Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events, 1820s-1870s

CHAPTER 25: 1847

CHAPTER 25 1847 ONSTRUCTION of a new De Kalb County Court House, following the fire of January, 1842 became a lengthy chore. Some differences over the work developed between the Inferior Court and G. V. Margerum and W. H. Graham, of Marietta, the contractors. They were finally submitted to a two-man board of arbitration, which handed the following report to the Inferior Court on February 24, 1847: "Whereas we John Stidham (mason) and Martin Colley (carpenter) being chosen as referees in a matter pending between said Court of the one part, and Margerum and Graham, of the other part, contractors for Rebuilding the Court House in Decatur. We having examined the contract and specifications hereby beg leave to Report. We believe that the manner in which the several branches of the work is executed is up to the contract, with the following exceptions, 1st, the plastering of the rooms on the lower story we consider to be subject to a deduction of $70. Sash in windows in lower story, $15, for lumber not well seasoned upstairs, $20, Total, $105. We also further beg leave to report that we find the following which exceeds the contract. An addition of the Portico, which we consider quite an ornament to the building, $20. Four hearth stones at $6 each, $24. Additional stone steps $10. All of which is respectfully submitted." JOHN STIDMAN MARTIN COOLEY Registerd the 24th day of Feb. 1847. H. B. LATIMER, C. I. C.1 The difference of $51. was apparently settled, for the Grand Jury, in its September term, 1847 presentments, made the following heart warming statement: "We are gratified to say to the Citizens of this County that our court house is now paid for, and that of the money raised for that purpose, there is some left after paying for said Court House." SAMUEL WALKER, Foreman. John Hardman Simeon Smith George W. Avery Handy Harris Joseph Willis James B. Robertson Ezekiel A. Davis Lemuel Dean Green V. Almond John Cochran William P. Mason James Smith Jesse Wood Eli J. Hulsey James Burns Robert Ozmer William H. Tanner John Carpenter Leandrew Biffle Thomas C. Gober James A. Jett Josiah Power2 This courthouse, signed, sealed and delivered in 1847 was to serve the County of De Kalb for 51 years. Finally outgrown and outmoded, it was C rEFEREE THE EIGHTEEN-FORTIES 245 laboriously torn down in 1898 to make way for a larger building, the immediate predecessor of the present courthouse in Decatur.3 Two well-traveled present-day Fulton County roads were opened in 1847. On June 1st the Inferior Court appointed Marat Megee, Claiborn Hawes and Alston H. Green, Commissioners, ". . . to view and mark out a new Road, (Courtesy Atlanta Historical Society) The second De Kalb County Court House. Built 1842-1847, replacing the original structure destroyed by fire, together with practically all of the county records. Demolished 1898 to make room for larger building. Located on present site of court house in Decatur commencing at Green and Nelson's Ferry and to intersect the Sand Town Road at or near Higgin's Shop on said Sand Town Road."4 It is the writer's belief that this is what is now called the Fairburn Road, running south from Adamsville and crossing Cascade Road a short distance east of the A. C. L. R. R. On August 3rd the same court appointed Killis Brown, James Burns, and James J. Cowan, Commissioners ". . . to view and mark out a new Road commencing at Atlanta crossing South River at Killis Brown's, thence to the line of Henry County near Thomas Moore's Mills."5 246 ATLANTA AND ITS ENVIRONS This road followed the present course of Capitol Avenue (formerly McDonough Street) and McDonough Road by Federal Prison, thence to the Clayton, then Henry County line at Conley on Highway 42. The mills of Thomas Moore were, in 1847, located at what is now Conley. The plantation of Killis Brown was in the vicinity of the present Southern Railway station known as Constitution. While new roads were being opened to accommodate the increasing wagon traffic occasioned by the rapid growth of Atlanta, some of the original county roads were declining in importance. One of these was the Nelson's Ferry Road, running west from Decatur. Its decline is mirrored in the following bit of Inferior Court business: "Georgia, De Kalb County 1 We, the commissioners of this...