Free-For-All Friday 6/19/15
Decatur Metro | June 19, 2015 | 7:58 amFeel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.
At Home in Decatur
Decatur Metro
The Walrus
7.62 x 39
Angelo
Chris Billingsley
poster
Upatoi Boy
Steve
magpie63
FM Fats
CityGirl
First Pint at Leon's Goes For $2,650
Lots of activity at the former Twist ‘n Scoot. Anyone know what’s going in?
I heard it was a cell service carrier (Sprint?), though it certainly seems like a lot of space for that type of store.
This has probably been discussed here before, but I have a very short memory…
I’m curious about the buildings in the back of The Marlay. They’re fascinating. They look abandoned, but have a bunch of sculptures inside. There is also barbed wire over the rear windows. Are they in use? Do they belong to The Marlay? A studio of some kind? Do tell!
+1. Sorry. Nothing to add. Just would be really interested in the answer, too.
I believe the Marlay owners own it. I distinctly remember Chad Stogner giving me a tour when I went to the tree sale last year. It’s largely being used as a workshop and for storage, but that’s only my recollection and I’d need to double check with Mr. Stogner to be sure.
Chadwick actually provided a history of the building in a comment back in 2009. It has a very interesting history…
The land that the Grange and the other 2 buildings ( Stone house, and warehouse behind BEAUTIFUL gate ) sit on was developed by an elderly stone mason in the 1940’s. The house and warehouse were built first. This was his house and studio/warehouse. He built the granite building where the Grange is located later hoping to rent it out. His first tenant was a Hudson car dealership. A Studebaker dealership was across the street, and Oldsmobile dealership was where the CVS is now.
All 3 buildings used to be connected, but a fire in the early 80’s partially destroyed the roof over the nexus of the buildings – creating the interesting space behind the gate. In the late 90’s I commissioned local artist Robert Witherspoon to make a gate to secure the courtyard area for my sculpture studio. The “Beautiful” comes from a fabled gate in Jerusalem; the Gate Called Beautiful.
The building where the Grange is underwent extensive renovation in 2001. The renovation of the rest of the property has been hampered by the Federal Government declaring the property within the 100 year flood plain since that renovation. I am in the process of clearing hurdles to renovate the rest of the property to honor the historic structure, and I may need the support of the Decatur Metro community in the future.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Chadwick Stogner, owner
And for those newer to Decatur, the Marlay used to be called “The Grange”. That’s a whole separate, interesting story. http://www.decaturmetro.com/2010/01/30/the-grange-becomes-the-_______/
Looking back down memory lane what was the Cajun place called before the Grange
Ya-Ya’s.
No, I think that was in the Farm Burger location.
Gotta disagree. As I recall… Marlay > Grange > Angel > Ya Ya’s > New Age Theater > Chadwick says Car Dealership.
Scott is correct. There is actually a post somewhere on DM that shows a picture of YaYa’s in this building.
Nope Scott is correct this is a Metro link to a photo of the entry to the place
http://www.decaturmetro.com/tag/ya-yas/
Ya-Ya’s. … ya that was it. As I remember their food was hit and miss. Wish we had another Cajun place in good old Decatur
I wish we could get some good Cajun/Creole food here, too, but we haven’t had good luck with that cuisine, for sure. After YaYa’s, there was Depeaux (where Kimball House is now), which started out decent and then gradually devolved into flat-out “nope” after that. New Orleans Snowballs has had some good stuff, but mostly they concentrate on their snowballs/popcorn/desserts. (LOVE their popcorn!)
Word. I actually miss Mr. Delicious.
Wasn’t it once something like “Angel’s”?
Yep, I stand corrected about Ya-ya’s. AHID, you’re close. It was “The Angel”.
and also called The Grangel by many after change from The Angel to The Grange.
Hey DM – Here is an expanded history I did for the flyer to Cooper Sanchez’s art show ( the one with the chicken):
The land that these buildings were built on was redeveloped from it’s naturalistic state in the 1940’s. I have been told by by several Decatur old-timers that the site was used as a tannery during the Civil War. I have not confirmed this, and as of this writing do not know any of it’s history before 1945.
After World War II ended , Robert K. Jordan started to develop this odd shaped tract along Peavine Creek. Although he held himself out in business listings as a “general contractor” , his obvious talent was stone masonry. Most people think the building is much older than it is because he built it later in his life. Learning the trade in the 1920’s and 30’s – his work has an old-world feel. Also, because he loved to use found, or left-over material, his work has a rural and European look.
