Southsiders rekindle their memories

My "trip down memory lane" in south Fulton County a couple of weeks ago seems to have rekindled some memories of our readers too. I received an e-mail and a letter from two former South Fulton residents who now live in Coweta County. Both contain bits and pieces of south side history which many of you may find interesting.

Jolynn Perkins Griggers lives in north Coweta and writes:

"I always enjoy your articles in The Citizen Review.

"You were expressing your interest in South Fulton families April 25th and struck many familiar areas with me.

"I was reared at the Stonewall prison camp from the time I was one year old. My dad, Thomas Hollis Perkins, Sr. came to work for Campbell County in the late 1920s. Soon after, the county merged with Fulton.

"His brother, Luther Perkins, was warden at that time. My dad became warden in the early 1930s and remained so until l948 (I think). His job was to maintain all the 700 miles of roads, mostly dirt, in South Fulton.

"Roosevelt Highway was dirt at that time. [Judy's note: Roosevelt Highway to us old-timers is U.S. Hwy. 29 to you newcomers.] He built some of the roads without an engineer, and asphaulted some of the main ones over the years. The prisoners worked in a quarry below our house and the rock was used in road maintenance and construction. Much of the granite rock that you see in church foundations in the area came from that quarry.

"The county farm was located there and the alms home. That was moved to Atlanta in approximately l934 or 1935.

"An old friend of our family lived in the area of the church on Merck Road in a turn of the century mansion. Ethel and Will Merk, sister and brother, lived there and attended church, I presume, in the community.

"My (now) deceased brother, Thomas H. Perkins Jr. pastored the Flat Rock Church on Flat Rock Road off Sullivan Road for 27 years. This is the area that was recently released to enable completion of the fifth runway at Hartsfield Airport.

"My brother wrote a book about the area years ago and said that the congregation complained that they were landing airships in the field back of the church. This church is in Clayton County near the Fulton County line in College Park.

"I have three sisters. The brother, one sister, my husband, who is from Griffin, and I all retired from Fulton County, everyone except my dad, from the school system.

"One hundred years are represented in the family so we definitely are a South Fulton County family.

"You will find many South Fulton people here in the north end of Coweta County.

"Jolynn Perkins Griggers, Newnan, Griggerssr@aol.com."

Many thanks to Jolynn for taking the time to write and tell us some things about South Fulton that many of us probably never knew.

Lillian Gunn, also of Newnan, sat down and wrote me a real letter about her life in South Fulton, in particular, her days at "Frog Hollow" (Central Park Elementary School in East Point). Lillian writes:

"I read your article about your trip down "south side" memory lane. I, too, went to 'Frog Hollow.'

"My father died when I was seven years old. We moved from Hapeville to Newnan Avenue in East Point. We walked 1 1/2 miles to 'Frog Hollow.'

"One day as we were coming home from school on Main Street some men in cars were shooting at each other and hit a lady walking near us.

"My teacher was Miss Marian Stewart. She knew we were very poor. She would eat half of her lunch and put the rest on a plate for me because I had no lunch.

"We used to walk through Fort Mac to go to a swimming pool. I've forgotten the name of it. [Judy's note: Could it have been John A. White Park? Oakland City?]

"We also walked to the theatre on Saturday to see Roy Rogers, Johnny Mack Brown, Gene Autry and others.

"My husband was a Delta pilot and one of his pilot friends was a Longino from College Park.

"I am saving your article because my son is going to take me on your trip down 'south side' memory lane.

"The years I lived in East Point were happy years. I moved to Newnan a year ago from Dallas, Ga. and I ride the back roads and look at the beauty of this part of Georgia. I will be 80 years old in June.

"Sincerely, Lillian Gunn, Newnan."

Well, a happy 80th birthday in advance, Lillian. Thank you so much for sharing your memories with us. By the way, if those Saturdays at the movies were spent at the Fairfax Theatre, my grandmother, Sarah McWhorter, probably sold you your tickets. That was her job. My cousin and I spent many a Saturday there under her watchful eye.

I'm still looking for your stories about south side families and places too. I know many of you have tales and memories about Fayette, South Fulton, Coweta and other counties on the south side of Atlanta in the earlier days. Let's hear them. I'm also looking for stories about your ancestors, their families, your research and genealogy tips.

Send them to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; E-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!

(Judy regrets that time does not permit her to do personal research for others, but she will willingly share research information on her own family lines.)