Stagecoach Road runs from Stockbridge to Ellenwood. Gently rolling countryside with meadows, trees and a handful of lakes. It seems rural now but it won't be rural for long. This little beauty flies the flag.
This is Moreland Avenue at Henrico Road just north of I-285. Drive north from here to watch this zen view disappear as you descend to the South River Bridge, elevation just a tad under 800'. This is landfill country, you might need to hold your nose. The top of these landfills have amazing skyline views.
Perhaps my fellow architecture tourists can visit Hapeville this Sunday before it's too late. If you can help, I want to hear from you.
The 1923 granite church building was all but abandoned. But it didn't cause much trouble until the roof collapsed last winter. It's Hapeville First Baptist's old stone church and it may be a goner, gone even before you read this.
A group has gathered to save it. I hope they can delay demolition long enough to find a solution. But these are difficult problems.
I stumbled on to it in the spring of 2011. It was like discovering a ruin in the forest. You can see the airport from here but it's not on the way to anywhere even for most Hapevillians.
Even in ruin it's an impressive sight. And I'm a sentimental man: Imagine the christenings, the baptisms, the music, the weddings, the funerals here.
Exit at Langford Parkway, head east toward Lakewood Stadium. You'll find a five-points intersection at Lakewood Avenue and Jonesboro Road, where Lakewood Heights meets South Atlanta in NPU-Y. It's a little commercial corner that I like so much. It's a bit run down now but it has human scale and that lived in look. It's coming back. Heading north on Lakeside just south of the Jonesboro intersection you catch a glimpse of an old masonic temple in beige brick. A bit closer we see the well kept Scott building on Jonesboro. South from the Scott building is this old service station with amazing columns. it's at the corner of Whatley Street and Jonesboro Road. It's boarded up and fenced in as is something may yet happen there. I hope it will. On the west side of Lakewood is this modest but classy abandoned building.
A little bit of parapet detail elevates a little building. Where Rhodesia Avenue crosses Lakewood and Jonesboro is this attractive corner. This could be East Atlanta, Little Five Points or Virginia Highlands. West of Jonesboro there charming little houses (pictures in another post) and a church on nearly every block.
This 2-story is a bit sad but would look great anywhere. The roof has collapsed probably from a fire.
Where Lakewood meets Milton there is an abandoned depot with huge columns. I hope to get a better picture.
Classic southern living at the 2009 Henry County Fair Demolition Derby. Micheal with 1st place trophy.
Miranda Lanzillotti Time Inc. Lifestyle PR Group sent me the October issue of the new, improved Southern Living Magazinehoping I would blog about it. Thanks Miranda. Stockbrige Emission Center made me an honorary member of the Demolition Derby Pit Crew. Thanks Bill, Jason, Lamar, Micheal, and Rick. What a great week! So here is my man-blog review of 2 kinds of southern living. Demolition Derby - preparation Remember the Stockbridge Emission Center Pusher Car? No? Here you go:
My Stockbridge Emission Center buds converted their pusher car for demolition. It's for a good cause: helping promote the Kiwanis Club sponsored Henry County Georgia Fair and the opportunity to win $500. Nice intimidating tu-tone paint job:
Southern Living Magazine - the giftI've been scanning Southern Living since the very first issue in 1966. My dad was a gentleman farmer and got Progressive Farmer. I think my mom suggested we switch to Southern Living (same publisher). So I've been scanning Southern Living for 43 years. Right now my kids' Grandma gets it so I scan it on family visits. Grandma always invites to take it home. southern living derby and Southern Living Magazine The great thing about the magazine: If you read it long enough, you find a home, an event, a restaurant, a shop, a personality, right in your own neighborhood. I don't know if they've covered the Henry County Fair yet, but they just might.
Demolition Derby - getting ready Before the Derby, the crowd got acquainted with the cars and drivers.
Southern Living Magazine - the scan I've developed my scanning routine. Feeling a little sleepy-eyed from Grandpa's huge dinner - often including dumplings and chocolate pie - I head for the sofa and grab the latest issue. I do a straight front to back page scan mostly looking for colors, places, and food that catch my eye, and places I'm familiar with. Then I go back and read the articles that interest me. Usually there are an handful of pictures that I show to the wife, kids, and anyone else in the room. They humor me and say, "That's nice Terry." Southern Living Magazine - the dog-earOn my second time through, I dog-ear the pages I want to follow up in person or on the Internet.
Demolition Derby - drivers' meeting and the "pen" The drivers meeting was serious. I mean they are going to crash cars on purpose, man. But these guys were about to have one of the best times of their lives. The crowd started moving up from the midway, the rides, the corndogs, the livestock auction. There were far more than I can show in the picture. They were ready for a good time. The big machine made a pen from New Jersey Barriers. The derby cars drove in and the machine sealed the pen behind them. You can see the Stockbridge Pusher blur its way in.
