HISTORY OF NORTH BUCKHEADNorth Buckhead Neighborhood History and Sites of InterestThe Creek (Muscogee) Indians inhabited the area south of the Chattahoochee River for thousands of years. They had several settlements along Nancy Creek, the nearest to North Buckhead being in Chastain Park (under the filled-in ball field). They were forced out of the area by the US Government in 1821.
Buckhead Occupied by Federal ArmyOn July 18, 1864, during the Battle of Atlanta, the Federal Army occupied Buckhead and the ridge between Peachtree Road and Nancy Creek, west of North Buckhead. 1890s - 1920s
Log House at 37 Arden Way
Links to Other Buckhead (And Atlanta) History PagesHistory Menu at www.buckhead.org History of Atlanta at www.sos.state.ga.us Interesting Atlanta Site For Landmarks And Historic Places
Sites of Interest in Our Part of AtlantaMill Site on Wieuca RoadAn old mill site can be observed just south of the intersection of Wieuca Road and Nancy Creek on the west side of the road. The mill dam was in ruins for many years but was rebuilt when the adjacent property was subdivided and re-developed. If anyone can provide additional historical information about the mill, we will be glad to publish it on this site. Please contact us.
Neighborhood Physical Characteristics Neighborhood Elevation Above Sea Level
Bodies of WaterLake Emma (Visible from Lakemoore Drive and Land O'Lakes Drive) Emma at Lakemoore Colony Condominiums
Other Neighborhood History and Sites
Neighborhood History Reported by Visitors to NBCA Web SiteCarmain Drive History"The spring on my property [4250 Carmain] used to be the only water supply (pumped into what is now 4260 Carmain Dr.) before the street became citified. - Waldtraut Lavroff (May 17, 1998) "There was an active quarry in the ravine behind our properties on Carmain." - Sara Mayeux of Herrington Drive (May 17, 1998) Sarah Smith Elementary History"I know from a school project that Sarah Smith was originally built in the '50s because N. Buckhead had just been included into the City Limits. It was named after the daughter of a prominent Atlanta family, and then it was grades K-7. I remember my kindergarten class was the last to have Mr. Pepe as principal." Wieuca Road Name/History"In regard to Wieuca Road, I've heard Franklin Garrett say the name was derived from the initials of a developer's daughters' names. The guy developed Sutter's Mill. The name Wieuca came from the names of a developers three daughters. Charles said their names were WILMA, EUGENIA, and CATHERINE -- WI-EU-CA. - Charles Taylor of North Ivy Road (May 17, 1998) Peachtree Gardens Club HistoryThe club site area (bounded by North Ivy Road and Mountain Drive) had been a lake before the clubhouse was built in the 20s. He said that there had been a dam there is now a bridge on North Ivy. -Charles Taylor of North Ivy Road (May 17, 1998) Buff Drive Name HistoryOne of the two original residents on Buff were the Buffington familty. He suspects the name Buff may be related to the name Buffington. - Charles Taylor of North Ivy Road (May 17, 1998) "Chateaugay Lane which is off of Loridans Dr. was named after Chateaugay the winner of the 1963 Kentucky Derby. The circle at the end of what is now Chateaugay Lane was at one time private horse stables." - Reed Curtis of Glengary Drive (May 12, 1998) Chastain Park History"I know Chastain Park used to be a prison site. It was a farm where the inmates worked the fields raising vegetables. The present Galloway School was an alms house for the whites, while the art center was the alms house for the blacks. I don’t know for sure, but I think the name Chastain came from the landowner who owned the surrounding property and who ultimately left the stables to the city in his will. It stated that the stable property would revert to his estate if it were ever sold (which Maynard Jackson apparently tried to do)." History of Emma Lane, Emma Lake and the Lakemoore Area"When we purchased our home at 2 Emma Lane last year, we learned quite a bit about this area of the neighborhood, some of which you may already know. "The area around Emma Lane was originally owned by Wiley Moore. He was an executive with the Pure Oil Company and a civic leader (ran for mayor and was Georgia's first Commissioner of Corrections) in the 1930s. He owned about 200 acres, I think, in the area and his residence was 1 Emma Lane, the large house at the end of the street on the right. Emma was Mr. Moore's wife. Emma Lane was actually the driveway to the house. He later built 2 Emma Lane (our house) and 3 Emma Lane for two of his four children. "This also would be the origin of Lakemoore Drive as, I think, the entire estate or area was called Lakemoore. All of this information is contained in a profile of him in the Pure Oil News from years ago. We have a copy and I will make a point of sending you one. There are pictures of the original three houses on the street, as well as the club house at Lakemoore Colony (I also have a copy of the history of these condos). I haven't read the article in a while, but I think he built the series of dams and lakes that make up what is now the wetlands area at the end of Emma Lane and the chain of lakes that eventually flow into Nancy Creek over by Rickenbacker." - Kitsie Riggall (February 7, 2001) Bibliography"Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events, Volume I", by Franklin M. Garrett (Available at the Atlanta History Center) Buckhead: A PLACE FOR ALL TIME" by Susan Kessler Barnard (Available at Borders) "What's in a Name: Places and Streets in the Atlanta Area", by Eva Galambos (Available at the Atlanta History Center) United States Geological Survey Maps of Atlanta
PHOTOS1938 aerial photo of North Buckhead with current streets 1942 Hand-drawn official map of North Buckhead - showing paved/dirt roads History of Emma Lane, Emma Lake and the Lakemoore Area |