Mr. Jordan built the stone house and the back warehouse first, where he kept his shop and lived with his wife and daughter, Elaine Knowlton. He loved Bar-B-Q and building stone smoking pits ( there are two stone pits on the property – one is under the Marlay Parking lot ). His unrealized dream was to open a Bar-B-Q joint on the front of the lot.
According to Elaine, her mom almost left her dad when he spent all their money building a bomb shelter for the Cuban Missile Crisis. It’s a full two-and-a-half stories under the Marlay and complete with a hand-crank air-filtration system! It is a very freaky “Lost”-esque structure.
The granite building The Marlay is in was developed around 1949 to be an “income generating” building for Jordan. Decatur had become a hub for auto retail stores, and his first tenant in the completed building was a Hudson Auto Dealership. Studebaker was across the street ( scooter shop building ) and a very large Oldsmobile dealership was located on the corner of Commerce Rd. – where the CVS now sits. This Hudson dealership sold the Commodore and the famous Hudson Hornet. It closed around the time Hudson merged with Nash.
Mr. Jordan had many tenants over the years, perhaps none were more colorful than the man that took over the spot where he had planned to put his Bar-B-Q restaurant. Earnest Maddox a/k/a “Battling” Maddox was a boxer from 1927 – 1934 who fought mainly in the circuit around Atlanta. He ran a used car business in the area where the Marlay parking lot sits during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Maddox was known to be extremely vain about his hair, and dyed it jet black even as an old man.
The house, warehouse and front building all used to be connected until the building caught fire in the juncture of all three in the early 1980’s – creating the courtyard behind the gate. Elaine and her 85 year old mother were pulled to safety from the 2nd story of the house. It was determined to be arson, and a tenant that re-upolstered boats was convicted for arson and insurance fraud.
If you ever drove through Buckhead in the 80’s, you may remember some really weird stuff hanging off the building on the corner of Roswell,Peachtree, and East Andrews. Before the Roxy and Laura Ashley there was EVOTEC. A bizarre troupe of thespians that had a heavy science-fiction influence. When they lost their lease, they moved into the space that is now the Marlay, and one of its active members moved his awning shop into the back warehouse. The middle courtyard was rigged with lights too for al fresco performances. Jan Cox , a Timothy Leery-type leader of the group began to film a Public access TV show in the building; and hung a very prominent sign on the front with the shows name: JAN COX LOOKS AT THE SECRET. I watched many times, and it seemed I was the only one who wasn’t in on the secret. According to Jan, his biggest audience was in Seattle.
I purchased the property in 1995, and moved my decorative garden and historical reproduction manufacturing business, Vessels, Incorporated , into the property. I ran the full operation here for several years before relocating the manufacturing portion of the business to Kirkwood. Most of the statues and garden items you see in and around the space were factory seconds left behind in the move.
I invited my friends Dave and Leslie Lester to open a cajun restaurant in the front building after Jan and company moved out in 1997, and with YA YA”S , the granite building began it’s modern history as a food and drink establishment. ( note: which turned into The Angel then The Grange, which had to change its name to The Marlay House )
After Vessels moved out of the back warehouse, I began hosting events, art shows and concerts out of the space. Noted Atlanta artists Drew Galloway and Matt Greene have shown their work here. In a surge of protest – an impromptu “Salon Des Refuses”, lead by architect Terry Meek, included some 20 artists who were denied entry into the Decatur Arts Festival one year.
Hosting antique shows, and sales of my wares during The Decatur Arts Festival, parleyed into the locally famous “GYPSY CAMP” sales. Antiques and finds from all over the world were massed into the space attracting a large cult following. ( Note: The remnants you see now are stock left over from those Gypsy Camp Sales.)
Most interesting thing I’ve read today, thanks for sharing all this! Are there going to be more Gypsy Camp sales?
There are no plans for any.
Thanks Chad. Very interesting.
I gots to see that bomb shelter! How on earth did it stay dry with the creek so close?
Even though it’s in a flood plain, the property doesn’t flood. He did have a sump pump system, though. I’ll give you a tour anytime I’m in town.
Thank you, Chadwick, for taking the time to write that history of the property. It’s even more interesting than I ever imagined.
Who here has a locked cage protecting your home’s air conditioning unit? Ours was stolen right off of its pad on Wednesday night. They cut power to the house, tore the electric meter off the side, then left with the very large unit. Had to have taken at least two or three people. Don’t panic…the house is 100 yards outside of Decatur City Limits, but still…keep an eye on things.
Whoa. Were you traveling or just out for the evening? Apologies if this is nosy or irrelevant, but I thought that only happened to empty businesses or houses under renovation/construction.
