Oakhurst History

It was incorporated as a town in 1910. Six years later it was annexed by Decatur. Many of the homes were built around that time in the distinctive Craftsman bungalow style. Some of the homes on Adams Street were actually developed by two pioneering women. Between 1905 and 1912, Georgia Adams oversaw the development of homes on Adams Street on land owned by her father. The homes were designed by Lila Ross Wilburn, an architect and graduate of Agnes Scott College.

For years, Oakhurst's business district catered to and prospered from the Scottish Rite Hospital, which you can read about in one of the articles below. Unlike now, with its variety of restaurants, the square around Harmony Park had more of a businesslike feeling to it, with a drug store, a hardware store, a shoe store, a variety store, an ice cream parlor and a supermarket. There also were four gas stations, including Sinclair station that's now been restored as an office and clubhouse and is featured in another to the right..

But the Scottish Rite Hospital outgrew its site and left for new quarters in northern Atlanta in 1976. For a while thereafter, Oakhurst went into a period of decline. Some businesses closed and remained empty. At the time, Atlanta as a whole was feeling the influence of white flight.

However, around the late 1980s, a new spirit of civic pride started to emerge, and it's been flourishing ever since. One early sign was the colorful, "Decatur My Neighborhood" mural painted in 1993 on the side of the former Redding Pharmacy, now the Creative Spirit gallery, emphasizing optimism and racial harmony. There's a plaque on the lower left side, describing how it was created and who was involved. In 2002, another mural was painted on the other side of the building, on the side of the One Step at a Time running shoe store. Stop by sometime and have a look at the two murals. A variety of groups have joined to redevelop Oakhurst and foster an atmosphere of working together. Among them are the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association and the South Decatur Community Development Corporation and the Community Center of South Decatur.

But Oakhurst is more than just a story of businesses and organizations. It's a story of people, and the impact that individuals can make. We tell some of their stories on this web site, and more will be coming in the months ahead. So read on, about a community that's putting down roots together.

The Oakhurst Neighborhood Association's History Committee is dedicated to telling the story of Oakhurst and the diverse mix of people who call it home. Anyone can participate, by giving a brief talk at an ONA meeting, writing entries for the web site or Oakhurst Leaflet or by just passing along what you know about your neighborhood and neighbors. If you'd like to get involved, or if you have a tip to share, please contact:

Contact	Jack Krost
Phone	404-373-8750
e-Mail	jkrost@aol.com