On April 29, H. J. Russell & Company gathered with the Georgia Historical Society, the Russell family, community leaders, longtime partners, employees, and friends to unveil a historical marker at 504 Fair Street in Atlanta. The site served as the former headquarters of H. J. Russell & Company and is now home to the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs.
For those who know the Russell story, 504 Fair Street is more than a building. It is where Herman J. Russell’s vision continued to grow. It is where people came to work, solve problems, take risks, and build something larger than themselves.
Founded in 1952 as a small plastering business, H. J. Russell & Company grew into one of the nation’s most respected African American-owned business enterprises. Along the way, Russell helped shape Atlanta through major projects, trusted partnerships, and a continued commitment to creating opportunity.
The historical marker recognizes the impact of a company rooted in hard work, excellence, community, and belief in what is possible. It helps preserve a story that belongs not only to the Russell family, but to Atlanta.
The marker was unveiled as part of the Georgia Historical Society’s Georgia Business History Initiative, which honors companies whose work has helped shape Georgia’s economic and cultural history.
For H. J. Russell & Company, this recognition is both a tribute and a reminder. It honors the foundation built by Herman J. Russell and the generations of employees, partners, and leaders who helped move the company forward.
It is especially fitting that the marker now stands at the home of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs.
A place that once helped guide the growth of H. J. Russell & Company now helps entrepreneurs build their own businesses, create jobs, and carry forward a legacy of opportunity. That connection between past and future makes the marker more than a symbol. It makes it part of a living story.
For H. J. Russell & Company, the marker honors Herman J. Russell, the Russell family, employees, partners, and generations of people who helped shape the company’s journey. It also reflects the work that continues today: building with purpose, investing in people, and helping create a stronger future for the communities we serve.
At Russell, this recognition is not only about what has been built. It is about why we build.
