Oakhurst, Decatur, Georgia facts for kids
Oakhurst is a historic neighborhood located in the southwest part of Decatur, Georgia. Decatur is a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. Oakhurst is about six miles east of downtown Atlanta. This neighborhood mainly has homes built in the early 1900s and local businesses. A small area called "College Heights" is also part of Historic Oakhurst.
At the heart of the neighborhood is a business area known as "Oakhurst Village". Here you can find places to eat, art galleries, and shops. The Oakhurst Village is also home to the old Old Scottish Rite Hospital. This building was designed by Neel Reid in 1917. The hospital moved in 1976. Today, the historic building has an art gallery, a wine bar, and a community center called the Solarium. Local groups meet there. There are also more shops and a MARTA train station (East Lake station) at the northern edge of Oakhurst. Beacon Hill Middle School, which is the only middle school in Decatur, is also located here.
Oakhurst is a diverse and welcoming community. It has a mix of people from different backgrounds and ages, including families, young people, and older residents. In 2000, nearly 5,000 people lived in Oakhurst.
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History of Oakhurst
Oakhurst started as a "streetcar suburb" of Atlanta. This means it grew along a streetcar line. The Atlanta Consolidated Street Railway built the North Decatur trolley line in 1892. This line crossed another trolley line in the middle of Oakhurst's business district. This area was owned by Eugenius N. Meade in the late 1800s.
John Ridley bought Meade's land in 1907. Mr. Ridley had a small farm, but he made his money from selling goods and real estate. He sold much of his land in 1910. This land then became part of the new Town of Oakhurst.
In 1910, the Georgia Legislature approved Oakhurst as an official town. About 100 people lived in Oakhurst at that time. Most lived near the railroad tracks and the current MARTA station. Homes were built in Oakhurst mostly between 1910 and the 1920s. Different companies developed parts of the town during this time.
The northern part of Mead Road became part of the City of Decatur in 1907. However, the Town of Oakhurst itself joined the City of Decatur between 1914 and 1916. Soon after Oakhurst joined Decatur, its City Hall and Schoolhouse burned down. This destroyed all the town's old records. Because of this, we don't know much about the early days of the Town of Oakhurst. Even so, Oakhurst is still seen as a unique community within Decatur.
Homes and Buildings
Oakhurst is mostly a neighborhood with homes. The main style of older homes is the craftsman bungalows. Some homes from the 1940s are also found. These homes are usually brick houses built before World War II. They often have front porches. Recently, as property values have gone up, new homes in different styles have been built.
A notable historic building, besides the churches, is the:
- Old Scottish Rite Hospital, located at 321 W. Hill St. This building is a National Historic Landmark. It was designed by local architect Neel Reid in 1917.
Churches in Oakhurst
Oakhurst has several churches.
- Oakhurst Baptist Church is the oldest church building. It started as a Sunday School in 1908 and became a church in 1913.
- Eastside United Methodist Church began holding services in 2011.
- Oakhurst Presbyterian Church was founded in 1921.
- Thankful Baptist Church is Decatur's first African-American church. It was founded in 1882. They bought their current building in 1970.
Schools in Oakhurst
Oakhurst has public schools for different age groups.
- Oakhurst Elementary School was first built in 1921. It now serves students from Kindergarten to 2nd grade.
- Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary School (FAVE) was once an elementary school. A new building opened on its site in 2011. It now serves students from 3rd to 5th grade.
- Beacon Hill Middle School serves students from 6th to 8th grade. It was built in 1972.
Fun Festivals
Oakhurst hosts several fun festivals throughout the year.
- BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival: This festival features live music and delicious barbecue. It takes place in Harmony Park.
- Earth Day in Oakhurst: This event celebrates Earth Day and is held in Harmony Park.
- Jazz Nights at Scottish Rite: Enjoy free jazz concerts under the stars at the Old Scottish Rite Hospital.
- Oakhurst Arts & Music Festival: This festival in Harmony Park has an artists market.
- Oakhurst Porchfest: This is a community music festival where front porches in the neighborhood become stages for musicians.
Parks to Explore
Oakhurst has several parks managed by the City of Decatur.
- Mead Road Park: This park is about three-quarters of an acre. It is located next to Oakhurst Elementary School.
- McKoy Park/Pool: This is a 9-acre recreation park with a swimming pool.
- Oakhurst Park: This park is 8 acres and is great for recreation.
- Harmony Park: A small neighborhood park located in Oakhurst square.
Getting Around Oakhurst
Oakhurst is close to major roads. However, it has a limited number of roads connecting it to downtown Decatur. This is because of the east-west MARTA train line.
- DeKalb Avenue/East College Avenue: These roads form the northern boundary of Oakhurst. They are important entry points to the neighborhood. They are also the highest points in the neighborhood and are located on the Eastern Continental Divide.
- East Lake MARTA rail station: This train station is located at DeKalb Avenue and East Lake Avenue.
- Memorial Drive: This road is located just south of Oakhurst.
- Ponce de Leon Avenue: This road is north of Oakhurst. It is a major way to enter the neighborhood from Atlanta.
