Doraville Spotlight

September 13, 2012

Doraville Mailbox of the Week: Barking up the RIGHT Tree 0

by Joseph Geierman • Doraville Spotlight • Tags:

Mailboxes don’t get enough respect. Not only are they important tools that connect us to the wider world, but they are also the first thing visitors see when pulling up to a home from the street. Mailboxes tell a story about the people who own them – and of course there are a lot of great stories being told all over Doraville. This post is one in a regular series that looks at mailboxes from all over the city – if you have one that you think should be featured, please leave a comment and I will get in touch with you!

This week’s mailbox comes from Doraville’s Gordon Hills subdivision (part of the Northwoods Historic District). It has one of the more whimsical mailbox posts that we’ve featured here – a small tree with the mailbox nestled in its branches.  When I drive by this one, it conjures images of tree houses, swiss family robinson, enchanted trees – I guess the whole gambit of magic and childhood!  Pretty neat for something that is ultimately a structure with a very utilitarian purpose!

Is that a Keebler Elf I see hiding just behind the post?

I’m consistently amazed by the creativity and inventiveness that people in this city display with their mailboxes!  Keep it up, Doraville!

August 29, 2012

Creating Community through Art in Doraville’s Oakcliff Neighborhood 2

by Joseph Geierman • Doraville Spotlight • Tags:

I was recently contacted by Lisa Wagstaff, owner of the cutest mailbox in Doraville.  She wanted to tell me about her cousin, Thor; and show me some of the other art he’d created for her.

Lisa Wagstaff with the cutest mailbox in Doravile

Lisa has lived in Doraville’s Oakcliff neighborhood for the past 10 years.  During that time, Thor has often stayed with her – sometimes for years at a time.

The artist, Thor

Even though he is currently in the Pacific Northwest, Thor has left a part of himself at Lisa’s house and in Doraville.  Lisa was nice enough to show me some of Thor’s murals, which are unlike anything I’ve seen before. The most impressive ones were in her two (relatively small) bathrooms – and what is really impressive is the way they take you away to another place and really open up the small rooms.

The downstairs half-bath was the first room Lisa showed me.  When she opened the door, I suddenly found myself on a mountaintop with waterfalls and clouds above me.

 

 

Even more impressive to me was the full upstairs bathroom, which is a whole underwater world. There’s a richness of texture here that is a delight.  When Lisa was showing me the mural, I kept exclaiming, because I would find some delightful detail. Really, this was my favorite room in her house.

 

 

Of course, what Thor is best known for – in his professional life and in the neighborhood – are his chainsaw sculptures. Lisa told me that when she first moved to Doraville, she wanted to meet neighbors, but didn’t know how.  Once her cousin came to town, though, he’d be creating something in the front yard, and people would stop their cars and ask him about what he was doing.  Soon he’d have a small crowd gathering in the front yard – enjoying the show!

Spectators admire Thor’s work

 

Thor actually became very well known in Oakcliff.  When storms came through town and the city would have to deal with fallen trees, the Mayor would even have logs dropped off in the yard for him.  In an e-mail, Thor told me that a tree had fallen at a neighbor’s house.  Thor went over and started talking to some of the people who were standing around, when a guy looked at him and said, “Can I help you?”

Thor said, “Yeah, I want the logs there.”

He said, “OK, where do you want them?”

Thor said, “My front yard, 2 doors down.”

The guy said, “You can’t have logs in your front yard!”

Thor told him, “Well I already do!”

The guy asked Thor to show him, so they went over to Lisa’s yard, looking at the creation he was working on.  The gentleman was so impressed that he said, “We’ll have them dropped off for you the next day!”

After the guy left, Thor asked his neighbor who he was, and was told, “That’s the Mayor!”

As far as he knows, Thor is the only person the city ever approved to have logs left in his front yard.

 

Close-ups of some of Thor’s sculptures

 

While people were watching Thor work, they’d talk to him, to Lisa and to each other.  Suddenly, Lisa found that she was a part of a community, and that she and her neighbors had bonded through his art.  Even when Thor was traveling the world or practicing his work somewhere else – those bonds remained and remain to this day.

And when the Oakcliff neighborhood was in danger of having a huge garbage processing plant placed almost right inside its borders, Thor used his skills to help citizens fight back. Here’s what Susan Crawford remembers:

Susan Crawford, with one of Thor’s anti-Dump signs

When our entire neighborhood was in jeopardy a few years ago, the mailbox artist, among many others in the Oakcliff area, volunteered to help.  An enormous garbage processing plant – a dump – was petitioning the DeKalb County Commissioners for a zoning change, and the county had already voted in their favor the first time around.  Thor was kind enough to paint several decorative, attention-getting posters in record time.  Many residents showed up to speak at the second meeting, where Thor’s signs were prominently displayed, both in the courthouse and on TV.  They were a colorful and impacting eleventh-hour influence on the commissioners, who reconsidered their first vote and ultimately decided in favor of the Oakcliff area residents.

 

A party at Lisa’s house – Thor and the neighbors

After not being sure how to make friends with her neighbors, Lisa now knows people up and down the street.  They invite each other to parties, or call each other if they see something suspicious, or stop by each others’ homes to shoot the breeze.  They genuinely like each other and like hanging out with each other.  It’s the community that Thor and his art helped build.

 

 

August 22, 2012

Oakcliff’s Hidden Gem: The Oaks 2

by Joseph Geierman • Doraville Spotlight, Midcentury Architecture • Tags:

Earlier this year, when Merle was telling me her story about living in Doraville’s Oakcliff neighborhood for the last 50s years, she showed me a document which I found interesting. It was about the establishment of a Pool and Tennis club in the neighborhood, and was one of the selling points in helping her family decide to settle in the fledgling development.

The document is very simple: a hand-typed sales pitch for the new community’s pool – laying out what kinds of activities it would have and how they would be organized.

The pool was actually a big selling point for Oakcliff in general.  Merle told me that the homes in the subdivision were a little cheaper than the ones in nearby Northcrest – and the pool was actually bigger.  Since the two neighborhoods are so close to each other, every advantage mattered when it came to attracting the new home buyers who were flocking to the area.

What really surprised me was when Merle said the pool was still operating today.  The way it was set up when it started, the pool and tennis club was a gift to the neighborhood from Tom Cousins, its builder.  He turned it over to the homeowners, and they were responsible for keeping it going with membership dues and whatever other money they could bring in from renting it out for special events and the like.

I started asking around to see if I could find someone to give me a tour of the facility.  Valorie Sweigart, the current Treasurer for The Oaks gave me a call and offered to show me around.  I jumped at the chance!  I met her at the pool on a weekday afternoon – shortly after I got off work.  One thing that is really surprising is how hidden the location is.  It is deep in the neighborhood, at the end of a cul-de-sac.  If you didn’t know it was there, you’d miss it!

The first structure you see through the trees is a mid-century structure painted blue, sitting just beyond some trees.  I knew I had found The Oaks.

The first thing you see when you walk in is a huge bulletin board with information and memories posted all over it.  One of the things I hadn’t realized was that there’s a tennis team at the Oaks which has done fairly well in Atlanta-wide competitions.

I guess it’s no surprise when you see the professional-quality tennis courts that are hidden behind the Oaks’ walls!

Even more impressive is the thing that made me start searching for The Oaks in the first place – its huge pool!

The pool has played a big part in the everyday lives of the kids who grew up in Oakcliff over the years. Dara Leatherwood remembers:

Every July 4th we would have a huge pot luck with a firework show and the older kids got to spend the night! Great times growing up there with swim team, swim lessons, dive lessons, diving lessons, tennis, and occasional club house birthday parties. My kids don’t have anything close to that. We used to walk to the pool or bring our bike and chain it up on the bike rack.

Some kids joined for more mercenary reasons as Tim Sullivan recalls:

We joined for the 1973 Summer season, a friend of mine said if we didn’t join I wasn’t going to meet any Chicks at all.

It may not be the pick-up spot that it was in 1973, but The Oaks still has a passionate community of members who enjoy what it has to offer. They still spend the Summers by the pool and have big gatherings for the 4th of July.

If you’re interested in joining the Oaks, you can give them a call at (770) 449-9552 or check out their Facebook Page and get more information there.  The cost to join is:

Family (parents & related children in home) $275.00
Small Family (2 people in home) $225.00
Single (1 adult over 21) $200.00
Membership Fee (first year only) $25.00

August 15, 2012

Northwoods Historic Designation Cocktail Reception 2

by Joseph Geierman • Doraville Spotlight, Midcentury Architecture

On a balmy August evening, the Northwoods Area Neighborhood Association (NANA) held a special cocktail reception honoring Georgia State University’s Heritage Preservation Program, the Dekalb History Center, and original Northwoods architect Ernest Mastin for their efforts and contributions toward getting the neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of NANA’s 100 members attended, as did Doraville Mayor Donna Pittman and Doraville Librarian Tammy Henry.

Tina Woolbright serving up hors d’oervres in elegant 50s attire

The reception was hosted at NANA President Bonnie Grey Flynt’s lovely 1955 home. The wood paneled walls of the dining area, hardwood floors, vaulted pine beamed ceilings (all original!), and lovely outdoor space by the pool were a perfect setting. Also positively contributing to the atmosphere were the 50s-style servers walking around with platters of bacon-wrapped shrimp, egg-salad stuffed croissants, maple walnut brie, chocolate covered strawberries, and other delicacies. A playlist made up of hits from the 50s and early 60s wafted through the air the entire night. The Fabulous 50′s poolside bartender, Stefanie Jones of Northwoods, was also right in line with the theme!

Tina Woolbright, Stefanie Anderson Jones, Bonnie Grey Flynt and Ginger Paige.

The reception had multiple goals. First, it was a chance to let members of the community see the nomination research that the Georgia State Students had submitted for consideration on the National Register. A copy of the report they had compiled was present, as were many maps with various types of information. It was a really neat experience, because neighbors who had never met came together to pour over these maps with mutual interest and awe. They’d point out where they lived, and talk about the information that was being presented. There was a nostalgic camaraderie and feeling of togetherness that we wouldn’t necessarily have had the opportunity to experience if this project hadn’t taken place.

Original Northwoods architect Ernest Mastin discusses the neighborhood over maps showing the boundaries of the proposed historic district.

Northwoods residents Yajaira Weiner and Leslye Kahn look over the historic documents

In addition to showing off the students’ work, NANA also took the opportunity to specifically honor them, and their professor, Richard Laub.  The work they did for our community is truly priceless.

NANA President, Bonnie Grey Flynt, presents an award to Melissa Forgey and Leslie Borger of the Dekalb History Center for their contributions to the National Register project.

Bonnie Grey Flynt presents a NANA Presidential Award to Professor Richard Laub for his contributions to Northwoods’ National Register project.

In addition to Professor Laub and his students, Earnest Mastin, one of the original Northwoods architects, and his wife Anita were in attendance as special guests of honor. The pair, who have been married for 66 years, actually lived in Northwoods from the 50s through the 70s. Bonnie presented Mr Mastin with a special “Presidential Award” on behalf of NANA, in recognition for outstanding contribution to the community . Mr. Mastin was very appreciative of the recognition and told us how proud Walter Tally, the original builder, would have been to have seen that the community he created is still thriving. Mrs. Mastin commented that the neighborhood had always been a good place to live and that “Northwoods stays with you”.

Original Northwoods architect Ernest and Anita Mastin pose with Bonnie Grey Flynt.

Bonnie Grey Flynt presents the NANA Presidential award to architect Ernest Mastin and his wife, Anita

The historical documents were formally presented and donated to Doraville’s Head Librarian, Tammy Henry, who was very pleased to be able to add these to the library’s collection. She also took the opportunity to mention that local author Bob Kelley will be having a reception and book-signing of his Book on Doraville History on September 22nd at the library. Many people mentioned they are already looking forward to attending that event!

Doraville Librarian, Tammy Henry, speaks after being presented with the documents related to Northwoods’ submission to the National Register.

A toast of “Long live historic Northwoods”, to Ernest Mastin, The Dekalb History Center, The GSU students, and all who made the National Register nomination possible!

All in all, this was a fantastic event.  I met lots of neighbors I might not have if we hadn’t had this reason to gather.  I think many of us feel a sense of pride and involvement in the community that would not be as pronounced if we had not been through this process.  We are also lucky to have such a great neighborhood association president – who makes these kinds of activities fun, and genuinely seems to enjoy bringing people together.  I am so happy to live in Northwoods and have these neighbors, and extremely excited at the prospect of the final induction of Northwoods into the National Register of Historic Places,which is anticipated in January of 2013!

 

Photographs by Bonnie Grey Flynt, Edward Howard, and Joseph Geierman

« 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 »

Livefyre Not Displaying on this post