Buckhead Events

Buckhead Heritage sponsors a variety of events throughout the year that relate to the history of Buckhead. Active Members are given priority of attendance, but most events will be open to the public when space is available. Join our E-vent email list by clicking here, and be the first to know what’s coming.

Upcoming Events

Speaker Series: John Pruitt, Tell it True.

Thursday, June 15th, 7pm

Cathedral of Saint Phillip, Gould Room – FREE

John Pruitt will talk about his debut novel Tell it True. In the opening pages of his book, an African
American serviceman is gunned down on a rural Georgia road in July 1964. This shocking murder
ensnares a wide range of characters including the journalists who cover it, the lawmen who must solve
it, the civil rights leaders who capitalize upon it, the politicians who exploit it, and the Atlanta magnate
who fears its impact on the New South image he desperately wants to protect.
John Pruitt began his journalism career in 1964 as a television reporter-cameraman and eventually rose
to top anchor at WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia. For a half-century he covered the civil rights movement,
Georgia politics, and the major news figures of the day. His reporting has been honored with multiple
awards including induction into the Atlanta Press Club and Georgia Association of Broadcasters Halls of
Fame.

Register

Speaker Series: Robert Ratonyi, “From Darkness into Light – My Journey through Nazism, Fascism, and Communism to Freedom”

Thursday, June 15th, 7pm

Cathedral of Saint Phillip, Gould Room – FREE

Robert Ratonyi will talk about "From Darkness into Light – My Journey through Nazism, Fascism, and
Communism to Freedom.”  He published a book on this subject as well in 2020. Click here to view the
book.
Robert is a childhood Holocaust survivor, born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1938. He grew up under
communist dictatorship and was a freshman at the Technical University of Budapest when he was
caught up in the bloody uprising in October, 1956 against the communist regime and the Russian forces
stationed in Hungary. After the Russians crushed the uprising he managed to escape to Austria and
eventually ended up as an immigrant in Montreal, Canada, in February, 1957.
As a child survivor of the Holocaust he is a regular speaker to Middle and High School students on behalf
of The Breman Holocaust Museum since 2011. He is also a regular speaker on behalf of the Georgia
Commission on the Holocaust, and speaks to educational institutions, churches and civic organizations
throughout Georgia.

Register

Past Events

Speaker Series: Dan Chapman, A Road Running Southward: Following John Muir’s Journey Through an Endangered Land

Thursday, May 18th, 7pm

Cathedral of Saint Phillip, Gould Room – FREE

Dan Chapman will talk about his new book A Road Running Southward: Following John Muir's Journey
Through an Endangered Land.

In 1867, John Muir set out on foot to explore the botanical wonders of the South, keeping a detailed
journal of his adventures as he traipsed from Kentucky southward to Florida. One hundred and fifty
years later, on a similar whim, veteran Atlanta reporter Dan Chapman, distressed by sprawl-driven
environmental ills in a region he loves, recreated Muir’s journey to see for himself how nature has fared
since Muir’s time.

Channeling Muir, he uses humor, keen observation, and a deep love of place to celebrate the South’s
natural riches. But he laments that a treasured way of life for generations of Southerners is endangered
as long-simmering struggles intensify over misused and dwindling resources. Chapman seeks to discover
how Southerners might balance surging population growth with protecting the natural beauty Muir
found so special. Copies of the book will be for sale at the lecture.

Register

Walking Tour: Peachtree Heights East Movers, Shakers and Heartbreakers

Saturday, May 6th at 10am

Buckhead Heritage presents this tour in partnership with Atlanta Preservation Center

Caleb Brown and Richard Waterhouse offer a fascinating tour of this hidden neighborhood near
Peachtree Road and Lindbergh. With approximately 330 homes, Peachtree Heights East includes early
20th century American two-story four-square, Craftsman Bungalow, Cape Cod, Tudor Revival, and Ranch
to 21st century home styles. We will see examples of several of these on the tour. The mile-and-a-half
route is hilly and will last about an hour-and-a-half. We will meet at the Duckpond’s historical marker
and stay on the road during the tour.

To register, please contact Executive Director Richard Waterhouse at rwaterhouse@buckheadheritage.com or (404) 467-9447.

