Eternal Flame Of The Confederacy

The postcard on the left, postmarked in 1962, shows the Eternal Lamp Of The Confederacy. According to Georgia's Virtual Vault, The lamp post was one of the original 50 street lights first lighted for Christmas 1855. During a bombardment by federal troops in 1864, a shell fragment ricocheting off the lamp post struck and killed African-American barber Solomon Luckie. The lamp post was thereafter a "memento" of the war, displayed in City Hall, 1864 - 1880, then returned to its original location with the United Daughters Of The Confederacy placing a plaque honoring General A. J. West on the post. For the 1939 premiere of Gone With The Wind, the post was again lighted and designated the "Eternal Flame Of The Confederacy." Google map

In 1855 when the lamp was originally lit, it was obviously located in part of what is now Underground Atlanta, as the viaduct system that now allows Peachtree and Alabama streets to pass directly overhead, had not yet been built.

I wonder at what point the lamp was moved up to the current street level, as it is seen in the postcard. And of course I wonder when they moved it back down to the Underground area, where I was recently somewhat surprised to learn it is now located.