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| Neighborhood History |
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 This history of the neighborhood plays a vital part in the identity of its residents. If you have lived in the neighborhood for many years, the neighborhood history is a heartfelt reminder of days gone by.
If you have just come to call the neighborhood home, it is a way to learn more about the new community you have joined.
We would love nothing more than to be able to share more history with all who reside here. If you have more information about our history and would like to share with the community, please contact us by clicking on 'Contact Site Manager' at the top of this page! |
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Community History
Over 150 years ago, Captain Greenville Henderson, a young man from Scotland, was granted 3,000 acres of land by the Governor of Georgia as a reward for his service in the Indian Wars of the 1820’s. The land was valued at 50 cents an acre! Over the years he expanded his holdings to include what we today know as Henderson Mill Road, LaVista Road, Embry Hills, and the Northlake area, almost to downtown Tucker! His plantation, located on what is now Lauderdale Road (off of Midvale Road) consisted of a log cabin, orchards, and fields for cotton and corn. The cabin burned in 1945, but the site is easily recognized by the two huge trees still standing.
Mr. Henderson, his wife Nancy and their seven sons led a prosperous life. He built and owned a cotton mill, a grist mill and a whiskey and brandy distillery. Close your eyes and picture the cotton mill where I-285 crosses Midvale Road. Now go a short distance down Midvale to the corner of Henderson Mill Road, where St. Bedes Episcopal Church is located. Just behind the church and down the hill from the original site of the cabin, at a large rock at the lowest point on Henderson Mill Creek, we would have found the grist mill. Grain from both the Henderson farm and neighboring farms were processed here. (It was destroyed in 1911.) If we continue on up the creek (toward Northlake Mall), we would have found the distillery across Northlake Parkway from the Mall. Whiskey and peach and apple brandy were shipped to Savannah by wagon train and railroad, then traded for building supplies, sugar, salt and coffee.
The area did not escape the Civil War. All of Henderson’s sons fought in the Confederate Army – only five returned. The Federal 15th Army Corps; under the command of Major General John Logan crossed the Chattahoochee River at Roswell and marched to Browning’s Courthouse in Tucker. Their mission was to support other Federal troops in the destruction of the railroad at Stone Mountain to isolate Atlanta from the east. Confederate soldiers fought bravely but the Feds prevailed and a two mile section of the railroad and a water tank were destroyed. On July 18, 1864, their mission accomplished, Logan’s troops marched to Henderson Mill to camp alongside a water supply. Early on July 19th, they left to join Blair’s Army Corps near Midway Baptist Church (across Henderson Mill Road from Northlake Mall) to continue their march toward Decatur and the Battle of Atlanta. Rumors of their arrival prompted Henderson to bury many valuable family possessions and a large sum of money. His swift action proved successful – his buried treasure was not discovered.
In 1869 Henderson died at the age of 77. Nancy lived until the age of 102 (1892). She was buried with her husband and other family members in the large family cemetery in what we know today as the Glenrose subdivision. The plot can still be seen today and is surrounded by a white picket fence. A little further down the hill are stone marked plots of slaves who lived and died on the land.
Henderson’s plantation thrived for many years. And like in most little communities, a general store and post office sprang up. His descendants eventually sold parcels of land to new families and the town of Tucker evolved. Many descendants of those early families still call it home!
In the 1950’s, long before I-285, small neighborhoods sprang up around the small lakes and creeks. These older homes sit on large, shady lots. Northlake Mall was built in the 60’s, spurring the growth of new neighborhoods and elementary schools. In the 1990’s, the Northlake Community Alliance was formed to protect the area’s business core and quality of life. It has been successful in securing improvement grants from the ARC and GDOT. The area is home to the DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bureau, Northlake Mall, Embry Hill Shopping Center, office parks, Mercer University, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Atlanta, and Henderson Park. It’s also one of the sites being considered for the proposed DeKalb Civic Center.
Older homes are appreciating, apartments are being converted to condos, and new condo and in-fill neighborhoods are springing up; all combining to make this one of the hottest areas in town!
Sources:
Tucker Times, Volume 11, No. 5 (May, 2003)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sunday, December12, 2004.
Tucker History from the Tucker History Association (http://tuckercivic.org/tucker)
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