Macedonia Park facts for kids

Macedonia Park, also known as Bagley Park, was a community in what is now the Buckhead area of Atlanta, Georgia. It was located where Frankie Allen Park is today, in the Garden Hills neighborhood. Many African-American families lived in this area between 1870 and 1920. Streets and addresses were officially given when a developer named John Sheffield Owens started building homes in 1921. However, in the 1940s and 1950s, Fulton County bought up these homes. The county said there were problems with water quality and ordered clean-ups. They also wanted septic systems and better water facilities installed.

History of Macedonia Park

In the late 1800s, Macedonia Park was a community of about 400 African-American families. In 1921, John Sheffield Owens, a white developer, created a new housing area for African Americans. He likely had help from William Bagley, a local resident. The houses were simple, on narrow lots, and some were near a creek. Many families from the nearby Old Decatur road moved to Macedonia Park.

Life in the Community (1920-1940)

From 1920 to 1940, many African Americans lived in Macedonia Park. A lot of them worked in the local area. They had jobs as maids, laundresses, chauffeurs, and yardmen. Some worked as gardeners for golf clubs or as caddies. Others were brick masons, bowling alley workers, nurses, or shoe shiners. There were also truck drivers, garbage collectors, and cotton mill workers.

Many residents rented their homes. But some families owned their houses for a long time. William and Ida Bagley were homeowners. William was listed as a 'Builder of Homes' in the 1930s. Ida managed a lunchroom. They are buried near their home at Mt. Olive Cemetery. Other important locals included Daniel and Mamie German, who owned a grocery store. John and Annie Usher owned a local café. William 'Buddy' Bonner was a blacksmith who worked near Macedonia Park.

County Actions and Water Concerns

In July 1940, the Fulton County Health Board started looking into the area's health. They said a nearby spring was unsafe and worried about water quality. The next month, the board ordered a clean-up. They also told homeowners to install septic systems and improve water facilities. The county did not offer funds to help with these costs. The main concern was that waste from homes was flowing into a nearby stream. This stream then flowed south towards a school.

Plans for a Park and Displacement

In August 1944, the county set aside $50,000 to buy the land. They wanted to turn the area into a park. In September, the county's legal team was told to buy the properties. They were to "negotiate with the property owners" to create the park. The county also said they could force owners to sell if a fair agreement wasn't reached. This process is called condemnation.

Fulton County began buying lots for $450 to $1000 each. Often, they rented the houses back to the former owners. But the county could end the lease with only 30 days' notice. In January 1948, Bonnie Smith, president of the North Fulton Civic Club, wanted the area cleared. She called the houses "an eyesore." Her group wanted the land for a park and playground. They said it would benefit "white children in the North Fulton area."

A grand jury in May 1948 said the area was "not a suitable location for a park." They also said it was "unnecessary" because other parks were nearby. Despite this, the county continued its plans. Later reports suggested the county wanted to move African Americans out. The area was becoming popular with white families after World War II. These families were building "pretty homes" and did not want an "ugly slum" nearby.

Evictions and Park Development

In June 1948, the county announced it would find another $25,000. This money was to buy the remaining homes. The Garden Hills Civic Club pushed for the park. They said it would provide a "recreational area for young people." They also claimed it would "eliminate a breeding place of crime." The county moved forward with its plans. In October, nine families were evicted. They planned to evict twenty more. These families had been renting their old homes back from the county.

Even after evicting 29 families, the county still needed to buy 16 properties. In October 1948, they said they had run out of money. In November 1948, the Fulton County Commission approved another $50,000. This money was to buy the remaining properties quickly. Commissioner Jim Aldredge praised Chairman R. L. Doyal for his efforts.

In 1949, there was more opposition to the plan. A group was formed to study the "Negro Housing Plan." This happened because 127 war veterans asked for the right to buy land. They wanted to build neighborhoods for African Americans. This was due to a growing population and more evictions. An editorial by Ralph McGill in 1949 supported new neighborhoods for African Americans. But he said they should be separate from white neighborhoods. Other reports said $100,000 was given to buy Bagley Park land. They also used negative ideas about the area being a "pool of juvenile crime." They suggested the park would benefit local white children.

In August 1949, Atlanta Mayor William Hartsfield criticized Charlie Brown during an election debate. Hartsfield said Brown spent $200,000 to buy Bagley Park. He noted that residents were forced out, but no work had been done on the park. Plans for the park were quickly approved in November 1949. However, the houses remained until 1951. The last three homes were moved to be used as a youth center.

Frankie Allen Park and Cemetery Preservation

Bagley Park opened in 1952. It was a ball ground and recreation area only for white people. This happened when the City of Atlanta took over the area. In 1980, it was renamed Frankie Allen Park. Mt. Olive AME Church, at the corner of Bagley and Pharr, was sold in 1952. This further removed the African-American community from Macedonia Park.

In 2009, the only remaining part of Macedonia Park was sold. This was the small Mt. Olive church cemetery. The county sold it for unpaid taxes. The county later admitted this was a mistake. Cemeteries are usually exempt from property taxes. But the sale was final. A developer wanted to remove the graves. Wright Mitchell, from the Buckhead Heritage Society, filed a lawsuit. He did this for Elon Butts Osby, a descendant of the Bagley family. Her parents had moved away from Macedonia Park.

The permit to remove graves was denied. The Buckhead Heritage Society now informally cares for the cemetery. The land is still privately owned. In 2015, the group fixed headstones that had been damaged. Work continues as new buildings are developed around the park and cemetery. So far, only 27 of about 45 people buried there have been identified.

Shops

Macedonia Park had many shops. There were two local grocery stores. Mamie German owned one, and William Bagley owned the other. Two restaurants served pot roasts. These were likely owned by John and Annie Usher and Flora Kimbraugh. William 'Buddy' Bonner owned a blacksmith shop. There were also some temporary shops, like 'Bee's Beauty Parlor.' Many residents also worked at drug stores, bowling alleys, hotels, private homes, and factories.

Churches

The Mount Olive Methodist-Episcopal Church was founded in the early 1900s. It was at the corner of Pharr and Bagley. Its cemetery is still there today. Other churches in the area included the Macedonia Baptist Church and the White Lily Baptist Church.