to remember someone at the funeral commenting about an interest in animals.
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I am just now learning of David’s death and am saddened by the news. I was one of those tourist he coaxed into his marvelous kingdom. A friend and I were enchanted…though we did balk at the beginning of our tour, as savvy women should with a total stranger, at the invitation to go down into the basement to see supposed treasures. The time we spent with him in that remarkable space contributed greatly to very fond memories of our visit to the town that day. Am grateful for his gregarious spirit.
I’m sorry that you’re only now learning, but he left a great legacy. I can imagine him being frightening — I first met him when he was working at the Old Depot and found him WAY too intense. It took a few years running into him in town to ‘get’ him. Did you make it into the basement? There wasn’t much left there by the time I saw it, personally: he’d sold a lot of his items to prepare for a move to Texas. He’d made an offer on an old church in Cisco that he was planning on working with.
he was a close friend of mine for many years when we were in our 20s. I’ve never met anyone else like him, and I never will. He had sparks of genius and an infectious laugh that I hope I never forget.
DJ and I were close friends in our 20s. I’ve never met anyone like him, and I never will. He had sparks of genius, and an infectious laugh that I hope I never forget.
I can hear it in my head even now. Someone at the funeral said they met him while he was roller-skating through the Georgia Tech campus. Evidently he used to do it in the Harmony Club ballroom, too. I’m hoping to see Warehausen the next time I’m in Atlanta.
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