Comments on: Renovating and Recognizing Decatur’s Lost Neighborhood

By: Jack Kittle

Jack Kittle — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:53:03 +0000

Some documentation of this area can be found in the 1911 Sanborn maps of Decatur – see sheets 4, 5 and 7. http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/sanborn/CityCounty/Decatur1911/?Welcome

By: JohnBoy

JohnBoy — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:53:10 +0000

Wow. I grew up in the Decatur area, my son just recently played in soccer games at Ebster Field, and I’m embarrassed to admit that this is the first time I’ve ever heard of Beacon HIll. What a tragic loss — though it’s just one of many neighborhoods throughout the country that were destroyed during that period. Good intentions, maybe, but terrible results. Glad they’re doing this project, but I hate to think of the thriving community that was once there.

By: karass

karass — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:36:28 +0000

I thought this was a great story too. I’ve been lucky enough over the years to run into some of this history and it’s fascinating. By the time most of us arrived in Decatur, the center of Decatur’s African-American community seemed to be on the south side of town but it was originally right downtown. Very sad that little remains to remind us but good that we are preserving what’s left and the oral history.