Oakhurst, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. It is located south of downtown Decatur and approximately six miles east of downtown Atlanta. Oakhurst primarily consists of residences built in early 20th Century and neighborhood businesses. It is roughly bounded by the City of Atlanta's Kirkwood neighborhood (west of Winter Ave.) on the west ; the Atlanta city limits (Northern St. & Pharr Rd.) on the south; West College Ave. (and the railroad tracks paralleling West College Avenue) on the north; and South McDonough St. on the east. There is also a neighborhood near the College Heights Early Learning Center (roughly centered on South McDonough St. & Lenore St.) referred to as "College Heights", but it is part of Historic Oakhurst.
At the center of the neighborhood is a business district popularly known as "Oakhurst Village" with several eateries, art galleries, and shops. Oakhurst Village is also home to the former Old Scottish Rite Hospital
Old Scottish Rite Hospital
Founded as the Scottish Rite Convalescent Home for Crippled Children, the Old Scottish Rite Hospital served indigent children, either crippled, or recovering from surgery at Piedmont Hospital or Wesley Memorial Hospital . Michael Hoke, M.D., was named the first Medical Director...
, designed by local architect Neel Reid
Neel Reid
-External links:**...
in 1917. The hospital relocated to the Perimeter District of Atlanta in 1976, and the historic building currently houses an art gallery, a wine bar, and the Solarium, a community center and event facility, where local neighborhood groups meet. There are additional commercial properties and a MARTA rail station (East Lake station) at the northern boundary of Oakhurst, on West College Avenue.
Oakhurst is an eclectic, liberal-minded community, typical of intown Atlanta. It has a diverse mix of African Americans, white residents, senior citizens, singles, young couples, young families, empty nesters, and a large gay community. According to the 2000 Census, slightly fewer than 5,000 people lived in Oakhurst.
History
Streetcar suburb
A streetcar suburb is a residential community whose growth and development was strongly shaped by the use of streetcar lines as a primary means of transportation. Early suburbs were served by horsecars, but by the late 19th century cable cars and electric streetcars, or trams, were used, allowing...
of Atlanta. The Atlanta City Street Railway Company built the North Decatur trolley line in 1892. This line crossed the South Decatur trolley line at the center of the Oakhurst business district - the intersection of East Lake Drive, Oakview Road and Mead Road. This portion of Oakhurst was owned by Eugenius N. Meade in the late 19th Century. His land was purchased by John Ridley in 1907. Mr Ridley had a small farm at this location, but he made his money in the mercantile business and in real estate. He sold much of his land in 1910, and it became part of the newly incorporated Town of Oakhurst.
In 1910 the Georgia Legislature approved the incorporation of Oakhurst. Oakhurst's population was approximately 100 people at the time of incorporation, mostly located around the railroad tracks near College Avenue and the present MARTA station. The original residential directory gave addresses on Park Place, Madison (formerly Viola), College Avenue, Mead Road (formerly Meades Road) and Winter Avenue. Although residences had been constructed in the MAK Historic District as early as 1905-1907, Oakhurst primarily developed in the 1910s and 1920s. The development occurred in clusters. In addition to the 1910 John Ridley development, the Feld Realty development occurred in 1910, East Lake Land Development Company constructed structures in 1910 and 1924; and the A.R. and L.M. Morris development occurred in 1915.
The northern section of Mead Road was annexed by the City of Decatur in 1907, but the Town of Oakhurst was not annexed into the city of Decatur until 1914-1916. Shortly after annexation, however, Oakhurst's City Hall/Schoolhouse burned and destroyed all of the town records, so little is known about the old Town of Oakhurst. Oakhurst remains a distinct community within the City of Decatur.
Architecture
Oakhurst is predominantly a residential community. The primary architectural style of the period homes is that of craftsman bungalows although some homes were also built in the more modest post-war style of the 1940s. The structures are primarily down-scale, pre-World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, brick homes with front porches. Recently, as property values have risen due to gentrification, newer homes have been built in varying styles. Notable historic structures, other than churches, include:
- Old Scottish Rite HospitalOld Scottish Rite HospitalFounded as the Scottish Rite Convalescent Home for Crippled Children, the Old Scottish Rite Hospital served indigent children, either crippled, or recovering from surgery at Piedmont Hospital or Wesley Memorial Hospital . Michael Hoke, M.D., was named the first Medical Director...
