CVM - Erin Avenue

In 1944 Hillside Homes, Inc., began development of a War Housing Project on Erin Avenue in Capitol View Manor. The development was opposed by the existing residents of CVM, who cited sub-standard construction and a deleterious impact on their property values as cause.

Hillside Homes meanwhile was having additional trouble gaining support from the City, having lost a court battle to them over the provision of water and sewer infrastructure. An agreement was finally reached with the Fourth Ward Civic League, the City, and the neighborhood allowing construction on the contingency that Hillside Homes provide sidewalks and paving, and that the houses were differentiated by roof color and varying the front elevations of the proposed 35 homes.

Which houses are they? I have not confirmed this by documentation yet, however, this link may provide a clue:

http://homesales.ajchomefinder.com/homesales/subdivision/30310/hillside_homes_inc

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"Greenlight is Expected for Erin Avenue Housing Project", The Atlanta Constitution, June 11, 1944, page 4B. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Atlanta Constitution (1868-1945).

Capitol View Manor, Clark University and the Freedman's Aid Society

While researching a paper about the development of Stewart Avenue (Metropolitan Parkway), I discovered a 1911 Fulton County map in the Georgia Archives (map above, many, many thanks to the Georgia Archives for allowing me to post the image). The map showed that the bulk of the property on which Capitol View Manor sits was owned at that time by the Freedmans Aid Society (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedmen's_Aid_Society). I was intrigued!

On the 1911 Fulton County map, Capitol View Manor is on land lot 88 (the yellow map is Land Lot 88 from the Fulton County GIS). The west edge is Stewart Avenue, our northern border is the Atlantic and Western Railroad. The wiggly line you see running through the northeast corner is a creek that originates in the Pittsburgh Neighborhood. Chances are good that the creek still exists in some form and neighbors on Hillside may see some evidence of it.

According to The Clark College Legacy by James P. Brawley, the money to purchase 450 acres of land (including the parcels on which the CVM neighborhood sits) was raised by Bishop Gilbert Haven. According to George Prentice in his book, The Life of Gilbert Haven: Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Haven was quite a radical, having been first an Abolitionist and upon coming to Atlanta, an agitator for the rights and dignity of the African American people. The land deal was brokered through Reverend Richard S. Rust of the Freedman's Aid Society in 1872 and purchased from a Mr. James M. Ball (from the Freedman's Aid Society Records 1872-1932, Roll 116, Entry from November 7, 1872, Atlanta University Center Archives). Per Brawley the land was purchased to support an agricultural program of the college. This program would: Supply food for the college, provide work for the students, train students to be agricultural workers, and serve the farming community of Georgia and the regional south. The program was extremely successful and Brawley reports that at the 1908 Annual Roundup Farmer's Institute, Perry C. Parks reported, "the growing of huge crops of vegetables, thousands of pounds of pork, thousands of gallons of milk and hundreds of pounds of butter."

In 1924 350 acres of land, including that on which Capitol View Manor sits, was sold to endow the college. The property was sold for circa $235,000. In September of 1926, Turman-Brown Realtors began selling lots in the new Capitol View Manor Subdivision.

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Notes:

1911 Fulton County Map, produced by Hudgins Company, courtesy of the Georgia Archives

Things found behind a chimney in Capitol View

Clicking on a picture will enlarge it.

Stewart Avenue Substation

Info from Margaret Calhoun the archivist at Georgia Power:

This is the Stewart Avenue Substation built by a predecessor company of Georgia Power, the Georgia Railway and Power Company. In the early 1920s the power company had frequent interruptions of power so three small substations were built to strengthen direct current streetcar service in Atlanta. At least two of these, the Spring Street Substation and the Moreland Avenue Substation were designed by the electric company's corporate architect, Isaac. Moscowitz. The Stewart Avenue Substation uses many of the same elements as the other two. The drawings have not survived to determine for sure, but we assume that Moscowitz designed this, also.

I had inquired as to the possibility that J. Neel Reid had designed the building. They do not have that information, but if anyone knows anything about that, please let me know!

Ostrich Farm

According to Atlanta, yesterday, today and tomorrow, by John R. Hornady published 1922, there used to be an ostrich farm across the street from the Lakewood Fairgrounds. According to Hornady, this ostrich farm was the largest farm of its type east of the Rockies. Now, early city boosters are often given to hyperbole, however it would be interesting to know if anyone has heard something about this.

National Register Nomination

Capitol View Manor voted unanimously this weekend to have Richard Laub's MHP students prepare a National Register nomination. I hear tell that Capitol View voted unanimously for it as well. Congratulations both neighborhoods!

CVM's Emma Millican Park

The joint acquisition and development of "Millican Park" was announced by Dr. Charles Ross Adams, chairman of the finance committee of Fulton county on June 3, 1937. The 6 acre park would be the first in southwest Atlanta to provide recreational facilities for children. The parcel was to be purchased from the Deckner estate for $1500 and another $1500 was planned to establish four tennis courts, a baseball diamond, and playgrounds. The park was named in honor of Mrs. Emma Millican, mother of Senator G. Everett Millican of the 35th Georgia District. Senator Millican lived at 1029 Deckner Avenue SW and had in the past represented the 10th ward as an alderman.