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A great pictorial history of buildings and other famous landmarks of Atlanta that no longer exist. Presented in a historical order of loss this book presents an interesting take on Atlanta history. In a large number of cases historically significant landmarks weren’t lost to disaster, or disrepair, but to progress. While progress is good this book helps to show how unchecked progress can cause you to loose some of your history.
Lost Atlanta starts their timeline after Sherman has come through Atlanta. This sets the scale of loss at only a little over 150 years. The period has seen the loss of multiple railway stations, multiple governor’s mansions, and even a lake, hill, and spring. In some cases the loss isn’t that hard to rationalize, a failing dirt raceway turned into the busiest airport in the world. In other cases the loss is tragic like the neighborhood of Buttermilk Bottom. There is even the case of the childhood home of Margret Mitchell, where the sale of the home by her family stipulated the house must be demolished.
Also noted are some losses that directly reflect the change of the times. The loss of the black baseball team, the end to the original streetcars, even the last of the river ferries on the Chattahoochee. Other buildings were demolished as the industries they were built for left the area, like cotton mills, or the Atlanta steel mill. Some were lost as a change in safety like the Smokey Gulch which went away with viaducts passing over it to ease congestion.
Overall this book provides a great view of the history of Atlanta. While it is sad to see the beautiful buildings lost through the years it does show progress. Thankfully there does exist images and records for a lot of what has been lost. Hopefully in the future we can learn to not lose our history to progress for progress’s sake.