Southern Living Magazine - the followupLast month there was a landscape article about a tiny yard in Midtown Atlanta. I dog-eared the page. When I got home I Googled the homeonwer, the landscape architect, and tried to find the house in Bing.com. I found the owner and architect but couldn't find the house. So the next day I did a drive-by and there it was. I'd driven by it 100's of times. Southern Living helped me to look more closely. Just like the magazine? Yes and no. The yard wasn't freshly manicured but still looked great and tiny. The house looked better in person. Seeing the house in context with it's neighbors and from different angles is something you just can't get in pictures.
Demolition Derby - crash, bang, boom... The cars were sealed up in the pen, noses to the wall. Then we had 9 minutes of real southern living ecstacy: roaring engines, belching smoke, red mud flinging, powing, banging, and crunching, the crowd screamed, squealed, ooh'd and aah'd with delight... Until the only car still moving was the Stockbridge Emission Center Pusher Car! But it was a little muddy.
Southern Living Magazine - stuff that caught my eyeI'll need a bit more scan time at Grandmas to get through it. Here is what caught my eye this time:
Pansies on page 17 (I man-plant the pansies at our house)
Our Favorite New Cottage page 64 costs too much to be called a cottage but it's a beauty with it's red roof.
Dear Southern Living page 72. New feature? Very nice graphics for getting points across.
Garden section starting on 80. We're too lazy to plan. This is nice though.
Build an Outdoor Fireplace page 90. The one picured costs more than my house.
Plant Zones page 92, a Southern Living (and Progressive Farmer) standard.
Bishops House page 94. What details! Personally I don't need so much stuff inside but I like how industructable it looks.
Food pictures.....
Baptism at Moon Lake page 112. This is a new type of feature I think.
Healthy Living page 119. This is the anti-southern living. Pass the butter and salt please.
Two Great Auburn Galleries page AL 6 because Auburn is a cute nearyby college town.
Demolition Derby - the winner and tow truck ride of honor So Jason took the trophy The whole team celebrated... And while some competitors didn't fare so well The winning Pusher Car rode home in honor. Thanks to readers, Southern Living, and to the Stockbridge gang. What a week. Terry And thanks to "Hooked on Fridays" blog party; I hope y'all will click here and have a look.
We do get around when we can. On Thursday night I saw gloATL perform "Physical Suites on a Theme of Non Fiction" at ACAC. They danced the museum space inside and out and even the rafters. They let me watch for free. I felt like I was steeling. It's kind of crazy, there is no stage, they dance everywhere, the audience can go anywhere.
This is the beginning of a pax de deux. "Relaxed hands and feet with tension in the body."
Sometimes you need eyes in the back of your head to take it all in.
Next to Astolfi Art for Cynthia Knapp's opening reception. Alessandra told me that the artists came, a show of respect for the art and the artist.
It's no wonder. Catch these when you are at White Provision.
Here is Cynthia with artist (and fellow Grady dad) Tom Ferguson. She knows everybody, has worked with everybody, has helped everybody in Atlanta's art community. Here they are demonstrating the sartorial range and good humor of Atlanta artists.
On Friday I did my errands with included the airport.
Columbia Theological Seminary is building the Vernon S.Broyles Leadership Center. It a modern building somewhat sympathetic to "university Gothic" style already there.
It's got a tower which is nearly always cool.
I'm not sure this picture will make you fall in love but in person, I think this will be OK. You can't see the side that faces the older campus, which works pretty well.
On the way home I was cruising a tear-down and found the Village People in a backyard, appropriate for this Atlanta Pride Festival weekend. Folks in the know in my neighborhood will know just where to find this. Attn: Pecanne Log.
We avoid the interstate on the way home from the airport if we can.
Hapeville has trains and churches.
Central Avenue from Hapeville to East Point is major industrial. Men and boys will love it. Hard, dirty work gets done there. This is where you imagine artist colonies. It's the home of Pottery Land
And they got 'em.
East Point still has an active town center and some handsome buildings.
Hapeville is 100% real town.
Hapeville's Main Street is Highway 29. I headed north towards Fort Mac and flipped to Murphy on the east side of the tracks.
Murphy Avenue if a seriously funky street. I was looking for the 10-foot-Sharon at 920 Murphy by Ola Bad & Howdy Nater. It's legal.
So how did my fellow soccer mom come to be immortalized on Murphy? Hard work on behalf of Atlanta's artist community, for Eyedrum, Art on the Beltline and Living Walls. We love you Sharon.
The Krog Street Tunnel is too easy, but there it is.
Wow, two of my fellow soccer sideline companions in one Architecture Tourist post, how does that happen?
