As we have so often observed, there is a reason for everything…you just have to know the story. That is not true, at least, when it comes to Martin and Susan DeFoor. You may recognize the name, the Defoors gave rise to one of Atlanta’s many streets named after ferry proprietors. Unfortunately, Atlanta history remembers […]
Tag: Atlanta
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Love ’em and Leave ’em
Atlanta hooked its star to the burgeoning railroad industry and, as a result, became the first great inland city of America. The railroads and Atlanta grew together as rail travel came to dominate the American landscape. But it turns out that Atlanta’s love affair wasn’t so much with the railroads as it was with transportation. […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
A Moral Degeneration
It is illegal in Mobile, Alabama to spray Silly String. In West Virginia, if you’ve ever fought a duel with a deadly weapon, you can forget about running for office, that would be illegal…as would entering a mine in Wyoming should you be intoxicated. And, if you’re under the age of 18 in the State […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Atlanta Bricks
If you could leave a message, knowing that it would be seen for years to come, what would you say? Thousands of people took just that opportunity before the 1996 Olympic Games came to Atlanta. What they chose to say – and how they said it – is the subject of this week’s Stories of […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
The Replica
Charles Lincoln Harper devoted his life to educating the youth of Atlanta. A graduate of Morris Brown College, Harper served as the founding principal of Booker T. Washington High School, the first secondary school in Atlanta for Black students. As principal, Charles Harper expanded the campus, started the student government, and instituted college preparatory and […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Why The Gate City?
If you’re going to throw a party, make it a memorable party. The City of Atlanta did just that when railroad history came to town…the result? Atlanta got a free ride on a party train. It’s a tale about the benefits of sharing water, this week on Stories of Atlanta.
Posted inStories of Atlanta
You Know the Name
He was one of 22 under-equipped soldiers charged with building a fort on Georgia’s western frontier during the War of 1812. After the war, he returned to the area, bought 1,000 acres, and made a life for his family. The family business is long gone but the name is still around as told on this […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Bad Blood
Being a lawman in Atlanta during the Civil War was challenging enough. It was especially hard for Tom Shivers when he came face to face with the man who wanted his job. It’s a story with an ironic ending that culminates with a dubious first on this week’s Stories of Atlanta.
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Worth a Thousand Words
In the 1970s, veteran news reporter Dan Rather wrote a book he titled The Camera Never Blinks. It’s a great phrase because it is so true. Thanks to the digital revolution, future historians will benefit greatly from the millions of unblinking eyes focused on the world around us today. It is, of course, dangerous to […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Classic Style
In a city known for its out with the old, in with the new attitude, architect William Stoddart’s buildings have defied the odds. It’s the story of two turn of the century era buildings that have stood the Atlanta test of time on this week’s Stories of Atlanta.
Posted inMedia
The Watchful Eye
Some folks just seem to have a knack for what they do. They find their footing at a young age, start moving forward and never look back. It’s hard to say where that type of motivation comes from. Perhaps it has something to do with the company we keep along the way. It’s the story […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Retail and Railroads
When Sherman’s army departed Atlanta in November of 1864 the city treasury was left with a grand total of $1.64, and, apparently, that was all in confederate money. To say the least, not much of a nest egg with which to begin rebuilding a city. But that would be just one of many obstacles that […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
A Unique Honor
Pay a visit to pretty much any cemetery in the world and you will notice that, in addition to the traditional gift of flowers, people leave all kinds of items behind after their visit. Stones and coins are a favored way to show that the departed has not been forgotten, as are pictures and family […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
In with the New
It’s no secret that in Atlanta far too many of our older buildings have had a limited lifespan. There is no better example of our penchant for replacing the old with the new than along Atlanta’s most famous thoroughfare. We examine the transformation of one downtown intersection on this week’s Stories of Atlanta.
Posted inStories of Atlanta
The Connection
Among the Stories of Atlanta, is the connection between Underground Atlanta and the impressive collection of ancient artifacts found at the Michael C. Carlos Museum on the campus of Emory University. The thumbnail for this week’s story is a picture of a Coca-Cola advertisement on the side of a building. One of what must have […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
One in 104 million
In 1926, an airplane hangar was constructed on a dirt field south of town. History would ultimately describe that act as the work of visionaries. That vision was articulated by Alderman William Hartsfield when he said, “The skies will be to the 20th century what the seas have been to centuries past, and the city […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Marietta Street
In the Fairlie-Poplar historic district in downtown Atlanta, there is a street named after Ruben Cone. A former judge from the City of Decatur, Cone moved to Marthasville in the 1840s and shortly after he arrived, he made a decision. If you’ve ever doubted the power of the individual to make a difference, you should […]
Posted inKelly Jordan
Virginia Highland Winterfest Parade and Gift Market – December 9, 2023
To see fuller versions of the photos, click on any image and swipe right or left.
Posted inStories of Atlanta
The Collection
Back in the day when one could ride into downtown Atlanta on a pony and no one would look twice, a pair of young children made a habit of becoming Peachtree Street regulars. Their father had successfully lobbied one of the world’s richest men to favor Atlanta and the children were determined to take full […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Friends in Low Places
The occasion was somber. A group of friends had gathered in an Atlanta bar to toast the memory of one of their comrades who had tragically died earlier that same day. As the drinks flowed, a plan was hatched to memorialize their friend by having a street in Atlanta named after him. Despite the fact […]
