Monday, October 25, 2010

About Metropolitan Parkway/Stewart Avenue

Until 1997, the corridor that connects the neighborhoods of Adair Park, Pittsburgh, Capitol View, Capitol View Manor and Sylvan Hills on the southwest side of Atlanta and was once THE road south out of Atlanta was called Stewart Avenue. The road was named for Andrew Perry Stewart, who served for over twenty years as the (Fulton) County Tax Collector and was a resident of Capitol View.

Stewart was born in Jackson, Butts County, Georgia on December 14, 1848. His father, Frederick Stewart, served with 6th Georgia Artillery Battalion during the Civil War. A.P. Stewart came to Atlanta shortly after the close of the war, working first for Richardson's then for a hardware concern owned by L. B. Langford. Stewart purchased the hardware business on Whitehall Street upon Langford's retirement and ran that business until 1888, when he sold it to a Mr. Conklin. In 1889, Stewart ran and was elected as county tax collector, a position he held for many years. He was also active politically and served as a representative of the Fifth Ward. Stewart was also a Mason and an Oddfellow, and participated in a variety of civic activities.

Metropolitan Parkway/Stewart Avenue was also formerly: Vine Street, Humphries Street, Kreig Street, New Whitehall Road, and Ocmulgee. Stewart is part of the old Dixie Highway, which runs from Miami to Detroit. Per the Atlanta Constitution, the Dixie Highway was the brainchild of Clark Howell, editor of the paper.

In 1997, Stewart Avenue was renamed Metropolitan Parkway in honor of the college along its corridor. City Council cited that it would give the street, known for prostitutes, strip clubs and drug dealers a clean slate. We all know how well that worked out.

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Notes:
Men of Mark in Georgia, Vol. VI. William J. Northern, LLD, Editor, A.B. Caldwell, Publisher, Atlanta, GA, 1912. p.201-202

"Andrew P. Stewart." The Atlanta Constitution, November 27, 1910, ProQuest Historical Newspapers Atlanta Constitution (1868-1945). p. C8

"Andrew P. Stewart." The Atlanta Constitution, October 23, 1912, ProQuest Historical Newspapers Atlanta Constitution (1868-1945). p. C5

"Dixie Highway Trailblazers Visit Scenes of Effort 20 Years Ago." The Atlanta Constitution, February 21, 1936. ProQuest Historical Newspapers Atlanta Constitution (1868-1945). p. 11

"Many Streets Get New Names." The Atlanta Constitution, October 17, 1903, ProQuest Historical Newspapers Atlanta Constitution (1868-1945). p. 7

"New Name Gives Stewart Avenue a Clean Slate." The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, August 21, 1997. p. D2

55 comments:

  1. I hope someday we can get the name changed back. We change too many names in Atlanta and continue to lose our history. But that's a whole other enchilada!

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  2. I'll throw in some names of hangouts and dive bars that were popular back in the day on Stewart Avenue. Obviously these are my impressions, you may have had different experiences, but the strip was an interesting and exciting place, now replaced with shoe stores, drug stores and parking lots.

    Dale's Food and Spirits (near Cleveland and Stewart), fairly large place, blue collar, good food, jukebox and pool tables. A good place to hang in the afternoon and drink during the week with the regulars, or party on the weekend when it was crowded and the jukebox was going. A Walgreens is there now.

    West Texas Music Club, live country music & dancing (diagonally opposite Dale's at Cleveland/Stewart), one of Atlanta's largest country clubs with a huge bar area. THE country music place to be for many on the Southside.

    Gold Rush Showbar - generic gentleman's club that's been there since the late 70s, a lot of silicon bleached blond strippers, generally not much fun.

    Crystal Palace, happening 70s/early 80s private/after hours club, (hipsters, rednecks, cocaine and champagne) party on when everything else was closed.

    Little Red Caboose (gentleman's club beside I85 access road opposite from Gold Rush). Some very nice country girls worked here, not a lot of the silicon bleached blonds you saw at the Gold Rush. The anti-Gold Club/Cheetah/Gold Rush strip bar.

