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Hidden History of Old Atlanta
"Old Atlanta'? may conjure images of Southern belles and Civil War ruination, but the full story stretches back millennia. From centuries of Native American settlements that ended with the removal of the Creeks to the rough and ready pioneer days, the area was rich in history long before it was called Atlanta. Author Mark Pifer unfolds a rich saga, including forgotten details from the struggles of African Americans and new immigrants while noting modern locations bursting with tales that predate the City in the Forest's rise amid the treetops.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
208 pages, Paperback
Published February 8, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 22, 2021
Worth reading for some interesting stories and perspectives. A bit too much speculation and conjecture without supporting facts.
This author could use a good editor for sentence structure and grammar. The amateurish writing undercuts the book’s credibility.
2 1/2 stars
This author could use a good editor for sentence structure and grammar. The amateurish writing undercuts the book’s credibility.
2 1/2 stars
October 4, 2024
This book came recommended by an Atlanta historian. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with the book as she was.
I was curious about the author (Mark Pifer) and his pedigree. I couldn't find anything about his education anywhere online. Is one really a historian if they are not trained in the discipline of the field?
The book definitely felt like an "armchair historian" kind of book. Who writes 200 pages of history without a single footnote or end note? So much of the content seems like mere speculation rather than historical research (see his discussion on "Pitch Tree" vs. "Peach Tree").
All that being said, there were some interesting things that I learned and that I want to look into further, including:
- Southern Georgia and Florida were originally part of the African continent pre-Pangea
- There was a Native American mound village where Six Flags is today. It was destroyed by bulldozers when the park was built.
- I knew that Atlanta was formerly known as Terminus and Marthasville, but I didn't know about White Hall Inn, Black Ankle, Thrasherville, or Deantown.
- I didn't realize that the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company became Wachovia which became Wells Fargo
- I didn't know about the Monroe Embankment
- I didn't that the zero mile marker moved locations.
I was curious about the author (Mark Pifer) and his pedigree. I couldn't find anything about his education anywhere online. Is one really a historian if they are not trained in the discipline of the field?
The book definitely felt like an "armchair historian" kind of book. Who writes 200 pages of history without a single footnote or end note? So much of the content seems like mere speculation rather than historical research (see his discussion on "Pitch Tree" vs. "Peach Tree").
All that being said, there were some interesting things that I learned and that I want to look into further, including:
- Southern Georgia and Florida were originally part of the African continent pre-Pangea
- There was a Native American mound village where Six Flags is today. It was destroyed by bulldozers when the park was built.
- I knew that Atlanta was formerly known as Terminus and Marthasville, but I didn't know about White Hall Inn, Black Ankle, Thrasherville, or Deantown.
- I didn't realize that the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company became Wachovia which became Wells Fargo
- I didn't know about the Monroe Embankment
- I didn't that the zero mile marker moved locations.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews