History of Berkeley Park Part IV
In the early 1940's Berkeley Park had it's first volunteer firemen. Bill Springer, of Springer's Grocery contributed a truck, some hoses, and brooms to the cause. The truck was parked behind Crane's Garage, when not in use. Then in 1948, a fire station, "Engine 23" was built in Berkeley Park. It was originally part of the Fulton County Fire Department. On January 1, 1952, it became part of the City of Atlanta Fire Department. The current building is the original structure. In November 1994, the city closed the station due to lack of funding. The first President of the Berkeley Park Neighborhood Association, Gwen Langston, was responsible for lobbying the city to reopen the station, which occurred September 18, 1997.
Auxiliary Firemen:
Front Row: Buddy Born, Marvin Herndon, Mr. Wilkie, Mr. Gillian
Back Row: Floyd Lamb, Mr. Nichols, Paul Black, Olen Owens
Photo courtesy of by Betty Massey, Smyrna, GAAs we look upon the arrival of the 21st century, our community is still very much a part of the past, as we share the wealth of past memories from those residents who molded our community into the jewel that it is today. We are honored to have several current Berkeley Park residents that have lived here since the early 1900's.
Over a period of six months in 1999, each of these residents opened their doors and their hearts to share in the following memories of their lives in Berkeley Park. Each has imparted an endearment for this community that is truly beyond words. Their contributions to producing the history of Berkeley Park and the surrounding area was a valuable source of information. Following are some excerpts from these interviews. You will see that many of their lives were centered around our community well before their date of residence. We hope you enjoy reading their memories and comments.
Katie Anderson - Resident since 1929
Katie and her husband were already living in Berkeley Park when they built their current home in 1950. There was an alley running along the side of their home. Bellemeade Avenue was dirt and gravel. Katie remembers many rides on the street car, catching the car at Howell Mill Road. Both of her children attended E.P. Howell School. Her husband, J.P., worked and retired with Seaboard Railroad as a switchman. Her children played ball on Howell Mill Road because there were few cars. Katie remembers shopping at the Springer grocery store on the corner of Howell Mill and Bellemeade and Mr. Water's store.
Clyde and M.P. Black - Residents since 1936
Their first home was #6 Tallulah Street in 1936, which is now a multi-family house for Georgia Tech students. They purchased their current home in 1942 for $1,900! Clyde canned a lot of her foods before moving to Atlanta. When her neighbors observed her moving the barrels of canned foods into their home they thought they were barrels of flour and were laughing at how much flour she had moved with her. Clyde remembers how quiet Antone Street was around 1942, "The children on Antone Street would play in the street". M.P. (Paul) worked for the Simmons Bed Company on Jones Avenue and retired after 39 years of employment there. In 1938 Clyde went to work at Stone Baking Company. They have 3 daughters and 1 son, who all attended E.P. Howell School. Mrs. Patterson and the Borroughs family were close neighbors through the years. All their neighbors were great friends. A neighbor remembers Clyde's good deeds, "Every time I came home with a new baby, Mrs. Clyde Black was always there with a roast, or cake and a willing hand. She is the best neighbor anyone could ever have".
Willie Mae DuBose - Resident since 1955
Willie Mae and her husband, James purchased their home in 1955. They had two children, a son and a daughter. James was a barber at a shop on Howell Mill and Collier and he always walked to work. Next door to the barber shop was the service station that was owned by Dee Boggs, who is the husband of Willie Mae's sister, Irene. Willie Mae lived on Ridgeway (Underwood Hills Neighborhood) in 1934. Willie Mae remembers the Gillen family, who lived on Howell Mill Road. She also remembers Frank and Elsie House. Frank worked at Seaboard Railroad. The Gilstrap family gave Willie Mae a special dress for her baptism.
Verdal Garmon - Resident since 1947
Verdal and her husband, Frank, had their home built in 1947. Frank's brother-in-law, Mr. Williamson was the builder. They purchased their lot for $800. The area around their home was mostly wooded with a few cow pastures mixed in, including where Howell Mill Ridge Apartments are currently located. They were hooked up to the city sewer system in 1955, the same year the roads were paved. Edgar Garmon, Frank's brother, lived across the street. Verdal and Frank both worked at Fulton Bag Cotton Mill for 39 years, until it closed in 1973. They made tent cloth and uniform materials at the mill.
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