Winnona Park Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Winnona Park Historic District
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 Location in Atlanta
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| Location | Bounded by College (N), Columbia (E), Mimosa/City Limits (S), Candler (W) Decatur, Georgia |
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| Built | 1923 |
| Architect | Leila Ross Wilburn |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000565 |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 2002 |
Winnona Park is a special old neighborhood in the city of Decatur, Georgia. Decatur is a suburb of Atlanta. Winnona Park is known as a historic district. This means it has many old buildings and areas that are important to history. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are worth protecting.
Winnona Park is located south of downtown Decatur. It is west of Avondale Estates, Georgia and east of Decatur's Oakhurst area. The neighborhood is mostly homes. It is also home to Columbia Theological Seminary, a large school for religious studies.
The main streets that form its borders are Mimosa Drive and the Decatur city limits to the south. East College Avenue and the railroad tracks are to the north. South Candler Street is to the west, and South Columbia Avenue is to the east. There are also some old shops on South Columbia Avenue. These shops used to have a pharmacy, a gas station, and a barbershop.
Winnona Park has connections to Agnes Scott College. This college is right next to Winnona Park. However, the area around Agnes Scott College is its own separate historic district. It is called the South Candler Street—Agnes Scott College Historic District.
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A Look Back: History of Winnona Park
Long ago, in the 1800s, Winnona Park was mostly farms and large estates. The name "Winnona" comes from the Winn family. They moved to DeKalb County, Georgia in the early 1800s. James J. Winn was a minister and a doctor. His son-in-law, George Bucher Scott, later helped develop Winnona Park.
An old farmhouse from 1868 still stands on South Columbia Drive. It belonged to an early settler named James C. Avary. This house is now known as the "Avary-Fulton House."
During the U.S. Civil War, Union soldiers came to Decatur in July 1864. Maps from that time show Union trenches along East College Avenue. These trenches helped the Union soldiers control the important railroad tracks. There was fighting in Decatur, but the city eventually fell to the Union army before the big Battle of Atlanta.
In 1873, a church group bought a small farm in the area. They started a home for children called the "Decatur Orphans' Home." This place is now known as the "United Methodist Children's Home."
Winnona Park started to become a neighborhood with many homes in the early 1900s. George B. Scott bought land from Dr. James Avary. He then began building houses there. The first business area was at East College and South Candler. In 1913, a drug store opened there. In 1923, the Winnona Park Elementary School was built. This school building is still used today and is a central part of the community.
Cool Buildings: Architecture in Winnona Park
Winnona Park is famous for its buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. It has many different styles of homes. These include craftsman bungalows, which are cozy and well-built. There are also Georgian Revival homes, which look like grand old mansions. You can also find English Country style houses.
A famous architect named Leila Ross Wilburn designed some homes on Avery Street. Two notable houses in the area are:
- Agnes Lee Chapter House: This house at 120 Avery Street was built in the Colonial Revival style. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Avary-Fulton House: Located on South Columbia Drive, this house was built in 1868. It is thought to be the oldest house in Decatur, Georgia.
Places of Worship: Churches in Winnona Park
Winnona Park has several churches:
- All Souls Fellowship: This church is at 647 East College Avenue.
- Columbia Presbyterian Church: Located at 711 South Columbia Drive. It is on the campus of Columbia Theological Seminary.
- Julie Thompson Smith Chapel: This chapel is at Agnes Scott College. It holds services for students and visitors.
Fun Outdoors: Parks in Winnona Park
- Winnona Park Elementary School playground: This playground is at 510 Avery Street. It has a play area next to a creek and some green space. Remember, this is school property, not a public park.
Getting Around: Transportation in Winnona Park
Winnona Park is close to major roads. However, it has few roads connecting it to downtown Decatur. This is because of the railroad tracks that run east to west.
- DeKalb Avenue/East College Avenue: This road forms the northern edge of Winnona Park. It is a main way to enter the neighborhood. East College Avenue is also the highest point in the area. It sits on the Eastern Continental Divide. This means rain falling on one side flows to the Atlantic Ocean, and on the other side, it flows to the Gulf of Mexico.
- Avondale MARTA rail station: This train station is northeast of Winnona Park. It is a stop for the public transportation system.
- Memorial Drive: This road is located south of Winnona Park.
Images for kids
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Main entrance to Columbia Theological Seminary, Winnona Park neighborhood, Decatur, GA
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Winnona Park streetscape, Decatur, GA
