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Hodgson Oil Building History & Photo Gallery
Jul 31, 2009 - 10:51:38 AM
► Hodgson Oil Building History
The century old Hodgson Oil Building bears the name of a large influential family that has been an integral part of the life of Athens and the University of Georgia for more than 160 years. Edward Reginald Hodgson moved to Athens in 1839, along with many of his family members, where he and brothers William and Robert established E.R. Hodgson and Brothers, which made carriages, coaches and wagons. Later the company operated a stagecoach line between Athens and Gainesville that carried mail and passengers.
Edward and his wife Anne had 11 children, nine of which graduated from the University of Georgia. Their third son, Edward Reginald Hodgson Sr., also known as “Prince,” returned to Athens after fighting for the Confederate Army during the civil war to graduate from UGA in 1868. In the late 1800's, he and several of his brothers organized a number of businesses in Athens, and Prince Hodgson became one of the city's most prominent business and civic leaders. Among these businesses were the Hodgson Oil Company in 1890 and the Hodgson Oil Refining Company in 1915. The Hodgson Oil Building is believed to have been built in 1905 to house these businesses.
When Hodgson Oil Refining Company dissolved in 1955, the building was sold to the Porterfield Family, who used the facility for many different purposes: Tire manufacturing and storage, karate and dance studios, and band rehearsal space. In the 1970's and 1980's the building housed two popular night clubs which headlined an emerging young band named R.E.M.
By the late 1990's the building was in serious need of renovation. The Porterfield family financed a large renovation of the facility, the highlights being the joining of the two separate buildings by a glass atrium and skylight, and the buildings exterior being painted from the previous white to a deep red. The renovation of the 31,000 square foot facility preserved the building's historic character and architectural features while providing attractive, comfortable workspace. In 2004, the University of Georgia leased most of the Building. Four departments currently occupy the facility: the Police Department, the Office of Public Affairs, the Office of Real Estate and Space Management and the Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness.
