As it was my first time in Harlem, Georgia, I wanted to make sure that I took the time to scout the area and find all the relevent landmarks of the hometown in which Oliver Hardy was born. I was a little disappointed that there was not a formal tour of the area, nor even a map pinpointing the locations, but since the town was so incredibly small, it wasn’t hard to for the locals to point us in the right direction – and even accompany us to the cemetery.
After visiting the museum and taking part in the scavenger hunt, Ashleigh, Dave, and I found the location site where Oliver Hardy was born. Unfortunately, but understandably, the house was no longer there and 
in its place was a functioning laundromat. There is at least a nice plaque to mark to landmark the location of his birth. Another half-hearted attempt was made to acknowlege this historical value of the location by naming the laundry business “Ollie’s Laundry.” Too bad I hadn’t participated in the pie fight; I might have been able to throw them some business.
The only other location of significance is the grave marker of Oliver Hardy’s father. A Civil War veteran, Oliver is buried alongside his first wife Cornelia, who died in 1888. Hardy’s orginal gravestone shows a death date of 1892, but a new plaque added later commemorating his Civil War indicates a date of death a year earlier. Determining which date is correct will decide whether he was alive at the time his son was born.
After we found the grave marker, we headed to the Harlem High School for lunch, before retiring to our hotel for a nice, brisk swim.
To continue with the convention, click here…
What a great post. Whenever I’m able to get out to Georgia I will definitly try and make a venture to Harlem and see those sight. Best regards.
Rob Cress
DearOldHollywood.com
Rob Cress
March 27th, 2007