Speaker Series: Jim Morgens, History of the Beltline and it connection to Buckhead

Thursday, April 20th, 7pm

Cathedral of Saint Phillip, Gould Room

Come join us to hear about the history of the Belltline and its connection to Buckhead.  Jim Morgens is a Life Member of the Georgia State Advisory Board of the Trust for Public Land and has served as chair of the board (2008-10). He helped seed the funding of the 2004 TPL Beltline study, “The Beltline Emerald Necklace” by Alex Garvin, and served on the study’s steering committee, and later served on the committee overseeing TPL’s acquisition of $44 million of property for the Beltline. Subsequently, he served on the board of the Atlanta Beltline Partnership (chair of the Finance Committee (2015-18)). Jim received an MBA degree from Harvard Business School in 1968 and a BA from Stanford University in 1965.

Speaker Series: Martha Tate, Why she spent 4 years pursuing the truth about a 50-year old society murder.

Thursday, March 23rd, 7pm

Cathedral of Saint Phillip, Gould Room

Come hear why Buckhead resident Martha Tate – longtime garden columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, co-creator and producer of the HGTV series A Gardener’s Diary, and former editor of Peachtree Papers, magazine of the Junior League of Atlanta–spent four years pursuing the truth about a 50-year-old society murder that rocked the wealthy enclave of Nashville’s Belle Meade and held the entire city spellbound for two years. This best-selling true-crime story took place in racially-charged Nashville, just weeks after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but its universal themes of greed and deceit are universal. The story could have taken place anywhe

Buckhead Heritage Participates in Phoenix Flies

Hidden Neighborhood: A Walking Tour of Peachtree Heights East

Saturday, March 18th at 10am

Discover former residents — including movie star Susan Hayward; Helen Douglas Mankin, the first female U.S. Congresswoman; and Hamilton Douglas, Jr., who established the first Boy Scout Troop in Atlanta — who quietly shaped Atlanta and beyond. The unique neighborhood, begun in 1909 by Eretus E. (“Petie”) Rivers, includes approximately 330 homes. Its house styles range from early 20th century American two story four-square, Craftsman Bungalow, Cape Cod, Tudor, Ranch to 21st century home styles. The tour includes a stop at the neighborhood’s beloved duck pond, which resides on 7.5 acres of green space and is home to more than 40 species of birds.  Meet at 81 Lakeview Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA  30305.

AtlZoning 2.0: An update on the first comprehensive re-write of Atlanta’s 1982 Zoning Code with Mary Norwood

Thursday, February 16, 7pm

Cathedral of Saint Phillip, Gould Room – FREE

The City is introducing the multi-year rewrite by hosting a series of hybrid (in person and virtual meetings) called “Focused Workshops” designed to work through and confirm the direction for updating the Zoning Ordinance.  Mary will talk about what meetings have been held and what the city has learned from those meetings. She will also discuss your opportunity to contribute at the Buckhead Library on February 28, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. For further information, please click here. 

Speaker Series: Dr David Apple, History of Shepard Spinal Center

Thursday, January 19, 7pm

Cathedral of Saint Phillip, Gould Room

David F. Apple, Jr., M.D., served as medical director of Shepherd Center since the hospital’s inception in 1975 until 2005, and now holds the position of medical director emeritus. He will share with us the fascinating history of this incredible medical facility, which is such a vital part of Buckhead.

During the summer of 1996, Dr. Apple served as co-chair of the doping committee for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and as chief medical officer of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games. He was the team physician of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks for 30 years.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of Shepherd Center and has been the principal investigator on many grants concerned with spinal cord injuries. He and his wife Jane have four children.

2022 Award Winners

Winner of the 2022 Belle Turner Lynch Preservation Award:  English and Matt Norman

John Beach, Past President, announced the award to English and Matt Norman, our hosts for this year’s Holiday Party. The Normans spent over 6 years restoring The Meredith House at 417 Hillside Drive, created an outstanding website dedicated to their efforts, and successfully listed the house on the National Register. Matt is an evangelist for local preservation, included giving a Buckhead Heritage Speaker Series lecture last year.