    Silver Ribbon Club, live country music bar next to (north of) the notorious Alamo Plaza. Smaller and a little rougher than the West Texas. There were a few pay 4 play girls looking to go to the Alamo, but also a normal redneck mix looking to drink beer and dance.

    FJs Tavern, small, dark, dirt parking lot in the back among the trees (the very small front lot was always filled). Bullets known to fly, and a few customers left in body bags (seriously). If you stopped in for a few beers and were cool/laid back, you were welcome and you'd be fine. If you were a mean drunk who mouthed off, at best you could expect to land on your face outside courtesy of the aggressive bouncers.

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    1. Thanks for this great info. I am going to start publishing again and I think I will start with the history of the Gold Rush, which I stumbled upon while researching Stewart Ave.

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    2. Hello how are you doing. Would love to read when you are done.de Ford's fireplace lounge.other hang out of mine in the 78_ 84 timeline

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    3. Also packets Atlanta's answer to studio 54

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    4. My uncle ended up buying the foxx Johnny statham

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    5. Tell us about The Purple Onion in the late 70’s & early 80’s

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  3. I worked at the Foxx lounge(Little Red Caboose) for a number of years 87-93.
    Great rundown of places ATLoldie, spot on. I did enjoy a cold beer at FJ's on occasion.
    I stayed out of CP, too seedy by the end of the eighties.
    Follies was another club with nice girls, we all hung out together sometimes.
    I will always have great memories of the Foxx.

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    1. I used to hang at follys..i might know you. .lol. i live in paradise in south fl now but sometimes i miss the old days and good times

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    2. I go back to the Rio Vista-Cactus Grill-JBarD Steak Ranch days. My father helped build the Drive In at Cleveland Av. then helped tear it down. Grew up on Langston Dr. and saw my first gunshot victim in front of the Alamo Plaza when I was 8. Ah, good times. JC

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    3. I worked at jolly fox, follies, gold rush scarlet lady and pleasers

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    4. Does anyone know what happened to sammy tucker and his club the goldennugget, I used to play there a lot.

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    5. Prior to the Jolly Fox there was a drive-in barbecue restaurant at that location called Uncle Tom's Tavern. My father and his cousin opened in the 1950's. Nalleyville Chevrolet was across the street I think.

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    6. My uncle ended up buying the foxx Johnny statham

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    7. I use to hang out follies n the locomotion n jolly fox n frequent purple onion lol n gold rush n west texas,,,crystal palce regular,,,,i cant stand them places,,,them bars now ,,,my lady n I stay home n enjoy music and karaoke n we have a drink we stay home,,loving life blessed!!jeff

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    8. Good morning Jeff,
      We’re you at the Purple Onion in 1982 when the doorman was shot? It happened around midnight.

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  4. It will always be stewart ave to me.Yeah Buddy!

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  5. It will always be stewart ave to me.Yeah Buddy!

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  6. I used to hang out @ F.J.'s Tavern on Stewart Avenue , I had some great friends that worked there also "Suzy","Too Bad","Terry","Spacey Tracy" & to name a few, in 1997 a few even babysat my Grandson "K.C".
    The owner "Big Joe" was a Terrific Guy & Friend.
    I miss my Friends & "F.J.'s Tavern" the place we shared Real Laughter & Friendships.
    It was not uncommon should a regular at the bar, a friend or family associated with F.J.'s should need help financially due to medical emergencies, serious illnesses, funeral costs or household expenses caused by unforeseen, unavoidable deliemas that can happen without warning unpredictable to any family in life ,these people would have a Fund Raising Rally to help.
    They genuinely cared for others when life was rude & impolite.
    Some of the guys had long hair, some did not.
    Some rode Bikes others did not. T
    These people had various careers from all walks of life.
    Overall if they said they'd do what they could to help someone in a crisis, they meant it, bottom line, No Ifs, Ands or Buts about it.
    I miss hanging out @ F.J.'s with my friends.
    2016 Truly "Sunshine"

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    1. My daddy Bobby baker owned fjs before uncle Joe I miss peace Bobby O Lil danny big titty pam so many great memories with Billy D rocking the house

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    2. WE GOT FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES

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    3. WE GOT FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES

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    4. My daddy Bobby baker owned fjs before uncle Joe I miss peace Bobby O Lil danny big titty pam so many great memories with Billy D rocking the house

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    5. My dad was FJ,Freddie Joe Houk, and my uncle was Dale Houk, of Dales.

