GailHullingsCobleigh
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Peachtree Creek by David Kaufman GREAT! - 2011/03/20 13:13
Hank picked up a great book at the Gwinnett library a few weeks ago and I'm really excited to be able to add it to our "local history" archives...right in there with all that Pea Ridge stuff. 
Peachtree Creek: A Natural and Unnatural History of Atlanta's Watershed by David R. Kaufman, published in 2007 by the University of Georgia Press is a MUST READ for anyone who grew up in the Peachtree Creek watershed (or, of course, lives there today). 
The Watershed encompasses most of Metro Atlanta. I picked up this book when we got home that afternoon, and realized that after 30 minutes I had only made it to page 3 -- a fabulous old 1895 US Geological Survey topo map of the nearly undeveloped watershed of Peachtree Creek. We had reminisced about our creek-playing days and had a short contest about who could pick the most spots in the old neighborhood where water came out of the ground. (OK, we are strange.) I was hooked, and Hank had to wait to read the book. 
Did you know that Montreal Road used to go between Clarkston and Montreal? That the corner where the Hello World was in the 60s used to be a dot on a map called Montreal? I never knew that! I never knew a lot of other things that come up as this guy makes his way BY CANOE down the tributaries of North and South Peachtree Creek to where they join, on down into Atlanta where Nancy Creek enters the Peachtree and onward to the Chattahoochee. 
This man began the research for this amazing book in the 90's, and in all sorts of weather, changing into a wet suit behind Sage Hill Shopping Center, or sneaking around behind Sam's on Clairmont to slip into North Peachtree Creek. He's lucky to be alive! He encounters all sorts of folks (and dangerous obstacles) along the way, and relates a good deal of Civil War history as he makes it on into town. 
I'm not gonna rewrite his tales in here -- get the book! He begins with the sources of the North and South Peachtree, and includes Burnt Fork Creek, which ran behind Shamrock and on down to Mason Mill.
South Peachtree left Tucker and went south of 29, across McClendon, across Valley Brook, through Little Creek Ranch, and on along beside North DeKalb Mall, through Medlock, and on to Emory and beyond.
North Peachtree began in Tucker and follows I-85 south into Atlanta, crossing under just before Clairmont Road to swing behind the old Kmart and across to the old Days Inn and beyond. Road by road, creek crossing by creek crossing, you will recognize every part of this book from traveling by car, foot, or rail. Did you know that the old VA hospital grounds used to be a harness horse track? 
The book is chock full of his photos, old maps, old photos of places that no longer exist, old names you're sure to recognize. He even mentions the Magnolia in the ballfield across from the Sears Building on Ponce -- which as Rena told us was planted by a Medlock.
Back cover photo -- the old DeKalb Waterworks in all it's present-day spray painted glory, as mentioned in some of the Medlock PATH postings. 
I know, I know, it's a HISTORY book. But what it is, really, is an ADVENTURE story, about our creek, our neighborhoods, and a crazy guy who decided to get to know it all up close and personal. GET IT! You don't have to read it -- just look at the pictures. 
BTW -- Pea Ridge was not mentioned in the book, and was not noted on any maps, but now we know it was just down the way from Montreal. I guess THAT's why the bus stopped there, huh Steve? 
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