After reading a few years back that a 20 story skyscraper was once planned for West Courthouse Square, I have always wondered what on earth that building looked like and how it would have altered the Decatur Square.

Well now, thanks to Chris, who’s passed along this article from the 1966 Decatur Stockholder Report, we can all imagine it!  Just picture the 20-story building on the left in place of the DeVry building on the West edge of Decatur Square.

In response to conversations about “Clark Music” in another thread, Clark sends in this photo of the old Clark Music store on Decatur Square.  Awesome!

Melissa Forgey at the DeKalb History Center sends along this announcement…

Bring your children to Storytelling this summer! 10 – 11 a.m. most Wednesdays at the historic Biffle Cabin, 720 W. Trinity Pl., Decatur 30030 (Behind the Swanton House)

For ages 6 – 12. $4 per child for members or $6 per child for non-members. Reservations are suggested. Call 404-373-1088 extension 22 or email forgey@dekalbhistory.org for reservations  or information. Additional information can be found on each session on our webpage at www.dekalbhistory.org.

• June 5, Fun with Brer Rabbit and Friends with Josie Bailey

• June 12, Gotcha! Trickster Tales with Cathy Kaemmerlen

• June 19, Tales of the Gullah with LaDoris Davis

• June 26, Georgia Tales and Tails from Possums to Gourds with Cathy Kaemmerlen

• July 10, The Tapestry Cats with Ann Ritter

• July 17, Take Me Out to the Ballgame! With Deborah Strahorn

•  July 24, Appalachian Folktales with LaDoris Davis

• July 31, Fiddlin’Dan the Mountain Man with Reuben Haller

Chris writes in…

The beautiful Victorian gravesite of Miss Emily Pittman in the City of Decatur cemetery was rededication on Mothers Day, May 12. Cathy Vogel, David Crenshaw, Victor Donham, Nancy Sill and others from the Friends of Decatur Cemetery organization have worked for years to restore the gravesite. With funds from the Decatur Beer Festival, and the expertise of master blacksmith Ray Bowen, the site is now restored to its original look.

A wider shot of the gravesite and some of the volunteers who restored it, after the jump…

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Melissa Forgey sends along this announcement…

DECATUR – The DeKalb History Center’s Lunch and Learn Lecture Series continues in March with a presentation by Walt Drake. “Decatur 202” is a continuation of the Decatur 101 lecture he gave to the History Center in September 2010. Walt will focus on businesses, events and politics during the period of 1950-2000. He will also present profiles of some of the leaders, merchants, educators, sports figures and general characters who made their mark on Decatur. How did Decatur get to where it is today? Drake will continue exploring that “forty year overnight miracle!”

Walt Drake is a long-time resident of Decatur, and the senior partner of McCurdy & Candler law firm in Decatur. He served two terms on the Decatur City Commission, and two terms as Mayor of Decatur in the 1970s. He was the youngest Mayor in Decatur’s history at age 30. Over the years he has been active in numerous Decatur organizations, and currently serves as a Trustee of Agnes Scott College and of Columbia Theological Seminary
He is also a Director of the Decatur Education Foundation. He lectures frequently on Decatur topics, and is working on a history of Decatur from 1900 to 1999. He is a graduate of Davidson College and of the University Of Virginia School Of Law.

Free! Bring your lunch.

Tuesday, March 19, Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Historic DeKalb Courthouse, 101 E. Court Square, Decatur GA 30030, Second Floor, Superior Courtroom

Photo Caption: The Decatur Girls’ and Boys’ High Marching Band on McDonough Street. Photo by Guy Hayes, 1947

Decatur’s Preservation Planner Regina Brewer writes in with this announcement about this year’s Decatur Old House Fair…

Given the number of times the dear readers of DM have debated “old versus new”, this event with the theme “Something Old, Something New” should satisfy all.  It’s the Decatur Old House Fair and it’s the one event where no one will look at your strangely when you utter words like “muntin” and “corbel” in the same sentence as “energy efficiency” and “low flush toilets ”.  In fact, you will be among many people who are currently pumping out the water from their basements and are eagerly looking forward to the session on “Mastering Moisture and Water Problems” (soon to be a movie with Kevin Bacon and filmed in any neighborhood with old houses!).

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Chris sends in this photo and writes…

One of the responders to a recent post was surprise concerning courtyards at Dhs. I was there Saturday morning to pick up kids for MLK service day and took a pic. Long time teacher Eddie Fowlkes says the object in the foreground is a well that existed prior to the building of the original 1907 Central Grammar school (old Girls High).  I was told in 1976 by an old janitor that it was what was left of an old tunnel  from Agnes Scott to Girls high, designed and dug by Ga Tech boys. Who knows!