ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — A home that was once a safe haven for many during Albany’s Civil Rights Movement, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is now sitting in disrepair.

Driving down Cedar Avenue in Albany, you might pass it without noticing. But this house was once home to Dr. William G. Anderson, the first president of the Albany Movement. It is also where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stayed while organizing in the city. The house was considered a primary gathering place for leaders and activists during that era.

“It represents everything that the activists and the people before us went through,” said Char Deariso, a community member. “And it was basically like the meeting spot or the central hub for Dr. Martin Luther King and Dr. Anderson during that time.”

Today, the house looks nothing like it once did. It is boarded up and worn down. Inside is full of trash and abandoned furniture.

While many in the community see this as a landmark worth saving, it is still private property. So the community is taking it into their own hands, trying to track down ownership and find a path forward.

“It’s a shame that this property... is slowly being demolished by the elements,” Deariso said. “So it’s time for us to pay homage and make this a historical site to pay honor to Dr. King and Dr. Anderson.”

Desario said that he hopes increased attention will lead the owner to come forward.

WALB attempted to locate contact information for the owner, but we have been unsuccessful.

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