, 321 W. Hill St. A National Historic LandmarkNational Historic LandmarkA National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
designed by local architect Neel ReidNeel Reid-External links:**...
in 1917.
Churches
Oakhurst has several historic churches.- Oakhurst Baptist Church, 222 East Lake Drive. The oldest church building in Oakhurst, it began as a Sunday School in 1908 and was formally organized in 1913. http://www.oakhurstbaptist.org
- Oakhurst Church, 630 East Lake Drive. Oakhurst Church is a new United Methodist church forming in Oakhurst Village in 2011 and officially launching on Sunday, August 7.
- Oakhurst Presbyterian Church, 118 Second Avenue. This church was founded in 1923.
- Thankful Baptist Church, 830 West College Ave. Decatur's first African-American congregation was founded in 1882. They purchased the imposing brick & stone building in 1970 from Patillo Memorial Methodist Church (formerly Oakhurst Methodist Church). Patillo had begun as a Sunday School in 1908, and was chartered in 1912.
Schools
Oakhurst's public schools include- Oakhurst Elementary, 175 Mead Road. A K-3 school, originally built in 1921. Oakhurst Elementary site
- Fifth Avenue School, 101 Fifth Avenue. Originally an elementary school, Fifth Avenue School was vacant for many years after Decatur restructured its school system. It was demolished, and a new building on the site opened as Decatur's 4-5 Academy in Summer 2011.
- Renfroe Middle School, 220 West College Avenue. Serving grades 6-8, it was built in 1972. Renfroe site
Festivals
Oakhurst festivals include:- BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival, Harmony Park in Oakhurst. Live music and barbecue.
- Earth Day in Oakhurst. Harmony Park in Oakhurst.
- Jazz Nights at Scottish Rite, Old Scottish Rite Hospital. Free jazz concerts under the stars.
- Oakhurst Arts & Music Festival, Harmony Park in Oakhurst. Artists market.
Parks
Oakhurst includes Decatur City Parks.- Harmony Park (formerly Meade Road Park), 175 Meade Road. 3/4 acre park located next to Oakhurst Elementary School.
- McCoy Park/Pool, 1000 Adams St./534 McKoy St. 9 acres (36,421.7 m²) recreation park and pool
- Oakhurst Park, 307 Feld Ave. 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) recreation park.
Transportation
Oakhurst is near major transportation arteries, but has a limited number of roads connecting it to downtown Decatur due to the east-west MARTA line.- DeKalb Avenue/East College Avenue, is the northern boundary of Oakhurst. East College Avenue serves at a primary entry point to the neighborhood from Avondale Estates and Interstate 285. DeKalb and East College lie on either side of the MARTA rail line, are the highest points in the neighborhood and are located on the Eastern Continental DivideEastern Continental DivideThe Eastern Continental Divide, in conjunction with other continental divides of North America, demarcates two watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean: the Gulf of Mexico watershed and the Atlantic Seaboard watershed. Prior to 1760, the divide represented the boundary between British and French colonial...
. - East LakeEast Lake (MARTA station)East Lake is an at-grade Train station on the Blue Line of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system. It has a island platform and two tracks that serve the platform in each direction. This station was opened on June 30, 1979. MARTA's opening cermonies and speeches took place in...
MARTAMetropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit AuthorityThe Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority or MARTA is the principal rapid-transit system in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the ninth-largest in the United States. Formed in 1971 as strictly a bus system, MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system consisting...
rail station, is located at Dekalb Avenue and East Lake Avenue. - Memorial DriveMemorial Drive (Atlanta)Memorial Drive is a long road that runs from Stone Mountain to downtown Atlanta, Georgia. In 2000, a part of Memorial Drive was named "Cynthia McKinney Parkway," but the naming has come under scrutiny since her primary defeat in 2006....
, is located south of Oakhurst. - Ponce de Leon Avenue, is located north of Oakhurst, and serves as the major entry point to the neighborhood from Atlanta via East Lake Drive.