The women of the early DeKalb County library

In 1907 Lula Almand of Lithonia began gathering books in a room of her home for neighbors to read and borrow. The Woman’s Club of Lithonia, of which Almand was a member, built a granite clubhouse and library in 1928. This building still stands at 2564 Wiggins Street. The Lithonia library was only accessible to white residents. Learn more about the Woman’s Club and Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area here.

The Lithonia Woman’s Club was also the building that served as the first library.

The Decatur Library was first established in 1925 in the Decatur Bank & Trust Company Building. Later it operated in City Hall. Maud Burrus was one of the women who served as a part time Decatur librarian during that time until 1930 when she became full-time librarian. Before becoming a librarian, she taught Social Sciences at Decatur Junior High School. (Atlanta Journal, April 24, 1960, “She’s been lending books for 30 years”)

Burrus served as librarian for 31 years from 1930 until 1961. She was followed by her assistant, Louise Trotti, then Trotti’s assistant Barbara Loar in 1982. More history is available at dekalblibrary.org.

Maud Burrus had the idea of getting books to more remote parts of DeKalb County with a bookmobile. She began taking books in the back of her car to residents throughout the county.

Louise Trotti was the first supervisor of bookmobile services. There was no bookmobile for Black residents of Lithonia, until a new vehicle was purchased in 1952. The previous 1940 vehicle was reconditioned and used to bring books throughout DeKalb County to Black residents. That bookmobile operated out of the George Washington Carver Library of Herring Street School, a school in the Beacon community. In 1943, the library operated out of a World War II Quonset hut.

Segregation in DeKalb County libraries ended in 1962 when Elizabeth Wilson and her daughter registered for library cards at the Decatur Library. Elizabeth Wilson later became the second woman and first Black mayor of Decatur.

The Decatur Library became Decatur DeKalb Library when it opened on Sycamore Street in 1950. The land was donated to the city by Annie Scott Cooper as a memorial to her father George Washington Scott, founder of Agnes Scott College and to her husband Thomas L. Cooper who served on the Board of Directors of the library. The name of the library was changed to Maud M. Burrus Library in 1962 after Burrus retired.

The Redan Trotti Library at 1569 Wellborn Road in Lithonia is named in memory of Louise Trotti.  A May 1991 article in the DeKalb News Sun newspaper announced the upcoming open house and grand opening. (DeKalb History Center archives)

Tuggle airfield in Decatur

While reading through the transcript of a DeKalb History Center 1988 “I Remember Hour” where Doc Manget is interviewed, I was surprised by a conversation among audience members regarding Tuggle Airfield in Decatur.

Doc Manget, director of DeKalb Peachtree Airport in Chamblee from 1959 to 1990, began his aviation career at that same location in 1941, when it served as Naval Air Station Atlanta. You can read the transcript of his interview on the DeKalb History Center website.

Manget tells some history of Camp Gordon and NASA as well as aviation history for DeKalb County. He explains that at one time DeKalb County had three airports, Gunn Airfield, DeKalb Peachtree, and Stone Mountain.

During the interview, audience members, who would have attended the presentation at the old Decatur courthouse, start to ask questions and chat among themselves. Tuggle airfield is mentioned and one person says their son took flying lessons there. Another person says the first airplane they ever saw take off and land was at Tuggle airfield. The location of the airfield was along what is now Sycamore Drive.

In the May 8, 1925 Atlanta Constitution, there is a story about the “Vanguard of Flying Circus,” coming to Atlanta and featuring “Big Jack” Ashcraft. The event was held for three days at Tuggle field in Decatur, in anticipation of the completion of Candler Field, “expected to be the best field in the entire country.” Candler Field is now the location of Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.

Tuggle field, named for property owner Edward Frank Tuggle, is described in this article as about half a mile beyond Decatur and to the left of the Stone Mountain Road. There was no admission charge for the event, but a small fee was charged for those wanting to take a ride in an airplane.  

The Feb. 16, 1925, edition of a periodical called “Aviation” featured an article about the landing field at Decatur, GA. “Decatur GA now has an aviation field which ranks among the finest in that part of the country, according to a recent issue of the Atlanta Constitution. E. F. Tuggle and Frank Wickersham took 75 acres and made a field, putting it in condition to be an airfield. The two men each had a plan of their own and wanted the field for convenience. They also offered it for other aviators to use.”

The airfield had two areas for takeoff, one running north to south and another running east to west. Each runway was about 1200 feet long.  Scrapers, drags and heavy rollers were used to make the fields wide, straight and smooth. There was a wooden hangar where Tuggle and Wickersham’s two Curtiss biplanes were kept. A telephone was placed at one end of the field for visiting aviators to use.

