by C. Henry Adams
My parents (Marion Lewis Adams, Sr.
& Emma King Smith Adams) taught me to learn from whence you
come from to know where you are going. (Or) If you make four turns to
the right or left while traveling in unfamiliar places or circumstances;
it is likely you will complete a circle.
So, with great understanding of simplicity - Life is a Circle.
From the 1830's to 2019, we will briefly identify the History of Collier Heights area.
Note: The Collier Heights Community was proposed and implemented during the 51st tenure of City of Atlanta's Mayor William Berry Hartsfield while in office from 1941- 1961.
Utilizing Interstate 20 and Interstate 285 to create quadrants; the entire Collier Heights Community landscape is outline. From left to right, starting with Quadrant 4 (Carroll Heights Neighborhood), the community extends to Quadrant 1 ( H. E. Holmes Drive). From right to left (bottom right corner of image below) , Quadrant 2 connects to Quadrant 3 along Martin Luther King Jr Drive to Adamsville, Ga.
(1962 - 2013)
In 2013, the area identified as Quadrant 1 (See Image below)
possessing the zip code 30318 was designated historical. It is quite
unfortunate, because the original Collier Heights Area consist of two
additional zip codes; 30311 & 30331 which is Adamsville, Ga.
This covered 4,000 acres of land.
Video Source:
https://youtu.be/44TzQDkWpfE
(Collier Heights Proposed Plan of 1961)
Before Collier Heights
Before there was a modern-day village called, 'Collier Heights' proposed in 1948, there was Adamsville, Georgia incorporated into a City in 1906. Although, the name was given to this village in and around 1870 as a result of Farmer George W. Adams settling there.
( 1883 Georgia Map displaying dissolved Campbell County which now Fulton County. )
The aforementioned small town was once a cross-road settlement entrenched near the Chattahoochee River called, ' Lick Skillet '.
Located near the border of Fulton & Campbell County, Georgia in 1883; very little history today is known by its current inhabitants.
Fore, Campbell County, Georgia no longer exist; it was dissolved and now is the lower portion of Fulton County. It is allege that Campbell County, Georgia did not want the railroad running through
it, thus turning away growth, industry & technology.
The Lick Skillet Settlement survived a Civil War Battle which occurred on Lick Skillet Road on July 28th 1864.
Source:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18353752/thirty_years_ago_the_battle_of_lick/
The article shared above points out a number of clues to the Lick Skillet Road Civil War Battle in 1864 that occurred and possibly allude to an answer of unmarked graves found in woods near Baker's Ferry Road 2013 - 2018.
At a certain point in time, this road was also named Gordon Road or today - Ralph Abernathy Blvd & a larger portion is Martin Luther King Jr Dr that extend to the Chattahoochee River.
Source: http://chazzcreations.com/thomasshawlangstonscottrobertsdell_family_connections/joseph_shaw__lick_skillet__cohutta__red_clay_georgia
The Lick Skillet Settlement survived
a Typhoid Fever Outbreak in 1853.
Prior to the Treaty of New Echota of December 29th 1835,
gold was discovered in
North Georgia (Dahlonega, Ga), as well as,
West Georgia (Villa Rica, Ga). This caused an economic boom for this precious mineral to occur and the disruption of Native American lives.
Before the misbegotten treaty mentioned above; in 1832, American Indians
(Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole, among other Nations) were forced to move away from their lands which included the border of the Cherokee Nation (Now Cobb, Campbell & several other counties.) which was near the Lick Skillet Settlement.
( North Georgia in 1834; Atlanta, Ga / Fulton County did not exist,
but Decatur, Ga / Dekalb County was present. )
During the 1830's, Atlanta, Georgia, as well as, Fulton County did not exist. In their place were an extended version of Dekalb County, the forgotten seat of Campbell County with Fayette County following closely behind. Today, what vast areas of land these counties once possess are now other counties such as Fulton, Cobb and Douglas Counties.
It's interesting to note that Campbell County measurements, mass & shape changed several times from 1828 to 1870. During that period of time Cherokee Nation northwestern land, developed into many Georgia Counties over a period of 42 years.
Campbell County was established December 20th 1828 and on January 1, 1932 finally merged with Fulton County, Georgia.
A major change or alteration occurred in the area of what is now known as Collier Heights starting in the 1830's, 1850's, 1860's, 1880's, 1900's, 1950's, 1962-2012 and from 2013-2019.
So, what is the point of this discussion? Making things different is not always acceptable. But, if we are to continue to develop, while building on great things in our individual lives, families and societies; then evolving into the future is imperative.
(North Georgia prior to December 29, 1835. The red circle identify where Collier Heights is currently located.)
Well, thanks for reading this blog. We welcome your thoughts and comments.
C. Henry Adams
CHAAS, LLC
977 Montreal Rd
Box 1089
Clarkston, Georgia 30021
bienminc@gmail.com
CHAAS, LLC
(404) 254-7187