West End, Atlanta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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West End Historic District
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The Wren's Nest, author Joel Chandler Harris's home in West End
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 Location in Atlanta
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| Location | Atlanta, Georgia |
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| Architect | Humprhies, George P.; Adair, G.W., et al. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000621 |
| Added to NRHP | February 25, 1999 |
West End is a historic neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia. It is one of the oldest areas outside of Downtown Atlanta. This neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most residents in West End are African American (about 89%).
West End is home to several important African American cultural places. It is also very close to the Atlanta University Center. This center includes many HBCUs, which are Historically Black Colleges and Universities. West End is located southwest of Castleberry Hill. It is east of Westview and west of Adair Park Historic District. It sits just north of Oakland City. You can see many different building styles here. These include Craftsman Bungalow, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival.
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History of West End
West End has changed a lot over the years. It has become a lively neighborhood within Atlanta. But it has always kept its special character. People living here have helped it adapt to new times. They also know how important its history is.
How West End Started
Long ago, even before West End or Atlanta existed, this area was a busy crossroads. Two main roads met here. One was Newnan Road, connecting Newnan to Decatur and Lawrenceville. The other was Sandtown Road, which went west to an old Indian town.
Around 1830, a man named Charner Humphries built an inn or tavern near this crossing. It was called Whitehall. This was because it was painted white, which was unusual then. Most buildings were made of natural wood.
From a small frontier stop in the 1830s, West End grew. It became its own town. It was closely connected to Atlanta by trains and roads.
In April 1871, Richard Peters and George Adair bought a company that ran horse-drawn streetcars. On September 1, they opened the first part of the line. It connected Five Points to West End. This route passed by both of their homes. The next year, another streetcar company also started service to West End.
By the 1880s, many rich people from Atlanta built large homes here. Gordon Street, the main street, became a busy shopping area. In 1894, West End officially became part of Atlanta. This happened after about 20 years of careful planning for the area.
From 1894 to 1930, West End grew very fast. Many new homes were built. More shops and churches appeared along Gordon Street. The area at Gordon and Lee Streets became a busy business center. Stores like Sears and Piggly-Wiggly opened branches there.
More churches and schools were built for the growing number of people. Joseph E. Brown High School, built in 1923, was the largest. By 1930, over 22,000 people lived in West End. It was a very popular place to live.
Many famous people lived in West End during this time. These included Atlanta mayor Dennis Hammond and governor James Smith. Authors like Frank L. Stanton and Madge Bigham also lived here. The most famous resident was probably Joel Chandler Harris. He wrote the popular Uncle Remus stories. Even presidents like Theodore Roosevelt visited him in West End.
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Home of George F. Bolles
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Home of Clark Howell, Jr.
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Home of Captain Evan Howell
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Home of John Thrasher
Changes in West End
After 1930, West End was still a lively community. The West End Businessmen's Association, started in 1927, worked to improve the area. They helped get loans for home improvements. They also supported making the area easier to access and keeping its population stable.
With their help, Gordon Street was made wider. Interstate 20 was built along the northern edge of West End. The old business district was torn down to build a shopping mall. This mall was finished in 1973. Later, a MARTA train station was built across the street. This made the mall even easier to reach.
Even with these changes, many white families moved out of West End. By 1976, about 86% of West End residents were African American.
West End is also home to the West Hunter Street Baptist Church. This church moved to Gordon Street. It has been a leading Black church in Atlanta for many years. From 1961 until his death, Reverend Ralph David Abernathy led the church. He was a close friend of Martin Luther King, Jr. He took part in many civil rights movements. He also became the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference after King. In 1991, Gordon Street was renamed Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard to honor him.
In 1974, residents formed the West End Neighborhood Development, Inc. (WEND). Their goal was to improve their community. WEND has organized home tours and a yearly festival. They also created a driving tour guide to highlight homes and cultural centers.
In the late 1970s or early 1980s, H. Rap Brown moved to West End. He was a former leader of SNCC and a Black Panther Party member. He became a Muslim and changed his name to Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin. He became known as Imam Jamil, a leader in the Muslim community. Today, the Muslim community has a mosque and an Islamic center in the neighborhood.
West End's Rebirth
By the 2000s, some parts of West End looked run-down. But new investments in Atlanta started to bring life back to the area. West End was once known for its diverse and rich culture. It is now returning to that tradition. It is becoming a valuable and lively community again.
One example of this rebirth is Sky Lofts. This project turned an old Sears parking lot into new homes. Sky Lofts brought many new residents, especially young professionals. They were looking for an urban lifestyle. Old historic houses are being fixed up by both new and old residents.
West End is also a great place for artists. Its name comes from London's theater district. In 2010, Creative Loafing magazine called West End the Best Neighborhood For Artists.
Besides being an artist's hub, West End is important for Atlanta's Afrocentric community. Places like Soul Vegetarian South and the Shrine of the Black Madonna church are here. The Hammonds House and the African Djeli also add to West End's strong African-American culture. In recent years, more and more new people have moved to West End. The neighborhood has become more diverse in terms of money and race since the 2000s.
Parks and the BeltLine
West End is a special neighborhood for the BeltLine project in Atlanta. The first part of the BeltLine, called the "model mile," was finished in 2008. This part includes a path for biking and walking. It also improved Gordon-White Park and added a new park behind Brown Middle School.
Trees Atlanta planted 200 native trees in West End. These trees will be part of a 22-mile long linear arboretum. An arboretum is like a tree museum. It will follow the BeltLine path.
West End also received money to improve its streets. This project helps make the community more walkable. West End is part of a larger plan called the Peachtree Corridor plan. With the Peachtree Corridor, the BeltLine, and MARTA (the train system), West End will be a very easy neighborhood to get around without a car.
Important Landmarks
- Joel Chandler Harris Home (Wren's Nest) - This is the home of the writer of the Uncle Remus books.
- Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church - This is the third oldest Catholic church in Atlanta. It was started in 1903.
- Hammonds House Museum - This museum shows African American fine art.
- Shrine of the Black Madonna Culture Center - A cultural center for the Black Madonna church.
- Sky Lofts - A new building with homes and shops. It is one of the tallest buildings in West End.
- West End Performing Arts Center - A place for shows and performances.
- West Hunter Street Baptist Church - An important church in the community.
Education in West End
Atlanta Public Schools serves the West End area.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta used to run Catholic schools here. Saint Anthony of Padua School in West End opened in 1912. It closed permanently in Spring 2001.
The Atlanta–Fulton Public Library System operates the West End Branch library.
Getting Around West End
West End is located south of Interstate 20. You can get off at the Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. exit. The neighborhood also has the West End MARTA train station. MARTA buses also serve the area.
Fun Facts About West End
- West End was settled in 1835. Its first name was White Hall, after the White Hall Inn. It was renamed in 1867 after London's theater district.
- The White Hall Inn was painted white, which was rare at the time. Most buildings were unpainted.
- The White Hall Inn was also a stagecoach stop, a tavern, and a post office. It was even a place for elections.
- West End officially became part of Atlanta on January 1, 1894.
- West End was the first historic district in Atlanta to be officially recognized by the city.
- The original layout of West End was a main street with a grid of streets around it. You could make three right turns and end up back where you started!
- The famous music group Outkast performed for the first time at Club Fritz, which is in West End.