Winner of the 2022 Bob Helget Award for Outstanding Volunteerism:  Ivan Allen, IV

For Tickets Please click here

To Learn More About the Meredith House click here

Walking Tour: Peachtree Heights East Movers, Shakers and Heartbreakers

Saturday, December 3rd at 10am

Buckhead Heritage presents this tour in partnership with Atlanta Preservation Center

Caleb Brown and Richard Waterhouse offer this tour of hidden neighborhood off Peachtree

With approximately 330 homes within this unique neighborhood, houses in Peachtree Heights East include early 20th century American two story four-square, Craftsman Bungalow, Cape Cod, Tudor Revival, and Ranch to 21st century home styles. We will see examples of several of those on the tour. The mile and a half route tour is hilly and the tour will last about an hour and a half. We ask participants to meet at the Duckpond historical marker and stay on the road during the tour.

To register, please contact Executive Director Richard Waterhouse at rwaterhouse@buckheadheritage.com or (404) 467-9447.

Speaker Series: Gordon Mathis, History of the Chattahoochee Brick Company

Thursday, November 17, 7pm

Cathedral of Saint Phillip, Gould Room – FREE

Gordon Mathis, Galloway School Head of Community Engagement, will talk about the history of the Chattahoochee Brick Company. It was located in North Atlanta, on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Founded by Atlanta Mayor James W. English in 1878, the company used extensive  convict lease labor. It closed in 2011 and the city of Atlanta has just recently purchased the land.

Mr. Mathis has degrees from the University of the South and Georgia State University. He speaks extensively about art exhibitions at the High Museum of Art.

Harmony Grove Cemetery Clean-up

Sunday, October 23, 2022 10:00am – 12:00pm

If you are interested in participating in this cemetery clean-up, please bring garden items: rake, clippers, gloves, and leaf bags. You may also want to bring some bottled water.

Buckhead Heritage’s work toward the rehabilitation of Harmony Grove Cemetery, located at the southwest corner of West Paces Ferry and Chatham roads, was awarded the 2009 Preservation Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. For more Information on this cemetery, please go to our website by clicking here.

Mount Olive Cemetery Wreath Laying Ceremony

Sunday, October 9, 5:00 pm

Buckhead Home

Free

Frankie Allen Park, 100 Bagley St NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

Join Buckhead Heritage at Mt. Olive Cemetery for a Wreath Laying Ceremony, accompanied by a new poem about Black Buckhead from Atlanta’s poet laureate Pearl Cleage, and a performance from OKCello.

Remarks will be by:

• Camille Russell Love, Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
• Pastor David F. Richards III of New Hope AME Church
• Atlanta City Council member Howard Shook
• Charlotte Margolin, Buckhead Heritage Board President,
• Elon Butts Osby, Granddaughter of William and Ida Bagley.

This ceremony is the closing event of ELEVATE: OPEN SPACES which has been taking place on weekends from September 16 through October 9 in some of Atlanta’s most interesting and beautiful places, from parks and patios to galleries, museums, and performance venues in communities across Atlanta.

Mount Olive Cemetery is one of the last remnants of Buckhead’s African American heritage.  Mount Olive Methodist Episcopal Church (founded 1870) was located where the office building is now.  The church’s congregation was made up of former slaves.  Over several decades a community of over 400 residents grew around it and thrived. In 2020, Atlanta City Council passed a resolution making Buckhead Heritage caretaker of the cemetery.

Book Club Meeting: A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe

Wednesday, September 21, 6:30pm

Buckhead Home

Walking Tour: Peachtree Heights East Movers, Shakers and Heartbreakers

Saturday, September 10th at 10am

Buckhead Heritage presents this tour in partnership with Atlanta Preservation Center

Caleb Brown and Richard Waterhouse will offer a fascinating tour of this hidden neighborhood near Peachtree Road and Lindbergh.

With approximately 330 homes within this unique neighborhood, houses in Peachtree Heights East include early 20th century American two story four-square, Craftsman Bungalow, Cape Cod, Tudor Revival, and Ranch to 21st century home styles. We will see examples of several of those on the tour. The mile and a half route tour is hilly and the tour will last about an hour and a half. We ask participants to meet at the Duckpond historical marker and stay on the road during the tour.