It is a renovation. I was there about 8:30 Wednesday night checking things out. Records now show the power was cut at 9:14 and I assume the unit was taken soon after. The home is on Wisteria, just a block outside of Oakhurst.
Wow. That is really terrible! So sorry that happened, but thank you for the heads up.
You can buy them on Amazon.
If you are looking for a local contractor to put one in, you might try calling Duncan the Entry Enforcer. If he does not offer it, he can probably point you in the direction of someone who does.
http://www.entryenforcer.com/
I want to give an endorsement to a young man name of Jacob who does pressure washing around Decatur.
He was recommended in the Metro a few times so I had him pressure wash my deck last week. Jacob is polite, hardworking, punctual and does an excellent job at a very fair price. If you need some pressure washing around the house he is your man.
Zed, do you have Jacob’s phone number?
As I got the number from the Metro I guess it is OK to post it again
Jacob 404-309-9863
I know names/businesses have all be given on here before and I wished I’d taken notes but……
I’m looking for recommendations for:
Painter
Electrician
Movers
Thanks!!
Mathew Morgan at Oakhurst Electric
I have a painter. Marco 404-823-8161. Extremely punctual, friendly and fair
Tickets now on sale for the 15th annual Decatur BBQ Blues & Bluegrass Festival
https://www.freshtix.com/events/decatur-bbq-blues–bluegrass-festival
Commence complaints that fundraisers should successfully raise funds in 3, 2, 1…
Don’t forget how hot it is because it’s in a parking lot.
Well, yeah, I’m gonna go ahead and complain again about most festivals taking place in the summer. Parking lot or not, it’s miserable outside and it’s still officially Spring!
Keith, we are looking at all ways to make the environment more shaded and more comfortable for everyone. Including additional fans, water stations, more outdoor carpet etc… happy to entertain realistic, and cost effective suggestions.
“happy to entertain realistic, and cost effective suggestions.”
November?
+ 1. You wouldn’t have to worry about shade then; the sun would actually be an asset. Maybe need to rent some lights if stuff takes place in the late evening, but I don’t think that would be particularly expensive. It would be interesting to see what percentage of people feel this way though. I know some people like to sweat (and aren’t bothered by bugs) and can’t stand even a hint of cold.
“I know some people like to sweat (and aren’t bothered by bugs) and can’t stand even a hint of cold.”
They’re called “southerners.” But we’ve mostly replaced them with carpetbagging liberal Yankees now in Decatur.
I would be more likely to buy advance tickets if this event wasn’t held in August. There is no way in hell I am paying to stand in an asphalt lot on a one hundred degree day in August. And since that is likely, I don’t buy advance tickets. Then, as the cost of admission doubles if you buy at the gate, the cost benefit analysis looks very different. So, I probably won’t attend this year either.
Are tickets already sold out? When I tried to purchase 2 tickets today, I get the message “there are not enough tickets available.” If so, – wow! I didn’t know this event sells out so quickly.
Just heard from the event organizers via FB. Tickets are NOT sold out – they are in contact with the ticket vendor and hope to have the issue resolved quickly.
I’m thinking about initiating a credit freeze after dealing with the Target, Anthem, and now OPM breaches. My free year of credit monitoring from Target ended, and I signed up for another free year as a result of Anthem. Now, with this OPM breach, I’ve been offered another free year. I could have two companies monitor my credit concurrently, but would a credit freeze be a better way to go? Or both, to monitor credit as well as SS#? This OPM breach seems much more serious. Anyone else going through this?
I’m a fan of contacting all bureaus and freezing your credit. Even if you have credit monitoring, you may not know until after the fact that someone has taken out a loan in your name. If you do freeze your credit, just be sure to hang onto the PINs each reporting agency issues so that you can lift the freeze if you need to do so.
I was also notified by Anthem and OPM that my personal information may have been breached. I’ve always heard that credit monitoring services are worthless (even if someone else is footing the bill), and that a credit freeze is the way to go. But as MP suggests, a freeze can be a pain when the time comes for you to take out a new loan or line of credit. Interested in others’ experiences with both.
Credit freeze is definitely the way to go, but be aware that if you apply for new cards frequently or any other credit you will have to unfreeze with all 3 (unless the lender will tell you which agency they use) and pay $3 for each agency every time. Not a big deal, but a bit of a hassle nonetheless.
A decent-sized pecan tree limb punched a hole into our garage roof during yesterday’s storm. Does anyone have a recommendation (or a warning) for a roofing company?
Thanks!
Bell roofing.
I second Bell.
Another second for Bell. They do a good job for a fair price.
I’m going through the exact same thing as you (except as a result of last week’s storm), even the same kind of tree. I have used Bell Roofing, and the’re good, but Dr. Roof beat their estimate by $300, so I’m going with them.
