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Rotating images of the Stone Mountain
Historic District
National Register photographs by Yen Tang |
Within the metropolitan Atlanta area, the Stone Mountain Historic
District is a rare surviving historic railroad town. This intact community
contains nearly every major element of a railroad town in Georgia,
including the homes of the town founders, the rail line, central business
district, residential neighborhoods, and community landmark buildings.
These collectively represent nearly a century and half of local growth
and development. The town is located at the base of Stone Mountain,
a granite outcropping that rises 700 feet above the surrounding terrain
and 1,683 feet above sea level. Although the mountain is not included
with the district boundaries, it is visible from points throughout
the town and is a key component of the setting of the historic district.
Granite from the mountain was relied on as a major construction material
for the city.
Historic postcard depicting the
Stone Mountain outcropping
Courtesy of Jody Cook |
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The historic district comprises residential, commercial, and community
landmark buildings constructed from the 1830s through 1950, and includes
a variety of architectural styles and building types. The Georgia
Railroad line runs north to south through the center of the historic
district. The commercial area at the center of the district consists
mostly of a continuous row of one- and two-story commercial buildings
on the east side of Main Street, opposite the rail line. The commercial
buildings, largely built from granite or brick, include filling stations,
arcaded blocks and commercial blocks. The historic houses are prevalently
bungalows with Craftsman style ornament and English Vernacular Revival
style houses built mostly in the first decades of the 20th century.
Twelve buildings, constructed as residences, are now serving commercial
functions. Residential buildings constructed in the earlier decades
of the 19th century were built in the Greek Revival style. The second
half of that century saw less ornate architectural styles. Houses
from this period may be characterized as Folk Victorian. Craftsman
style houses were built throughout Stone Mountain from the late 19th
century to the first decades of the 20th century. Elements of the
Craftsman style are exposed rafter ends, porches supported by massive
wood supports or brick piers, decorative brackets and windows organized
in pairs and bands. Shermantown, located south of downtown, is a historically
black neighborhood within the district. Shermantown features small
frame houses on small lots, narrow streets and community landmarks
such as churches and stores. Of particular distinction is the Rock
Gym, a granite gymnasium that was built by the Works Progress Administration
c. 1930. It features granite buttresses and sills and an open truss
roof. Its open plan remains intact and the building now serves as
a recreation center.
Stone Mountain Historic District is located in east central
DeKalb County, 10 miles east of Atlanta on route 10. The district
is roughly bounded by Stone Mountain Cemetery, Stone Mountain Memorial
Park, Lucile St., CSX Railroad, VFW Dr., and the city limits. It
contains several commercial shops which are open to the public during
normal business hours, and many private residences which are not
open to the public. Stone Mountain Park is not within the historic
district, but is located adjacent to the town. For more information
on Stone Mountain Park visit their website. |