Atlanta's Ponce De Leon Avenue

by Jones, Sharon Foster

• ISBN13: 9781609493493
• ISBN10: 1609493494
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-02-27
• Publisher: History Pr

Summary

Named for the famous Spanish explorer who was said to have discovered the Fountain of Youth, Atlanta's Ponce de Leon Avenue began as a simple country road that conveyed visitors to the healing springs that once bubbled along it. Now, few motorists realize that the avenue, one of Atlanta's major commuter thoroughfares, was a prestigious residential street in Victorian Atlanta, home to mayors and millionaires. An economic turn in the twentieth century transformed the avenue into a crime-ridden commercial corridor, but in recent years, Atlantans have rediscovered the street's venerable architecture and storied history. Join local historian Sharon Foster Jones on a vivid tour of the avenue-from picnics by the springs in hoopskirts and Atlanta Crackers baseball to the Fox Theatre and the days when Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable and Al Capone lodged in the esteemed hotels lining this magnificent avenue. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. 7
Introduction	p. 9
As Much Ground as There Ever Was	p. 11
The Best Street and Everybody Knows It	p. 30
Our Noblest Efforts for Humanity	p. 56
Joy in Work	p. 73
A Place for Rest from Toil	p. 91
Epilogue	p. 115
Bibliography	p. 121
Index	p. 125
About the Author	p. 128
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Named for the famous Spanish explorer who was said to have discovered the Fountain of Youth, Atlanta's Ponce de Leon Avenue began as a simple country road that conveyed visitors to the healing springs that once bubbled along it. Now, as one of Atlanta's major commuter thoroughfares, few motorists realize that the Avenue was a prestigious residential street in Victorian Atlanta, home to mayors and millionaires. An economic turn in the twentieth century transformed the Avenue into a crime-ridden commercial corridor, but in recent years, Atlantans have rediscovered the street's venerable architecture and storied history. Join local historian Sharon Foster Jones on a vivid tour of the Avenue-- from picnics by the springs in hoopskirts, to the Fox Theatre and Atlanta Crackers baseball, and the days when Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable lodged in the esteemed hotels lining this magnificent Avenue.