Hidden History of Old Atlanta

by Arcadia Publishing

Overview

 Old Atlanta” may conjure images of Southern belles and Civil War ruination, but the full story stretches back millennia.

From centuries of Native American settlements that ended with the removal of the Creeks to the rough and ready pioneer days, the area was rich in history long before it was called Atlanta. Author Mark Pifer unfolds a rich saga, including forgotten details from the struggles of African Americans and new immigrants while noting modern locations bursting with tales that predate the City in the Forest's rise amid the treetops.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467146074
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	02/08/2021
Series:	Hidden History
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Hidden History of Old Atlanta is Mark Pifer's second book about local southern history. The previous book is Native Decatur. Before his current focus on a career as an author, he had focused on careers as a psychologist, research scientist, statistician, foreign translator, TV producer, brand strategist, technology strategist and roller-skating server. All of these were excellent preparation for becoming an exacting historian and effective communicator (except maybe the roller skating, that was just for fun). He lives in a historic home in Decatur, Georgia, with his wife, Robin, and two daughters, Ava and Sasha.

Table of Contents

Foreword Jim Auchumutey 9

Acknowledgements 11

Introduction 13

1 The Brief History of Atlanta Before People 15

2 Atlanta's First Residents 20

3 Decatur's Gannon and the Native Apocalypse in Georgia 26

4 1,800 Years Before Atlanta, There Was Sandtown 32

5 Standing Peachtree, the Other Native Town North of Sandtown 35

6 Civil War Inside the Creek Nation 40

7 The Creeks Give Atlanta Land to Georgia 50

8 The Second Treaty of Indian Springs and the Coweta Chief 54

9 The Second Creek War and the Little Cannon in Decatur 61

10 Georgia's Sluggish Commitment to the Vision of Southern Railroads 67

11 Staking Out the Western and Atlantic 75

12 John Thrasher and the Founding of Terminus 79

13 The Hard Times Arrive and the Railroads Apply the Brakes 86

14 The Mystery of the Moving Terminus 90

15 Pathways in the Woods that Became Downtown Atlanta 98

16 John Thrasher Departs, Sarah Carlisle Arrives to Old Terminus 105

17 The First Train Rolls Out from the Terminus 109

18 Founding Marthasville 115

19 The Arrival of Jonathan Norcross, Atlanta's Most Important Early Citizen 118

20 Slabtown and Murrell's Row 122

21 A Railroad Boom and a City Called Atlanta 129

22 Atlanta's First and Sometimes Forgotten Mayor and Council 135

23 The End of the Mexican-American War and the Beginning of Southern Secession 141

24 The Brutal Stabbing of Representative Stephens by Senator Cone at the Atlanta Hotel 143

25 Tom Shivers, Atlanta's Rogue Deputy Marshal 149

26 The Killing of James McWilliams by William Terrell 152

27 The Slave Depot and the Mob from Macon 157

28 Being Black in 1850 Atlanta 165

29 The Rascal Demby and the Ring of Depot Robbers 172

30 The Rousting of Atlanta's Prostitutes from Snake Nation 175

31 Mayor Norcross 181

32 The Brief Rise and Fall of the Higher Law Party 184

33 The First Hostile Burning of Atlanta 189

Conclusion 193

Bibliography 197

About the Author 205