In 1977 the Athens, Ga. Fire Department burned down the remains of the famous "house of ill repute," Effie's, as a training exercise. As the police chief noted, "We're demolishing a national landmark." The house was located at 175 Elm Street.

Effie Matthews started her business in the early 1900s, and by the 1970s when this footage was shot, the buildings had been abandoned for decades. Tales of Effie's have long been part of the University of Georgia's student body's folklore.

Reporter Andy Johnston recorded this story as part of his Georgia Traveler series. http://purl.libs.uga.edu/brown/ajohns...