Speaker Series: Dr. Matthew Norman, “One Developer’s Trash is Our Treasure: Matt Norman and the Kenneth and Hazel Meredith House”

Thursday, August 18, 7pm

Cathedral of Saint Phillip, Gould Room – FREE

Dr. Matthew Norman will talk about his painstaking preservation and restoration of the Meredith House.  Designed by architect James C. Wise and built in 1938, the two-story brick home occupies a wooded 3.5-acre property.  It is located in the Chastain Park neighborhood and includes a garage/servants’ quarters, an original stone barbecue pit and patio, and substantial remnants of William L. Monroe’s landscape.  Dr. Norman will share the history of the house, the process of having it listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and offer insight into local residential preservation.

Speaker Series: Elon Osby, History of Bagley Park and Mount Olive Cemetery

Thursday, July 21, 7pm

Catherdral of Saint Phillip, Gould Room – FREE

Elon Osby, Buckhead Heritage Board Member, will talk about Bagley Park and Mount Olive Cemetery which is where Franklin Allen Park is located today.

Bagley Park, was named after one of its well-known and respected residents, William Bagley, who was considered the “mayor” of Bagley Park.  He was also the grandfather of Elon’s. Mount Olive Methodist Episcopal Church (founded 1870) was located where the LandPlus building is currently located. The church’s congregation was made up of former slaves and domestic workers to Buckhead’s wealthy residents, and over the next few decades, Bagley Park was a thriving community of over 400 residents. The only part of this thriving community left is Mount Olive Cemetery.  Elon will share memories of Bagley Park and Mount Olive Cemetery and explain what happened to the neighborhood and community in the late 1940s—early 1950s.

Walking Tour: Peachtree Heights East Movers, Shakers and Heartbreakers

Saturday, July 2, 10am

Buckhead Heritage presents this tour in partnership with Atlanta Preservation Center

Caleb Brown and Richard Waterhouse will offer a fascinating tour of this hidden neighborhood near Peachtree Road and Lindbergh.

With approximately 330 homes within this unique neighborhood, houses in Peachtree Heights East include early 20th century American two story four-square, Craftsman Bungalow, Cape Cod, Tudor Revival, and Ranch to 21st century home styles. We will see examples of several of those on the tour. The mile and a half route tour is hilly and the tour will last about an hour and a half. We ask participants to meet at the Duckpond historical marker and stay on the road during the tour.

To register, please contact Executive Director Richard Waterhouse at rwaterhouse@buckheadheritage.com or (404) 467-9447.

Speaker Series: Edward Hatfield, New Georgia Encyclopedia Buckhead Entries

June 16, 7pm

St Philip Cathedral Gould Room

2744 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305

Edward Hatfield, The University of Georgia, New Georgia Encyclopedia, Managing Editor, will talk about the purpose of the New Georgia Encyclopedia. He will lead participatory discussion of what the group might include in a Buckhead entry – how would it address the area’s development, built environment, history, and local landmarks?

He has a Ph.D. History, Emory University, a M.A. History, University of Georgia, and a B.A. History, Centre College.

June 12, 2022 Garden Party

3:00 – 6:30 pm at the Swann Garden

Buckhead Heritage so appreciates you support of our 2022 Garden Party at the charming garden of Debbie and Don Swann. We had 84 participants and raised over $16,000.00 Special thanks to our Sponsors listed below and the Programs and Events Committee, under the leadership of Fay Pearce.

Book Club Gathering: Unique Eats and Eateries of Atlanta

Wednesday May 11, 7pm

Mathieson Lofts

Buckhead Heritage’s Walking Tour of Peachtree Heights East

May 7, 2022 10 – 11:30 am

Requires Registration – Free for Buckhead Heritage Members

Tour will start at the Peachtree Heights East Historical Marker located on Lakeview Avenue near the Duck Pond.

Buckhead Heritage Executive Director Richard Waterhouse and Caleb Brown will offer a fascinating tour of this hidden neighborhood near Peachtree Road and Lindbergh Drive.  With approximately 330 homes within this unique neighborhood, houses in Peachtree Heights East range from early 20th century American two story four-square, Craftsman Bungalow,  Cape Cod, Tudor Revival, Mission Revival, and Ranch to 21st century home styles. We will see examples of several of those on the tour. The mile and a half tour route is very hilly and the tour will last about an hour and a half. We ask participants to stay on the road during the tour. This tour is being given in partnership with Atlanta Preservation Center. To register please contact rwaterhouse@buckheadheritage.com. This tour may fill, so please register early!