Edward Frank Tuggle died April 17, 1927 from complications following an appendectomy. His obituary in the Atlanta papers describes him as a “prominent Decatur citizen, aviator, and automobile dealer.” He began his automobile career as a Ford Motor Company salesman. He was a native of Bowdon, Georgia and attended Mercer University. He was a member of the Decatur Civitan Club, Pythagoras Lodge of Masons, Scottish Rite Masons, and a member of Yaarab Temple Shriners Atlanta.

E. F. Tuggle and his wife Minnie Pauline Tuggle are both buried at Decatur Cemetery. When he was buried there in 1927, flowers were dropped at his gravesite from overhead by a squadron of airplanes. The squadron was led by Doug Davis. (Atlanta Journal, April 19, 1927, “Planes Drop Flowers on Mr. Tuggle’s Grave”)

The shopping experience of 1965, Briarcliff Village

Briarcliff Village shopping center at 2100 Henderson Mill Road opened in 1965. Northlake Mall, across the road, opened six years later.

A grand opening ceremony was held at the new Briarcliff Village on Thursday, March 25, 1965. A full page ad in the March 24, 1965 Atlanta Journal announced the new shopping center with details about the 26 stores and services. The ad describes Briarcliff Village as “set amid an intimate courtyard.”

The shopping center opened with two grocery stores, Kroger and Colonial. That wasn’t unusual at the time. Nearby Chamblee Plaza opened in 1960 also with both Kroger and Colonial grocery stores.

Early Briarcliff Village included Belk-Gallant (Belk’s), J. Howard Shoes, Cricket Shop, and Star Photo. The movie theater was known as Martin’s Village Theater, described as  “DeKalb’s newest luxury theatre.” Martin Theaters was a new theater business in Atlanta, based out of Columbus, Georgia. The company began in 1912 when Roy E. Martin purchased the Bonita Theater in Columbus. (Atlanta Journal, April 4, 1965, “Martin to raise curtain on two more city theaters”)

The first movie shown at Martin’s Village Theater was “The Truth about Spring” starring Hayley Mills, John Mills and James MacArthur.

The shopping center was also home to the office of Dr. Jacobs and Dr. Boaz, Optometrists. There was a Village Beauty Shop and Briarcliff Village Barber Shop. Barber Shop owners Gene Moorehead and Hoke Tanner had free pony rides at the grand opening. Other stores included Village Record Shop, Village Shoe Service, Frank Walters Jewelry, Armer’s Cards, G C Murphy, Galaxy Drugs, Economy Auto Store, and Cream House.

Johnny Reb’s, a Confederate themed restaurant, is listed as part of the 1965 version of Briarcliff Village. However, thanks to a reader’s research, we know that the restaurant never opened at the shopping center.

1958 advertisements North DeKalb Record

This week I’m posting images of ads from a 1958 North DeKalb Record, whose subheading reads “with news of West Gwinnett and North Fulton counties.” If you remember these businesses, please comment or write to me at pasttensega@gmail.com. I will share some memories or history I receive about these stores and businesses in a future blog post.

The front page of this Feb. 20, 1958 issue includes a photo and article about Margaret Jones, who founded the Brookhaven School in the 1920s along with her husband Z. W. Jones. That story can be found after Christmas in the Dunwoody Crier on the appenmedia.com website.

Margaret Jones’ granddaughter Corinne Dodd shared this newspaper, a written history and several photos of Brookhaven School with me several years ago.

One of the ads is for the grand opening of Playland Skating Rink, which was located on Buford Highway. I’ve already started asking folks for memories of Playland. I know there are plenty more people who grew up in Chamblee, Doraville, Dunwoody and beyond that remember Playland.

Here are ads for Chamblee gasoline stations.

Brookhaven Supply Company and Brookhaven Pharmacy were in the old business district that existed before it was decided that Peachtree Road needed to be straightened.

Last but not least, classic furniture and appliance store in Chamblee, Castleberry’s. I shopped here a few times with my mom.

Civil Defense, Air Raid shelters and blackouts in Atlanta area during WWII

In 2021, Dr. Howard Cotton shared with me what it was like in Boston as a 12 year old after Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941. As a child, he was concerned that his town could be invaded or bombed as had happened to cities in other parts of the world. He remembers, “All automobile headlights were required to have black paint covering the top 1/3-1/2 to lessen visible light from possible bombers at night.” Cotton’s dad served as an air raid warden as part of the Civil Defense Corp, patrolling the neighborhood to ensure no lights were visible during air raid drills.

That made me wonder about Atlanta. Were precautions in place for Atlanta?

