Not sure it’s the same thing, but back when Decatur Federal Savings was a going concern “Katy” was a cartoon girl featured in their print ads. It was a play on the KAY syllable in De KAY tur.
Kate Houston was the last residential occupant who lived at 418 Church Street (where Blue Moon was up until a few months ago). She lived there basically her entire life, until her death in the late 80’s/early 90’s. When she left us, she left her name on this alley, which is adjacent to the old Houston House (in the “back yard” of the Brick Store). I went into more detail on this on a recent DM post: http://www.decaturmetro.com/2014/08/12/eye-on-the-street-542/ Kate was quite a character, and her old house has quite a colorful history in its own right. Luckily it is owned by a local group who appreciates its contributions to our downtown (as do many of our downtown property owners, who also show their historical buildings the right amount of love!).
Katie Hazel Houston. Her father built the house in 1905. Washington Jackson Houston was a doctor and his office was in the house at 418 North Church Street in Decatur. He was my great grandfather. Judy Koski
I was curious about your assertion that public right-of-way was co-opted for private use and just checked the City of Decatur OneMap which shows the parcel boundaries (tax map).
You will be relieved to know that the co-opting is the reverse of your assertion. The alley is part of the adjacent parcels so no private co-opting of public use.
The alley may have originally been public, but at some point the adjoining property owners may have petitioned for abandonment and the City quit-claimed it to them to divide among themselves.
I was part of such a transaction several years ago.
Eyes on the Street is an interesting concept. Are these posts typically photos with no description? I operate a site here in Indianapolis and like to see what people are doing around the country.
Once in a while there is a description, but this shot would be easily identified by most readers here. There’s a search box on the left side of the page. Type in “eye on the street” and you’ll see as many as you want. They are reader submitted.
The original idea was based on/ stolen from Andrew Sullivan’s “View from your Window”. Apparently, The Dish also does a regular contest of guessing photo locations. http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/vfyw-contest/ That could work with EOTS. Could be fun.
I always thought “eye on the street” was a play on Jane Jacobs’ concept of “eyes on the street” which means something like, the more eyes on the street in a city, the safer it is. She mentions it a lot in “the Death and Life of Great American Cities.”
See last sentence of first paragraph of the Jane Jacobs Wikipedia entry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Jacobs
From what I heard (overheard, actually), the intent is to make the house, formerly Blue Moon (just barely visible on the right side of the picture, for those not familiar with this property), a more attractive commercial property to potential tenants.
So this alley is a cut-through from Church St. to the Square? Has it always been an obvious cut-through? I’ve never known about it despite years and years of walking around Decatur. I’m surprised I missed such a useful shortcut.
The cone seems to be the Butter and Cream logo, so I think building to the left is the one that has Butter and Cream, HomeGrown Decatur, and Calle Latina. The one to the right would be the Houston House–so I’m thinking that the cut-through goes to the Square. But I don’t remember there being a usable cut-through in the past. Did I just miss it? Did it used to be more hidden when it was spruced up? Or did it used to be closed off as private property?
You’re on the south side of Church St. with your back to Java Monkey. To your left is Butter and Cream. To your right is 418 Church Street (Houston House – you can see a slice of it on the right). You’re looking toward the back of the Brick Store and can see it at the termination of this vista. Behind the tree down there (and the last red umbrella) the alley continues onto the square, where you’ll be standing between The Brick Store and Colbeh. AHD – it’s been open for at least 10-15 years, probably forever. It was never accentuated as it is now, so I wouldn’t be surprised if lots of people missed it.
Often there were cars parked there, so a person passing by could easily miss that it wasn’t just a driveway for Blue Moon (the Houston House). Plus I don’t think you could walk all the through (maybe the fence Steve mentioned?).
Who’s Katie?
Not sure it’s the same thing, but back when Decatur Federal Savings was a going concern “Katy” was a cartoon girl featured in their print ads. It was a play on the KAY syllable in De KAY tur.
This may be the same sort of Katie.
Kate Houston was the last residential occupant who lived at 418 Church Street (where Blue Moon was up until a few months ago). She lived there basically her entire life, until her death in the late 80’s/early 90’s. When she left us, she left her name on this alley, which is adjacent to the old Houston House (in the “back yard” of the Brick Store). I went into more detail on this on a recent DM post: http://www.decaturmetro.com/2014/08/12/eye-on-the-street-542/ Kate was quite a character, and her old house has quite a colorful history in its own right. Luckily it is owned by a local group who appreciates its contributions to our downtown (as do many of our downtown property owners, who also show their historical buildings the right amount of love!).
