Flashback photos: 75 years ago, Atlanta and Georgia in 1945

Flashback photos

Flashback photos: 75 years ago, Atlanta and Georgia in 1945

It was the year that the Allies emerged triumphant after World War II, and the celebrations happened everywhere, including here in Atlanta. On the homefront, life went on. Icemen delivered their goods, athletes played baseball and football and, same as it ever was, Atlanta traffic was a fact of life. Take a photographic trip back to Atlanta as it was 75 years ago.

Traffic along Courtland Street in 1945.

On Gordon Street in Atlanta, A&P (left) fought for customers with the Piggly Wiggly right across the street in 1945.

A female street car conductor arrives at work in Atlanta, January 1945. AJC file

Street car operator watching a man mop the kitchen floor in Atlanta in January 1945. AJC file

Georgians kept their cool in August 1945 with a little help from the local iceman. Thomas Weller delivers a block of ice by carrying it on his shoulder.

President Roosevelt's funeral train. An armed guard from Camp Sibert presents arms as the special train bearing the body of President Roosevelt pulls into the Terminal Station in April 1945 on it's way from Warm Springs, Ga. to Washington, D.C.

Looking east towards Rich's Department Store, downtown Atlanta, in 1945.

Aerial view of downtown Atlanta, looking northeast towards Rich's, Atlanta, Georgia, 1945. Inscribed on negative envelope: "Old Atlanta (Before 1950). Marquee for Men in her Diary (1945) with Peggy Ryan, Jon Hall, and Louis Allbritton. Photo: Kenneth Rogers."

Looking northeast down Peachtree Street, towards the Candler Building in Atlanta 1945.

The original caption on this 1945 photo reads: "Young riveter shown at work in the Bell Bomber plant in 1945, helping make B-29's for use in World War 2." The plant was located in Marietta.

1945 was Bobby Dodd's first year as head coach at Georgia Tech. The original caption info on this reads: "All Hands on Deck! Coach Bobby Dodd, beginning his first year as head coach of Georgia Tech, blows loud and long on his whistle, calling to practice some 30-odd football players. Most of the first day's practice Tuesday was spent on punting."

The info on this September 1945 photo identifies the player on the right as 19-year-old freshman Godfrey Steiner. He's seen with Georgia Bulldogs coach Wally Butts. It also identifies him as a quarterback, but that doesn't seem to be the case. The only info we've found has him listed as a wide receiver who only played with the team for one year. There's also a Godfrey Steiner listed as an inductee into the Macon Sports Hall of Fame, but without any dates other than his 2002 induction. After this photo ran, we received an email about Godfrey “Goot” Steiner. One of our readers, former Macon resident Jack Pigott, informed us that he "was a highly successful, hard-nosed football coach at Macon’s Lanier High School which later became Central High School."

Atlanta Crackers baseball game at Ponce de Leon Ballpark, 1945. The park was located across the street from where Ponce City Market now stands.

Patriotic street decorations on the Winecoff Hotel in downtown Atlanta during World War II, 1945

Atlanta Journal shipment of newspapers announcing German forces surrendering in Italy, 1945

Iceman Thomas Weller delivers ice to a family's doorstep in September 1945.

Children are given small pieces of ice from the iceman on a hot day, September1945

The Samuel M. Inman House in 1945. It sat at the corner of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue, and was demolished the year after this photo was taken.

A traffic cop directs a driver off a one-way street, 1945

Pedestrians crossing the street at a busy intersection, which appears to be Ellis at Peachtree Street. September 1945.

An unidentified intersection in downtown Atlanta. The photo's info only provides this: Traffic and parking lots in downtown Atlanta, 1945.

Soldier and woman embrace on V-J Day ("Victory over Japan Day"), Peachtree Street, August 14, 1945.

Atlanta Constitution newspaper front page on V-E Day (Victory in Europe), May 8, 1945

Looking north on Peachtree Street at the Winecoff Hotel, today the Ellis Hotel, in 1945.

Soldiers and others celebrate V-J Day ("Victory over Japan Day") on Peachtree Street in Atlanta on August 14, 1945.

Aftermath of the celebration of V-J Day ("Victory over Japan Day") on Peachtree Street in Atlanta on August 14, 1945. The Loew's Grand Theatre is on the right.

On September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered to Allied forces in World War II. Servicemen joined Atlanta residents in celebrating V-J Day on top of a street car on Peachtree Street. Today, we honor those who served. These photos were submitted by our readers, and feature their friends and loved ones.

Soldiers had much to celebrate on V-J Day in Atlanta on Peachtree Street on Aug. 14, 1945. (AJC FILE)

A streetcar on Peachtree Street in 1945. Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library

1945 -- His first cruise in a squad car brought H.L. Kerlin a bad case of mike fright. He is a member of the Auxiliary Police Force.

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Traffic along Courtland Street in 1945.

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