Credit Freeze and Thaw Guide
by Clark Howard
Here is a link to the article on how to do it.
http://www.clarkhoward.com/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide
Decatur likes to think of itself as a friendly, welcoming, and progressive place. But right on our beloved square is a a huge obelisk, standing on a plinth, on which is inscribed a justification of slavery and racism.
The Confederate war dead have been gone 151 years. That memorial has stood in Decatur eulogizing them — and white supremacy — for 111 years.
Enough is enough. It’s time for that thing to go.
Agreed. And I also hope Volvo puts pressure on South Carolina to get rid of that idiotic flag.
Another agreement.
No.
Food for thought – In much of Europe, citizens are prohibited from flying the Swastika and other Nazi imagery. Instead, they fly the CSA battle flag to express their solidarity with those ideals.
Thanks Wacky. Some wacky Americans believe that the flag of the United States represents racism and white supremacy. I strongly disagree. I am just as proud of my Southern ancestors (my wife’s family and all those born and raised in Decatur like myself) as I am of those who stormed the beaches at Normandy. And I am not alone.
Some wacky Americans have no problem supporting flags of enemies of the United States, i.e. the Swastika, the ISIS banner, and the Confederate flag, just to name a few.
Too late on a Friday to ask me to moderate this discussion. I respectfully ask that you take it offline.
Fine by me.
No Problamo DM.
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png
+1
Wacky, given facts like you mentioned, I have no problem with assuming anyone who displays a Confederate flag is a racist and have no sympathy when they whine about getting accused of being one for doing so. The Confederacy is a defeated system, same as Nazism and Apartheid. No coincidence that white supremacists often have the Confederate flag right next to the Swastika in their displays
Thank you. Couldn’t agree more.
While we’re at it, let’s rename Ponce de Leon Avenue (east and west). Let’s call it Main Street since it’s the main street connecting the east side with the west side.
Strongly disagree.
Anyone have recommendations for a company to mow, trim, and edge a fescue lawn?
I like Metro Lawns.
http://metrolawns.com/
stay away from Crabapple if you care about your plants.
Has anyone here ever appealed their tax assessment? And if so, did you go it alone, or did you pay one of those outfits that sends us those letters in the mail every year, stating that they are professionals, they succeed N% of the time, and that they’ll make sure you have all the proper documents, etc? Basically, I want to know if it’s worth paying those jokers +/- $300. Or if all they do is make sure I have the same form I’m gonna have anyway.
Also, anyone have a recommendation on which appeal avenue to take?
The assessment appeal process and residents’ experience with it would be a great stand alone post very soon…
We did it successfully last year. It took a few hours of time to go through comps and make a lovely spreadsheet, but I had no interest in paying someone to do that for me. We were happy with the revised assessment proposed by the Board of Assessors and did NOT appear before the Board of Equalization.
Just got my vehicle registration renewal from DeKalb and was assessed the $200 alternative fuel fee. Thing is, I drive a regular hybrid… no plug-in electric, not natural gas or bio-diesel. What the heck? This is a mistake, right??
I guess it’s a mistake, 10×10, but the $200 fee is ridiculously high anyway. It’s hard not to see it as an attempt by the legislature to actually discourage using less gas. It’s one thing to take away an overly generous tax break when Nissan figured out how to make the most of it; now the state has gone in the opposite direction. Guess they didn’t wanna get known as, heaven forbid, progressive.
Progressives complaining about paying a measly $200 to the gummit? But you guys love taxes!
The problem is it’s an amount more in line with what someone who drives a gas guzzler would pay, not a small car, as most of the electrics are.
I’d have to find it, but there was a news story in the past week that many of those were sent out incorrectly.
Yes, it’s a slow evening, but I did pull the flyer for DaVinci’s (the new pizza place where Mellow Mushroom used to be) out of my mailbox, and I noticed something interesting. Their largest pizza, 20″, is listed at $24.99 before toppings. Their next largest pizza, 16″, is listed at $12.99 before toppings. Simple math tells you that the biggest pizza costs about 22 percent more per square inch of pizza than the smaller size. That’s a pretty weird pricing model.
I don’t know if their pizza is any good, but I do know that two 16″ pizzas are a much better deal than a 20″. I also don’t know if DaVinci’s owner is stupid or if he or she thinks the customers are. (They do still teach how to calculate the area of a circle in math, right?)
Guess you’d be paying for the spectacle?
Scoutmob has a 50% deal for Dos Madres.
Just posted a more complete history of the Marlay property up at the top of this thread .