Speakers Series April 2022: The Texas by Hal Raper

April 26, 7 pm

Atlanta History Center 130 W Paces Ferry Rd, Atlanta GA 30305

Hal Raper, a train docent at the Atlanta History Center, will talk about a Buckhead  Treasure, the Civil war locomotive TEXAS. Hal will share with Buckhead Heritage the history of  the engine, Its role in the Civil War’s Great Locomotive Chase, how it came to Buckhead, and a bit about how it operates. Our members will know why the steam engine goes CHOO, CHOO, CHOO, CHOO and if time permits how to make it chug down the tracks.

Piney Grove Cemetery Cleanup Project

April 9, 2022 11am

834 Canterbury Rd, Atlanta Ga 30324, Off Lenox Road

Piney Grove Cemetery off Lenox Road is an historic African American grave site established in the 1820s. The Piney Grove Baptist Church, which once stood in front of the cemetery, dated back to 1827. It suffered structural damage and was demolished in 1996. Buckhead Heritage has supported an active group of descendants and others interested in the restoration of this historical site. The group is restoring this final resting place for the more than 300 souls buried there, some of which were slaves, allowing them to rest with dignity. Their ultimate goal is designation as a historic place by the National Register of Historic Places.  The cemetery is located at 834 Canterbury Rd, Atlanta Ga 30324 off Lenox Rd. The group maintains a Facebook page for cemetery news, and to help with the project please contact Audrey Collins for more information at 404-906-9465 or audrey.collins@comcast.net.

Spring 2022 Patrons Party

Sunday April 3, 3 – 5:30 pm

This is a private Buckhead Heritage Patrons only event to thank our members at the $250 and higher Patrons levels for their continued support. There is no cost for the event, and we will be touring a private museum not open to the public, while enjoying food and drinks. Members at this level will receive mailed info and email reminders for the event time and location. Please contact Richard Waterhouse at the office with questions.

New Hope AME Church Cemetery Clean Up

Saturday, April 2, 9 – 12 noon

3012 Arden Rd, Atlanta 30305

New Hope AME Church will be hosting its Spring cemetery clean-up day on Saturday, April 2, 2022. from 9 a.m.to 12 noon, For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, contact Richard Waterhouse at (404) 467-9447 or rwaterhouse@buckheadheritage.com. The clean-up day is in conjunction with Peachtree Road United Methodist Church’s Great Day of Service.

Speaker Series: Ancestry and Lineage Societies, Ken Thomas and Christy Morris

Thursday March 24, 7pm

Peachtree Hills Place Auditorium

(2253 Virginia Place at Peachtree Hills Ave, Atlanta, GA 30305)

Ken Thomas, AJC Genealogy Columnist, will talk about researching your genealogy and how to us DNA kit information.

I’ve got my DNA results on-line, what’s next?!!” Ken’s program is interactive with the guests asking him questions. He will be showing a DNA test results page from Family Tree DNA. He walks you through the process and shows how  known/unknown relatives show up on a personal page, and the percentages of ethnicity results on a world map.

Ken and Christy Morris will also discuss lineage societies like DAR and the genealogy research needed for these groups.

Buckhead Heritage’s Walking Tour of Peachtree Heights East

Phoenix Flies Event with Atlanta Preservation Center

March 12, 2022 10 – 11:30 am

Free Event – Requires Registration

Tour will start at the Peachtree Heights East Historical Marker located on Lakeview Avenue near the Duck Pond.

Buckhead Heritage Executive Director Richard Waterhouse and Caleb Brown will offer a fascinating tour of this hidden neighborhood near Peachtree Road and Lindbergh Drive.  With approximately 330 homes within this unique neighborhood, houses in Peachtree Heights East range from early 20th century American two story four-square, Craftsman Bungalow,  Cape Cod, Tudor Revival, Mission Revival, and Ranch to 21st century home styles. We will see examples of several of those on the tour. The mile and a half tour route is very hilly and the tour will last about an hour and a half. We ask participants to stay on the road during the tour. This tour is being given in partnership with Atlanta Preservation Center. To register please contact rwaterhouse@buckheadheritage.com. This tour may fill, so please register early!