Another movie theater, Perimeter Mall opens 1973
I-285 was completed in 1969, Perimeter Mall opened August 11, 1971, and the Perimeter Mall General Cinema triplex opened in December of 1973. The theater held 1,700 people. (Atlanta Constitution, Dec. 23, 1973, “Perimeter Mall Gets 3 Theaters”)
Early fire fighting began with volunteers
The DeKalb County Fire Department began in 1934 as the Druid Hills Fire Department. This was a subscription service for the Druid Hills neighborhoods. A 1934 fire engine that was known by the name Old Maude was purchased by J. V. Draughn, the owner of this private fire service.
Starbucks chimney was part of tenant house
When the Starbucks was set to be built on the site in 2013, the fate of the old chimney was in question. Local citizens and preservationists, including Dunwoody Preservation Trust, asked that the chimney be saved. Starbucks agreed to incorporate it into their new store.
Five members of a Dunwoody family serve during WWII
The Head family once lived on both sides of Chamblee Dunwoody Road, just north of where it intersects with Vermack Road. Their homes were where Boxwood Place, Shadow Bend, Shadow Court and Pine Acres Court are located. All five children of Roy and Pamela Head served during World War II.
Columbia Cheek, Dunwoody Postmaster 1906
Columbia became Postmaster in December 1906 and kept that position until Dillard Blackwell took over February of 1920. There was no mail delivery yet, but she would have operated the post office, which was in a small building on the Cheek family property.
Dunwoody Post Office history
According to The Story of Dunwoody, written by Ethel Spruill and Elizabeth Davis in 1975, there have been seven different post office locations in Dunwoody. Much of the post office history they gathered came from Sentell Spruill, retired Dunwoody postmaster.
Railroad section houses became family homes during Great Depression
J. C. Finley lived in the section house that still stands. He shared his memories of that time with Lynne Byrd.
On the homefront during WWII
The June 11, 1942, edition of the Atlanta Constitution shared an announcement from Washington, D.C., “Scrap salvage campaign will begin shortly.” The War Production Board asked that everyone across the country collect metal, rubber, fats and oils.
Video rental business, here and gone
Whatever community you lived in, there was a Blockbuster, Hollywood Video or perhaps a smaller chain or independent video store. Other competitors in the Atlanta area included All Star Video, The Movie Store, National Video, and West Coast Videos. Record stores also entered the video rental business.