William Akers and Ida King Akers built a country home along Spalding Drive in what was considered Dunwoody around 1935. The name Idalakers evolved from Ida Akers name and from the idea of many “idle acres” surrounding the home. The property included forty-five acres on a hill with lovely views of hills and valleys all around.
Read moreKenstone Cottage: One of the Summer Homes of Sandy Springs
Update: Katherine Geffcken was recently interviewed by Victoria Lemos on her December 3, 2021 podcast, Archive Atlanta. The summer home in Dunwoody which I write about below is briefly mentioned and it is nice to hear Ms. Geffcken talk about growing up in Atlanta and her experience at Girls High School, Agnes Scott College, and Bryn Mawr College.
A home on West Peachtree Road and a summer cottage off Spalding Drive may sound strange today, but it was not unusual in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The historic house at 8059 Kenstone Court was just such a cottage and there were several others in the area along Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Spalding Drive.
Katherine Geffcken, one of Dr. William and Elizabeth Geffcken’s daughters, shared her memories of the home and area when she visited her former home.
Read moreSummer Homes of DuBose, Nunnally, and Norris
In the 1920s through 1940s, there were several summer homes in the Dunwoody and Sandy Springs area. These were homes, often with many acres and referred to as farms, of wealthy Atlanta families. This blog post will share history of three of these properties.
Read moreJudge Hewlett's Lodge at Island Ford Park
One of the summer homes along Spalding Drive was that of Judge Samuel D. Hewlett, Sr. Hewlett Road is named for him and the lodge he built on the Chattahoochee River is headquarters for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, located within Island Ford Park.
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