As I recall, someone said that was the owner/tenant in the house next to the alley…
Katie Hazel Houston. Her father built the house in 1905. Washington Jackson Houston was a doctor and his office was in the house at 418 North Church Street in Decatur. He was my great grandfather. Judy Koski
“Washington Jackson Houston” – now that’s an American name.
Cool, thanks Judy! I am giving you bragging rights as deepest Decatur ties.
That used to be a good cut through on the bicycle. Actually it still is, public right of way co-opted for private use? Lame.
I was curious about your assertion that public right-of-way was co-opted for private use and just checked the City of Decatur OneMap which shows the parcel boundaries (tax map).
You will be relieved to know that the co-opting is the reverse of your assertion. The alley is part of the adjacent parcels so no private co-opting of public use.
Not so lame after all…
The alley may have originally been public, but at some point the adjoining property owners may have petitioned for abandonment and the City quit-claimed it to them to divide among themselves.
I was part of such a transaction several years ago.
sorry to hear the city abandoned you.
That used to be a good cut through for all kinds of uses. Actually it still is. Private right of way co-opted for public use? Pretty sweet.
BierGarden [sic]???
Euphemism for “people drinking in an alley.”
I’m totally cool with drinking in an alley. Is this particular alley BYOB, though, or is there bier to be had?
Yeah, like a kindergarden, only they grow beer instead of children. Bier beware.
Eyes on the Street is an interesting concept. Are these posts typically photos with no description? I operate a site here in Indianapolis and like to see what people are doing around the country.
Once in a while there is a description, but this shot would be easily identified by most readers here. There’s a search box on the left side of the page. Type in “eye on the street” and you’ll see as many as you want. They are reader submitted.
The original idea was based on/ stolen from Andrew Sullivan’s “View from your Window”. Apparently, The Dish also does a regular contest of guessing photo locations. http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/vfyw-contest/ That could work with EOTS. Could be fun.
I always thought “eye on the street” was a play on Jane Jacobs’ concept of “eyes on the street” which means something like, the more eyes on the street in a city, the safer it is. She mentions it a lot in “the Death and Life of Great American Cities.”
See last sentence of first paragraph of the Jane Jacobs Wikipedia entry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Jacobs
Yep, that’s where the name and focus comes from. But the concept and format is from Andrew Sullivan. 🙂
Thank you for the helpful replies. It is greatly appreciated and I like what you are doing. I’ll be coming back 😉
I hate the logo, the color scheme, and the menu.
You forgot to mention that the food is terrible. And such small portions!
Strollers and screaming children too.
From what I heard (overheard, actually), the intent is to make the house, formerly Blue Moon (just barely visible on the right side of the picture, for those not familiar with this property), a more attractive commercial property to potential tenants.
So this alley is a cut-through from Church St. to the Square? Has it always been an obvious cut-through? I’ve never known about it despite years and years of walking around Decatur. I’m surprised I missed such a useful shortcut.
Help orient us to where this is–what it the white building “across the street” at end of pic? And what direction are we looking?
The cone seems to be the Butter and Cream logo, so I think building to the left is the one that has Butter and Cream, HomeGrown Decatur, and Calle Latina. The one to the right would be the Houston House–so I’m thinking that the cut-through goes to the Square. But I don’t remember there being a usable cut-through in the past. Did I just miss it? Did it used to be more hidden when it was spruced up? Or did it used to be closed off as private property?
that should have said “…before it was spruced up?”
It was and is private property and there was a fence in front of it.
You’re on the south side of Church St. with your back to Java Monkey. To your left is Butter and Cream. To your right is 418 Church Street (Houston House – you can see a slice of it on the right). You’re looking toward the back of the Brick Store and can see it at the termination of this vista. Behind the tree down there (and the last red umbrella) the alley continues onto the square, where you’ll be standing between The Brick Store and Colbeh. AHD – it’s been open for at least 10-15 years, probably forever. It was never accentuated as it is now, so I wouldn’t be surprised if lots of people missed it.
Often there were cars parked there, so a person passing by could easily miss that it wasn’t just a driveway for Blue Moon (the Houston House). Plus I don’t think you could walk all the through (maybe the fence Steve mentioned?).