DeKalb History Center

New in the archives! We've picked up a collection of scrapbooks from Henderson Mill Elementary School. They range from 1965, when the school first opened, up through the mid-1980s. They are chock-full of historic photos and information about the staff and the school itself. Created by the Henderson Mill Elementary PTA groups of the day. Follow the link to make an appointment to come see them in person!

These photos come from the 1965 scrapbook.

https://dekalbhistory.org/dekalb-county-archives-research/contact-dhc-archives/

Day 2 of From the Vault: Spooky Stories of DeKalb 👻

Spiritualism: Our History with Otherworldly Communication

In the 1880s, another method used to communicate with the dead was discovered: the talking board. This method of communication circulated amongst spiritualists across Ohio, but it wasn’t until 1890 that it became known as the Ouija board and was marketed to the masses. No one knows where the concept for the game came from, but the original talking boards were fashioned out of paper and a glass object serving as the planchette (from the French for “little plank”).

It’s said that the board actually named itself. When the makers were asking the board what its name should be, it spelled out “ouija” and then “Good luck.”

Click the link below to read the full story.
https://dekalbhistory.org/blog-posts/spiritualism-our-history-with-otherworldly-communication/

It’s almost Halloween! 🎃
Over the next few days, we’ll be revisiting some of our favorite Spooky Stories of DeKalb from the past few years!

Get ready for history, mystery, and some Halloween chills!

Stiffs for Science: Life After Death - DeKalb History Center What happened to our bodies after death in the Victorian Era? Learn about body snatching, embalming, and the business of transporting the departed.

Tonight! ⚾
DeKalb History Center
6:30 PM
$5/$10 Members/Non Member

Run the Bases with James “Red” Moore (Former Atlanta Black Crackers) and Gregory White (Negro League Historian)
Join the conversation with Gregory White (DeKalb County Resident) who documented the life of James “Red” Moore, former Atlanta Black Cracker from 1992-2016. His story is more than baseball-it is a legacy of excellence, perseverance and talent rising beyond limited opportunity.

New in the archives! This collection from the Lithonia Woman's Club (the building was recently sold) features administrative files, photos, yearbooks (starting in 1927!), correspondence, and more! Contact the archives today to make an appointment.

https://dekalbhistory.org/dekalb-county-archives-research/contact-dhc-archives/

Our latest interviewee from Lynwood Park was Ms. Jacquelyn Hampton. Born in Atlanta in 1946, her family moved to Deacon Lane in Chamblee when she was nine years old. Since DeKalb County schools were still segregated, Jacquelyn and other Black children were bused to the Lynwood Park School. Other than a few community jobs, General Motors was the primary employer for people who moved to the area. Entertainment options were also so limited that Jacquelyn’s mother created a teen hangout space from their home.

She was a busy student at Lynwood Park School, actively participating in cheerleading and other sports. She graduated from Lynwood Park School in 1964 as the valedictorian. After graduating, she studied at the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. From there, she was recruited by the Presbyterian Church to become part of the youth council as a representative at the World Council of Churches in Uppsala, Sweden.

Following college, she married and moved to Kansas City, where she transitioned from teaching into social work. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Kansas. In her time spent living in Kansas, she worked on a 13-year Black Adoption Project and, for 16 years, researched developmental disabilities. These roles would parlay her into a position working for the government of Wyandotte County in housing and urban development.

After living in Kansas for several decades, she returned to Atlanta in 2014. Today, she’s enjoying her retirement surrounded by her children and grandchildren. If you or someone you know is interested in doing an oral history interview, please let us know! 😊✨

We recently interviewed another former Lynwood Park resident, Mr. Melvin Pender, Jr. He was born in 1937 in Atlanta and spent the early years of his life living in poverty. When he was a baby, his family moved to Chicago, where his parents worked in the defense plants during World War II. Afterwards, his father was drafted into the Navy and his family returned to Dalton, Georgia, in 1942, where they lived in a humble home. Pender pointed out that although humble, they had running water. During his youth, he questioned the segregated society he lived in. “I started seeing things, and I would say, ' Why?” His mother couldn’t answer the question, but she instilled in him the belief that he needed an education, and that one day things would change.

When the family moved to Lynwood Park in 1950, their home was on House Road, which is known today as Osbourne Road. His mother was part of a group (Twelve Ladies Sewing Club) that raised money to buy the land to build the Lynwood Park School. He described the school as a long concrete building, with a stove, muddy land, and a toilet that was 50 meters away from the building. The Lynwood Park School community was nurturing and encouraged the students to pursue their education. After Melvin got married at age 16, he enlisted in the United States Army (at 17). This set him on a 21-year military career, during which he rose in rank from a soldier to an infantry lieutenant in the Officer Candidate School.

In the 1960s, Pender was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. While playing football there, he discovered that he was the fastest runner on the team. At 27 years old, he placed sixth in the 100-meter dash at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Four years later, he won a gold medal in the 4x100-meter relay at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968.
If you or someone you know is interested in an oral history interview, reach out to us! We’d love to hear from you!

Stop in for a local history break during the Decatur Book Festival! We have four exhibits currently on display - all free to explore. 😎 Find us in the Historic DeKalb Courthouse right in the middle of downtown Decatur.

Museum Hours for Saturday, October 3rd -
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Together- A Community Celebration of Our Shared History
Now Open!

What does it mean to be a DeKalb Countian? As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, we chose to zoom in and focus on the individual stories within our own county.

Museum Hours:
Free to Visit!
M-F 10:00-4:00 PM
Saturday 10:00-2:00 PM

We hope to see you at one of these upcoming October programs! 🎃

Decatur Architecture Walking Tour, Theme: Historical/Revival Styles
Tuesday, October 6 at 5:00 pm
This is a ticketed tour.
(Last architecture tour of the year!)

Hops at the History Center: Notorious Georgia with Neely Young
Thursday, October 8 at 6:30 pm
This is a ticketed program.

Workshop: Discovering and Preserving Family History
Saturday, October 10 at 10:00 am
This is a ticketed workshop.

Lunch and Learn: Cemeteries of Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area
Wednesday, October 14 at 12:00 pm
Free to attend, bring your lunch!

Hops at the History Center: Negro National League with Greg White
Tuesday, October 27 at 6:30 pm
This is a ticketed program.

Find more info on these programs here: https://dekalbhistory.org/public-programs-dekalb-history-center/