Last week I added another history book to my collection. It is a book of Chamblee history written by Vivian Price Saffold, which I found on ebay.com. The book is titled “Past Memories, Present Progress, Future Dreams, A History of the Community and the City of Chamblee.”
The book was compiled and written in May of 1983 as part of the 75th anniversary of Chamblee’s incorporation, which took place in 1908.
Saffold lists the Carrolls, Flowers, McElroys, and Tilleys as early Chamblee settlers. Much of the early history revolves around the early churches. One of those churches is Nancy Creek Primitive Baptist Church on 8th Street. This is DeKalb County’s third oldest church, established in 1824.
Another early church is the Prosperity Presbyterian church, established in 1826. It later became the Doraville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and today’s Peachtree Corners Presbyterian Church. The Prosperity Cemetery that was associated with the original church is located along Peachtree Road, just north of where it meets North Peachtree Road.
The first Methodist Church was Prospect Methodist. This building still stands and has been renovated since Biggars Antiques moved out of the old church. The City of Chamblee Planning and Development Office is now located in the old church at 5576 Peachtree Road. The Prospect Methodist Cemetery is located behind the church building. Charter members of Prospect Methodist include Stephen Tilley and family, J. M. Riddling family, two Ballenger families, and Mrs. Margaret McElroy.
A ladies group organized Corinth Baptist Church in 1875, led by early settler Julia Carroll. This church later became Chamblee Baptist Church.
1914 photo of Corinth Baptist Church in Chamblee. (from A Century in North DeKalb)
Saffold tells of the first post office for the area of Cross Keys, which included what is now Chamblee, Brookhaven, and some of Dunwoody. It was established in 1832 at the intersection of Ashford Dunwoody and Johnson Ferry Road. The first Chamblee post office was established in 1881 with James M. Bentley as postmaster.
This Chamblee history book has stories on several families, including William R. Wallace. Wallace owned a sawmill in the location of today’s D’Youville Condominiums and the Fischer Mansion. Wallace made furniture and opened a furniture shop after the Civil War. He sold one thousand tables for the Cotton States Exposition.
Wallace’ son, W. D. (Dave) Wallace and C. P. Charlie Warnock opened the first store in Chamblee in the late 1800’s. At the store, one could buy five yards of percale for sixty-two cents or a lamp glove for a dime. They kept a pen behind the store for cows and chickens, which customers sometimes brought as payment on their accounts. This store was later the location of Treasure Mart.
I look forward to sharing more of this Chamblee history compiled by Vivian Price Saffold.