This week, we’re talking about Fort McPherson. From its earliest days as the pasture of Charner Humphries, to local militia training ground, to a racetrack, to both Confederate and US Army bases, to prisoner of war camps - these two pieces of land have SO much history to tell. Tomb with a View's episode on POWs Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
Life has been SO busy, that I stole another mini episode from Patreon. The story of Riverbend Apartments starts only 55 years ago. In 1966, newspapers touted a huge new development that was going to bring over 1,000 new apartments. It was the costliest and biggest project of it’s kind - taking 4 years of planned development at a tune of $15 million. In 1972, Playboy Magazine dubbed it "ground zero for Atlanta's sexual revolution". TedX Event Elevate Atlanta: Idle Crimes & Heavy Work Want to ...
This week I am sharing the story of John and Stella Abbott, Mary Powers and Louise Gilbert and how their lives tragically intertwined in the winter of 1919. On January 27, 1919, Johnny Abbott lay dead on the floor of his living room, one bullet through the heart, shot by his wife, Stella. Why? Listen in to find out. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
This week, we’re talking about the early history of ice in the US, how and when it got to Atlanta, who sold it, how it was made, ice monopolies, shortages and storage. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
This week we’re talking about cocaine. At the dawn of the 20th century, cities like Atlanta we’re grappling with recreational cocaine use, racializing it and trying to figure out how to allow the medical profession to continue to prescribe it. We're also talking about what it was used for, where you could buy it, how Coca Cola was involved and what pushed for it's illegalization. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
The universe conspired against me this week, as my planned episode did not record correctly. Have no fear, I've pulled a Mini from my Patreon page! Orion Frazee was born in NJ in 1843, the son of a famous sculptor. He arrived in Atlanta in 1885, and while he time here was short-lived, his name lives on through his sculptural busts of famous men, including former president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis made from DEATH MASKS! Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
Atlanta's obsession with the dogwoods dates back to the 1920s, but the Dogwood Festival was the brainchild of Lorraine Cooney, who launched the first festival in 1936, at the height of the Great Depression. This week we're talking about the tree, the city's initiatives, the first grand festival and how it progressed over the last 85 years. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
This week, we’re covering Cascade Heights, an expansive, 1920s development along Cascade Road in southwest Atlanta. Starting with the road’s native history, then it's role in the Civil War, early homesteads, official development and it’s racial integration. Cascade Heights Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
This week I had the pleasure of recording with Caitlin Mee and learning all about Briar Park Court. This one-street, 1950s, residential development was the brainchild of architect and resident, Andre Steiner. We talked about him, Dekalb County, white flight, mid century architecture, historic preservation and the homes in this incredible little time capsule community. Follow Caitlin Interview with Andre Steiner Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook |...
In the early 1890s, the Fulton County Street Railroad began it’s Nine Mile Circle route. Atlantans could hop on downtown then loop up through the beautiful, breezy farmland in the Northeast part of the city. Not soon after, well-to-do families, like the Adairs, began to build summer homes here. In 1904, the first neighborhood was platted and 13 more would be platted by 1935. Collectively, these make up Virginia-Highland. This week, I'm talking about early settlers, iconic schools, churches and h...
This week, we’re talking about scouting in Atlanta - the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts. How the groups started, who started them and a few fun stories from history. Atlanta’s history of scouting is really a 4-part story - the story of white Girl Scouts and Black Girl Scouts and white Boy Scouts and Black Boy Scouts. Unsurprisingly, the year that these groups begin vary wildly, the latter often the result of a dedicated local grassroots effort. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: thevic...
This week, we're talking about the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, or Municipal Market - a story of women, farming, war, race and revitalization. Atlanta is in the midst of a food hall craze, but this icon has been on Edgewood Avenue for almost a century, connecting Georgia's farmers and consumers and providing local vendors with booths to sell their wares. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
Born at the start of the Great Depression, from the need and desire of middle and upper-class Black Atlantans to not only play golf, but to establish a recreation place where they could have parties, and social events and gather. From the 1924 fight to even establish a second African American cemetery in Atlanta, to the 1930 opening of the country club, through the story of Black golfers and their fight to desegregate Atlanta’s courses. This is such an interesting history that you do not want to...
This week I want to share a conversation I had with author Mark Pifer about his new book: Hidden History of Old Atlanta. While this new book covers so much, I asked him specifically about the period between the removal of the Creek and Muskogee and the formal establishment of Atlanta in 1847. We talked about the formation of the railroads, the moving of the Zero Mile Marker a mere 1200 feet, Wilson Lumpkin, how Marthasville got named, why it changed to Atlanta, and why downtown’s street grid is ...
On the night of January 2nd, 1919, Carlisle Christy lay dead on Mathewson Place, just in front of the February home. A series of bullets from the gun of William Albright killed him. Albright would later claim self defense, but was it? This week, I am sharing the story of this forgotten piece of history, the cast of characters, the trial, the motive and whether anyone was ever found guilty. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
Listener Q&A - Vol. 3! This week, I am answering questions like: “How to find out what year your house was built?", "Who was Bessie Branham?”, “Will there be an episode about _____?” and "What are some of the coolest “behind the scenes” places you’ve got to visit recently?" (among many others). Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
In the late 1800s - early 1900s, homes for fallen women existed in cities across America where they could gather women and young girls, usually pregnant out of wedlock, and hide them from “respectable” society and attempt to “reform” them. While these places came from good intentions, they were places of hard labor, crude reform and ideas and methods that we consider outdated by today’s standard. This week, I'm talking about Atlanta’s efforts to contain and reform their “fallen women”. Who led t...
Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington forged one of the earliest collaborations between Jews and African Americans to create schools throughout the nation for Black children who had no access to publicly funded education. It was an honor to interview author and photographer Andrew Feiler about this history and how he showcases it in his second book, “A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America”. The photography exhibiti...
This week, I got to speak with Alicia Guzman, who worked on the research and nomination of Fuller-Freedom House, which the City of Atlanta began the historic designation of in February. Who was Fuller? What did he do? What is a Freedom House? We’re covering all those questions and more! https://www.atlcitydesign.com/blog/2021/3/15/fuller-freedom-house-designated-as-historic-landmark Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
Zoo Atlanta is part of the lived experience of so many Atlantans, but I’m not sure that everyone knows how it started. From a small collection of local animals when the park was formed, to the defunct circus in 1889, to a Candler boost in 1935. We’re going to talk about the famous animals, the controversies, the decline and then later re-emergence of the zoo. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
*CORRECTION: Judge Orinda Evans is white woman. I mistakenly identified her as Black in this episode.* This week, we’re talking about the history Georgia’s state flag, from the beginning of the colony through the present. Our state did not have an official state flag until 1879, and the design was taken from the first flag of the Confederate States of America (the “Stars and Bars”). The Battle Flag (“St. Andrew’s Cross”) was added in 1956, in retaliation of federal orders to desegregate schools....
Did you know that throughout the 1950s, Atlanta had a Christmas Card Lady? Laura Watson recycled hundreds of thousands of used holiday cards, turning them into new ones to send to hospitals, missionaries and 'shut-ins'. This week's mini episode is about Watson and her labor of love. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
This week, we’re talking about the period just before Atlanta’s “white flight”. Three decades of incessant terror, violence and destruction against the Black families that purchased or rented homes in what were considered “white neighborhoods''. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: [email protected] Facebook | Instagram | Twitter...
This week, we’re talking about the history of Atlanta’s City Hall...not just the Art Deco masterpiece you can see today, but also the places that no longer exist. Where they were, how we got them and what their fate was. Our current City Hall (the 4th one in history), was built in 1930 and brought forth something called the Atlanta Graft Ring - an epic corruption scandal that brought down a mayor and won the Constitution a Pulitzer Prize. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: thevictor...
This week, we’re talking about Kirkwood - its earliest settlement history, community landmarks and historic events and people. This Muskogee/Creek land was ceded in 1821 and divided into 5 initial land lots. Early white settlers include James Kirkpatrick and Jesse Clay. Post-Civil War, Kirkwood became home to politicians like John B. Gordon. It tried to incorporate as it's own city in 1899 (not without drama), which didn't pass until 1904, and then was annexed into Atlanta in 1921 (more drama). ...
This week we're talking about Henrietta Dozier, the first female architect in Atlanta, and Leila Ross Wilburn, the second. Who doesn't love a story of women acting against the grain that was prescribed to them by their time period, social norms or gender. Both Henrietta and Leila are examples of that, and they both leave legacies that we can physically see today, although not all in Atlanta. https://www.makdecatur.org/lrw-homes-in-mak Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email: thevictoriale...
It’s safe to say that home ownership is one of, if not THE tenet of the American Dream, but did you know that idea didn’t really come around until the 1920s? And to sell Americans on this idea, a Federal program was created, which then supported marketing campaigns in thousands of US cities? This week we’re talking about the Better Homes Movement - what it was, who started it and then we’re going to get into Better Home Week - a 7 day open house event held all over the country, Atlanta included....
This week, we’re talking about Atlanta’s love of Scotland. While there wasn't exactly a Scottish settlement or specific neighborhood, Scots did immigrate to the Atlanta area and I’ll explain why and where. Aside from those immigrants, there was also an infatuation with Scotland and especially poet Robert Burns. So this week, we’re going to cover all of these Scottish history rabbit holes - The Caledonian Society, Burns Club and Atlanta Scottish Association. Want to support this podcast? Visit he...
Norfolk Southern has just announced they are backing out the plans to build a transfer terminal on the former Chattahoochee Brick site. While there is still a lot left to do, I wanted to replay this episode from April of 2019. The end of the Civil War marked the end of slavery in the US...right? In all Southern cities, convict leasing booms in the post-war period and the largest user of the system was right here in Atlanta. This week, I am sharing the history of Chattahoochee Brick and the Engli...
The Montgomery bus boycott officially ended a month after the court deemed racial segregation on buses was illegal. U.S. cities with similar segregation ordinances understood that no challenge to their laws would stand, but they weren't going to willingly desegregate. Instead, it would take a group of 6 Atlanta ministers, led By Rev. William Holmes Borders, and this movement - the Love, Law and Liberation Movement, to bring integration to our city. Want to support this podcast? Visit here Email:...