Before the U.S. entered WWII, Atlanta and other cities were receiving instructions on what actions should be taken. Atlanta was considered a railway and air transportation gateway in 1941. A May 2, 1941 article in the Atlanta Constitution originating from Washington, D. C., gave information about what steps Atlanta needed to take. Frank Bane, Director of the Division of State and Local Co-operation, Office of Emergency Management did not want to cause hysteria in the city. He advised Atlanta there was no immediate need for air-raid shelters, but they should give thought to what steps they would take if they were necessary in the future.

A pamphlet was provided, “Civil Defense Protective Construction.” However, Frank Bane cautioned that, “The issuance of this bulletin is not the signal for starting work on any of the protective structures described.” Once again, he advised plans should be prepared, “even though we hope they will never have to be put into effect.”

The information in the pamphlet was mostly technical information based on the experiences of European cities since the beginning of WWII. Many entrances and at least two exits were recommended for air-raid shelters. They would need to provide necessary conveniences and first aid facilities. It was also suggested they be built in a way that could be utilized during peace time. Perhaps they could serve as a garage, storage shed or bank vault.

Just three days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor an air-raid shelter was announced in Decatur at 401 Oakland Street, the home of Mrs. W. Guy Hudson, Executive Secretary of DeKalb Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce. The 1500 square foot concrete underground structure already existed before Pearl Harbor, having served as a city sewerage disposal tank 20 years earlier. A flower garden was planted at ground level.

In November of 1942, an air raid shelter was opened at the Municipal Market on Edgewood Road in Atlanta.

By February 1942, 20,000 people had already completed a 25-hour course and received certificates as Atlanta air raid wardens. The first certificates were issued at Grant Park School.

Registration of DeKalb County citizens for civilian defense positions began December 15, 1941. The DeKalb County Civilian Defense Corps, under the leadership of Vernon Frank, met in the 401 Oakland Street shelter for coffee and donuts. The shelter was complete with electric lights and running water. (Atlanta Constitution, Dec. 10, 1941, “DeKalb Boasts First Air Raid Shelter in Dixie.”)

A blackout test was held on February 26, 1942. You can read more about blackouts in the Atlanta area in my recent Dunwoody Crier article here.

Also, look for this article of memories of Pearl Harbor Day, published in the Dunwoody Crier in 2021 to commemorate the 80th anniversary.

Ina Evans runs for District 55 House seat 1972

New post every Monday.

Sometimes when I’m looking through a newspaper archive, there will be an article, photo, or even an advertisement that catches my interest. Ina Evans caught my interest and I wanted to know more about her life.

The pages of the August 3, 1972, DeKalb New Era newspaper features ads and articles on various local political candidates at the time. One of those candidates was Ina C. Evans and the article is titled “Ina Evans Offers for House Post.”

This photograph of Ina C. Evans appeared with the 1972 article announcing her as a candidate for House seat 55. (The DeKalb New Era, August 3, 1972)

Ina C. Evans was running for the District 55 House seat. Her platform included better health facilities, tax reform and better educational facilities in DeKalb County. She and her campaign team went door to door talking to voters and distributing material.

Evans spoke to The DeKalb News Sun about her campaign, “We are hoping that voters will decide on the basis of qualifications. I firmly believe that office holders are elected to voice the needs and concerns of the community. Win or lose, I’ll be right here next year and the year after battling to put this community up front in DeKalb.”

Evans lost the race, which went to a runoff between Betty J. Clark and Sherman S. Barge. Betty Clark won the runoff, and as a Democrat who was unopposed, she won the seat.

Ina Evans was born in Gallatin, Tennessee in 1935. She graduated with honors from Mississippi Valley State College. Her resume included working as a poll monitor in the Democratic primary in 1968 and during the presidential election that year.

In 1969, she was campaign manager in the Kirkwood area for H. E. Tate, the first Black candidate for Mayor of Atlanta. Evans also worked as area coordinator for the Committee for Sensible Rapid Transit.

Evans was secretary for the Georgia Shirley Chisholm Fund when Chisholm ran for President in 1972. She was an alternate delegate for the 1972 National Democratic Convention.

Evans would later serve 14 years on the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education. She worked with Maynard Jackson, first Black Mayor of Atlanta, and civil rights leader and activist Rev. Hosea Williams, founder of “Hosea Feed the Hungry.” Later, she would work in the office of Governor Jimmy Carter. (meadowsmortuary.com)

She was married to John Evans for 30 years. He was President of the DeKalb County chapter of the NAACP for sixteen years before retiring in 2016. According to a 2012 oral history with John Evans in the archives of DeKalb History Center, he was appointed to the DeKalb County Executive Committee in 1968, on recommendation of Maynard Jackson. He also worked on the Shirley Chisholm 1972 Presidential campaign.

In the 1970s, Ina Evans operated the Loving Care Day Care Center in Kirkwood.

She passed away June 30, 2021.