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    6. My uncle ended up buying the foxx Johnny statham

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  7. Great stuff here and I worked on Stewart Avenue between 1974 - 1985 so I got to witness it's decline firsthand. There is much more to this area than the crime, drugs, and prostitutes although that seems to be the only thing anyone remembers. We moved into the area in the early 60s when it was far different from what it became. Still there signs were there somewhat. Anyway I've started a blog on Stewart Avenue over at
    http://stewartavekid.com for anyone interested in deeper consideration of the area. Thanks

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    1. Sorry to reply to my own comment although wanted to correct the URL for my blog which is http://stewartavekid.wordpress.com Would love to hear from other people who worked, lived, or went to school in the area. Thanks

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    2. My mom worked at the oyster bar miss kay

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    3. My uncle ended up buying the foxx Johnny statham

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    4. Stevie P,

      What do you remember about The Purple Onion Strip Club?

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    5. My best friend Larry Chappel worked there.

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  12. I worked as a cook at the "Pizza Ring" that sat up on a hill directly across the street from where The Goldrush is now. It was several different clubs before it became The Goldrush. I'm not sure but, at one time it was POGO's. It may or may not have been PACKETS at some time. I'm pretty sure DeFoors was there at one time. Are we talking 1976, maybe 1977?

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  14. I’m Johnny statham nephew from the foxx

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    Replies
    1. I worked for him, I have a great story about him if you would like to know.

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  15. I went to the palace every weekend n fjs n all those nudity dance places ever since I was 19,,,,i was a stud so I dated several strippers that were very hot back in the day,,,even got my teeth chipped all the way across,,,the bouncers pick on studs cause I could dance n was a pretty boy womanizer,,,,im blessed cause im one of the very few that's alive n doing well n still no gray hair ,,ill be 57 this year,,,to give ya a hint who I am ,,,,I got hit by a car going 56 mph on old national highway when I was 23 in 1986 n had to ride in life flight ,,,but yhea im doing great n the lord has a plan thank you jesus,,,I started out at bentlys at the Marriott ,,,then dudleys,,,sonnys is where I got hit,,,n nickys in front of red lobster,,,,to all my friends that wondered what happened to me ,,,,im doing great,,,got me wondrful lady in my life been together 13 years n going on our 14th cruise together in December 2020,,,we both have Harleys n jeeps,,,,yes I sure don't miss them bars but when I went I was out to have a rocking time,,,been tossed out many a bar but this is one real dancer n stud back in the day ,,,still going strong n doing well,,,,yall stay safe jeff

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    Replies
    1. Jeff did you know David Norman Carty

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    2. Oh hell I remember when that happened Jeff some of you might know who I am my name is tex I did the Bentleys an sonniesan Nickie's, Dudley's usually started out at OHaras on Tara Blvd usually caught me out with Scott Johnson and the some of the old bouncers from the palace which I would say was a tight group! Man I would love to do it one more weekend a Long week endrhose we're the good ole days.i ain't saying you wouldn't get shot or cut at the palace or west Texas but you sure could take it outside there. The reason I am on here I found a old pic of the palace I will try to upload it.HEY they ain't many of us left an I ran into wild bill here a little while ago still crazy as he always was .

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  16. Jeff,

    Did you ever go to The Purple Onion Strip Club?

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  21. Does anyone remember the purple onion

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    Replies
    1. Yes I do that was our lunch break stop when we was close enough

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    2. We’re you there in 1982 when the doorman was shot? It happened around midnight.

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  24. What do you remember of all the motells close to the crystal palace ?

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