History Project Launched in Buckhead

The Buckhead Heritage Society and Livable Buckhead are developing an interpretive historic master plan for the Buckhead Collection greenspace initiative.

To launch the project, the heritage society is asking neighborhood associations and community groups to gather oral histories and historic documentation about Council District 7, the area covered by the greenspace initiative.

The will begin the project from 3 to 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at the North Buckhead Civic Association’s annual Fall Fling, according to the heritage society and the North Buckhead Civic Association. The society will conduct oral history interviews and scan photographs and documents that North Buckhead residents are willing to share for use in interpretive programs, according to the heritage society. The Fall Fling will be held at the, 4055 Roswell Road

“To help us identify the interpretive themes for the community, we will be reaching out to our neighbors to find out what’s most important to them about Buckhead’s history,” Buckhead Heritage Society Executive Director Erica Danylchak said in a statement. “We will begin at the North Buckhead Civic Association’s Fall Fling, where we have asked people to come and share oral histories and historic photographs related to the area. We plan to do the same at other neighborhood association gatherings, because we want residents to have input and feel invested in this really exciting project.”

At the North Buckhead event, the society is particularly interested in information about the Blue Heron Nature Preserve property, Barrett’s Mill, Eidson’s Mill, Peachtree Gardens, Turner’s Corner, the Herrington Estate, Carmain Farm, Loridans Farm and the Lowry-Stevens Family Cemetery on Loridans Drive.

According to the October North Buckhead Civic Association newsletter, “documents of interest include historic photographs of North Buckhead buildings, landscapes, or longstanding families; historic road or plat maps; invitations to social events (particularly at Peachtree Gardens); and newspaper clippings of important events in the neighborhood."

Also, the Blue Heron Art Gallery will display a variety of historical maps of the area, including original copies of three of the maps, the newsletter said.

The Buckhead Collection plan, the result of of Councilman Howard Shook’s intitiative to increase greenspace in underserved District 7, will integrate hisroric and cultural sites into the envisioned network of trails and greenspace. 

“The Buckhead Collection proposes to integrate historic and cultural resources into the system through interpretive physical design, interpretive signage, public art, guided bicycle, walking or Segway tours, and through digital media tools and apps that can be downloaded into smart phones or GIS devices for use during personal tours,” a heritage society news release said.

“The interpretive planning process will develop core interpretive themes that identify Buckhead’s most important stories and then outline specific ways that audiences will connect with those stories in a meaningful way.”