The AJC’s Actual Factual Georgia feature tackled this question yesterday.

Q: Clairmont Road gains an “e” heading south toward Decatur, or Clairemont loses an “e” when heading north away from Decatur. What’s the story behind that?

The answer is incomplete at best, but it’s worth a quick look so you can bring it up at Decatur area holiday parties over the next few days!

Thanks to Chris for pointing out this feature!   He adds…

“Years ago, a local historian who researched at the DeKalb History Center (McCurdy?) told my students that the road was named after a beautiful girl named Claire.  The boys who courted her had to climb stairs to the house, “… To get to Claire, you had to climb the mountain.”  I always assumed that the Ridley house was across the street from the YMCA, a house with many steps but the AJC article says the land was at the corner of Clairemont and Garden Lane.”

Unfortunately, Sanborn Maps of Decatur only go a bit north of Williams Street (see above), so those don’t answer the question of the location of the Ridley house. However, the map does introduce another alternative spelling of the street, “Claremont Road”.

Perhaps there are just too many ways to misspell “Claire”.

Tomorrow’s News Today reports that the IGA up near I-85 has closed and that QuikTrip will be building a new gas station in the space…

Now, with IGA closed, Tulsa, Oklahoma-based QuikTrip plans to open a new convenience store and gas station on the land in place of the IGA store, adjacent parking lot and a small, undeveloped parcel behind the center.    It’s my understanding that the IGA portion of the aging shopping center will be demolished and that the other businesses like the pharmacy and dry cleaners will remain open.  I would love to see the entire center get a facelift, but I’m told that is not a sure thing at this point.

SJVRS writes in…

I drive to work every day on Clairmont and pass the VA Hospital where there are sometimes a bunch of geese on the side of the road.   Sometimes in the road.

Today I saw one that must have been hit by a car. There is no sign posted (that I have seen) that alerts drivers to go careful around there as there may be geese crossing in the road. Do you know if there is any way to relocate this group to a new home – away from such a busy road?

I’m think it has something to do with that pond between the two apartment complexes, no?  (Here’s the Streeview of what I’m referencing)

This is a bit north of the Decatur city limits, but this 1969 Arby’s building – most recently an Athens Pizza Express – has finally revealed its latest incarnation – Kitsch’n 155!  (Here’s a similar looking Arby’s, turned into a car dealership.)

They’re website is already up and running – though no detailed menu yet.  However, a couple blurbs on their Yelp! page give some background.  First a short history…

We’ve taken some of our favorite parts of dining out and combined it with how we cook at home for our family to provide Tasty Tacky Fun to the Decatur Community. We had been searching for the right location for our new venture when we came across this tacky old building that was an old Arby’s from 1969. We looked at it and saw what it could be, and our vision has come to life. This old building will catch your eye with its arched roof, nostalgic design and bright colors. We embrace the tacky. You’ll enjoy this retro road trip to a simpler time.

And as for menu items…

*Our “Everyday Menu” includes items like burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, chili, fresh cut fries and sweet potato fries.  *Our “Today’s Menu” that will have our blue plates and sides for that day. Items like pot roast, fried chicken, meatloaf, pork chops, country fried steak, roasted asparagus, greens, squash casserole, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, creamed corn, and many more.

The same Yelp! page says they open sometime this week.  Also this at-night pic gives a slightly better look at the interior decor.

Photo courtesy of the misses

UPDATE: The AJC’s Jamie Gumbrecht alerts us of this update:  “Regarding reports of a 20-car accident at Clairmont and Mason Mill Road, state Department of Transportation officials and DeKalb police say there were a series of stalls, but no physical accident. The vehicles are off to the side.”

I bet it’s because of that damn big hill in front of the VA hospital.

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My wife informed me that 11alive just reported a massive multi-car pile up on Clairmont, north of Decatur, at Mason Mill.  Here’s all I can find online thus far…

9:19 AM 01/08/10 Incident CLAIRMONT RD Southbound at MASON MILL RD Multi-vehicle accident:

APPROX. 20 VEHICLES INVOLVED