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PAGE EIGHT
- MAGAZINE SECTION
A STORY OF A VISIT TO FORTIFIED HILLS
By EDITH M. SPENCER
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Thia photograph was made to show clearly the “place" idea. Fortified Hills is laid off in these “places." In each “place" are two streets as shown in the picture, and between these two streets is a little park with
shrubs, trees and flowers. No houses are built on these parks, and they are the property of the people whn own the lots facing them.
BHEN I read the interesting story of the development of For
tified Hills, I determined to look at this tract and to see if it
was as beautiful as the story in The Georgian had led me
to believe. The park idea was a novel one, though 1 knew
that this plan had been undertaken with marked success in Eu
rope by famous property owners. I was curious to see if it were
to prove merely an experiment or a successful reality, adding to
the comfort of many families and becoming a beautiful and valu
able portion of Atlanta.
To me the home seems the foundation of the state. If the
home is not merely a house in which to dwell, eat and sleep, it may
be considered as having the greatest effect on the world at large.
But if it is merely a house, the effect is negative.
Perhaps Ido not make myself clear. To my way of thinking,
a home is a substantial residence, whether it be bungalow, cot
tage or mansion, surrounded by pretty grounds. A home has an
atmosphere of love and pride. The lawn indicates that the owner
watches with pride the growth of the trees and shrubbery and
beautification of the surroundings. A home sends forth into the
world the best citizens and its economic value is great.
We all remember houses we have known. One house differs
very little from another in the effect upon the residents. Stuffy,
cramped up on small lots, fronting on narrow streets, prosaic and
often unhealthful houses are the usual shelter for people of moder
ate income.
Dr. E. W. Grove has carefully considered this in planning and
beautifying Fortified Hills. For nine years he worked on this
tract of 326 acres before he would consent to put the property on
the market. He intended to prepare a beautiful subdivision for
homes that could be owned and enjoyed by salaried men earning
from $25 to S4O a week.
During these nine years forces of men worked on this property
to preserve nature in her most beautiful forms and yet make the
necessary preparations for the building of homes. All the property
was laid off in “places. ’ Between the two streets which formed a
“place” was a little park with shrubs, trees and flowers. Thus
could the future home owners always have at their disposal a
grassy park to greet their eyes and afford a playground for their
children.
To establish a proper precedent, Dr. Grove built the" first
homes himself. They were substantial and handsome, but built
jTURMAN, BLACK & CALHOUN, Agents, JSiJSK’fM
THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. SATURDAY, JULY 6. 1912.
at a price that need not frighten the man of moderate salary. No
lots were to be sold without restrictions as to race and cost of
houses, so that each home owner could feel secure in his purchase.
Well, I went to Fortified Hills. I found that all I had read of it
was true. It was like a model colony such as we have heard spoken
of in a visionary way and imagined could not prove practical. Each
residence was a true home. Each yard indicated the loving pride
the owner took in making his home and its surroundings a pleas
ant place.
Grove School is a place that fairly allures children to partake
of knowledge. It is considered the finest school building of its
size in Fulton County. Aside from the sanitary conditions of the
building itself the environment is so delightful that children are
truly eager to attend the Grove School.
This little journey to Fortified Hills was no trouble. It is but
twenty minutes ride from the city hall, but when I arrived there,
the impression of pure air, beautiful scenery and cozy, pleasant
homes was so strong that I could hardly realize that I had just
left the dust-laden air of the busy city and its rows and rows of
mere houses.
Fortified Hills is a paradise for the great host of home lovers
who can not afford the high-priced property in older sections.
There is beauty, comfort and, best of all, health at Fortified Hills.
Fhe name itself suggests protection. It is not a fanciful con
ceit, but an appropriate description. Although Atlanta is 1,080
feet above sea level, Fortified Hills rises above Atlanta. Here is
protection from ugliness, protection from disease, protection from
extravagant living, and the inestimable protection to the growing
children.
The River car line may be taken at Broad and Marietta
Streets and you can see for yourself Fortified Hills in all its bud
ding beauty. You will become enthusiastic over it and mentally
calculating as to the probability of purchasing a lot there before
you have walked along the pleasant shaded streets many minutes.
If you are not interested in a real home, a home which will give
yourself and children the best opportunity to become happy, val
uable citizens, do not go to Fortified Hills. I warn you that you
will be tempted, and it will be a temptation hard to withstand.
Turman, Black & Calhoun, 203-8 Empire Building, Atlanta,
have the agencV for the sale of this property. They have interest
ing booklets and plats which they will be glad to send upon re
quest.