Sandy Springs Gazette Shines Spotlight On City's History

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- Heritage Sandy Springs has released the first printed edition of a magazine that shares the stories of those who had a hand in shaping the city's history. Sandy Springs Gazette first debuted online in February 2016 and since then, weekly articles based on archives and oral histories from Sandy Springs residents have been published in an online magazine.

With the support of the Sandy Springs Society, Heritage Sandy Springs has now published an entire year's worth of stories in a beautiful perfect-bound magazine.

Articles include memories of a young black student who integrated Hammond Elementary School, the first Fulton County public school in Sandy Springs to do so, said Melissa Swindell, director of historic resources at Heritage Sandy Springs. It also includes stories from little league games, horse pastures at the corner of Roswell and Abernathy roads, illicit moon-shining and World War II veterans, she added.

For years, these taped interviews sat on shelves in the Heritage Sandy Springs library. They are now being shared with and enjoyed by the community. The Sandy Springs Gazette was created for those who remember the people, events and locations in these diverse stories, and also as a way to share a unique history with the next generation, the organization said.

“This year marks the 32nd anniversary of Heritage Sandy Springs, and the preservation of the original spring that gave our community its name,” said Carol Thompson, executive director of Heritage Sandy Springs. “As we continue our tradition of promoting local history, we hope everyone will enjoy this magazine in addition to the many meaningful programs and events we offer for our residents.”

If you were born and raised in Sandy Springs, or are a long-time resident, Heritage Sandy Springs would like to hear from you.

“We are always interested in collecting oral histories from our community,” Swindell notes. “These oral histories are not only the foundation of the magazine, but are collected and preserved as part of the archives at Heritage Sandy Springs, for future generations.”

Heritage Sandy Springs invites the public to visit their office at 6110 Blue Stone Road to pick up a free copy of the local history magazine. It can also be found in local establishments around the city or online via www.heritagesandysprings.org.

If you would like to provide an oral history, or are interested in learning how to conduct oral history interviews, please contact Heritage Sandy Springs at (404) 851-9111 x2 or curator@heritagesandysprings.org.

Image via Heritage Sandy Springs