Neighborhood History

 

 

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Our neighborhood was founded in 1922.  It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed the Biltmore estate and many other fine areas of Atlanta.  Unlike many neighborhoods that are named from a figment of the developer's imagination, our neighborhood and Brookwood Hills across Peachtree were named after an estate called "Brookwood".

At this time the residential areas of Atlanta extended no further north than 6th Street.  Foust Street (now Deering Road) was the city limit.

The Brookwood estate was built in the late 1880s and was the rural retreat, if you can imagine, of Emma and Joseph Thompson, a prominent couple who played an important part in the Cotton States & International Exposition of 1895.  This exposition was on the site of what is now Piedmont Park and included a race track as well other venues. 

According to respected Atlanta historian, Franklin M. Garrett, the Brookwood estate was located no more than two blocks north of the railroad station, on the same side of the street.  There is conjecture that the home sat where the Mellow Mushroom is now located, and further, that it was relocated to 26th Street.  The house was the popular Queen Anne style, featuring a wrap-around porch, fish scale shingles and other decorative effects.  Above is a photo of the house, seen from the rear, courtesy of the Atlanta Historical Society.  Notice the upstairs sleeping porches - no air conditioning at this time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Nunnallys owned the area along Peachtree were we now live at one point, which accounts for the amount of pecan trees still living.