Missing turtles found

By Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

There’s sculpture in Charlie Loudermilk Park of a bronze buck telling the story of how Buckhead got its name to a rabbit, three dogs and six turtles.

Only three of the turtles are listening right now.

The others went missing a month ago.

The bronze turtles, which weigh about 75 pounds each, were removed from the statue and haven’t been seen since.

“They were bolted down, so it took some real work, strong people and equipment,” said Sam Massell, president of the Buckhead Coalition.

Massell on Friday issued a news release saying that the turtles have been found. They were removed by the Buckhead Alliance and given to three people who had contributed to the campaign supporting the park's redesign, Massell said.

Massell said Buckhead Alliance staff members, who were trying to investigate what happened to the missing turtles, did not know that the statues had been given away.

"Apparently they (the turtles) are in good hands," Massell said.

The turtles are missing out on the story of how the community, formerly known as Irbyville, got its name. Here’s the legend, as told to the AJC by Massell:

Irbyville stemmed from Henry Irby, a businessman who owned a tavern at what is now where Roswell Road and Peachtree Road intersect. Massell said Irby shot and killed a buck and hung its head in front of the tavern.

“People were starting to say, ‘I’ll meet you at the buck’s head,’” Massell said.

The park, complete with the statue, is at that corner where the tavern once stood.

Massell has an obvious concern for what happened to the statues, but as the former president of the Atlanta Humane Society, he said he’s particularly concerned about the turtles.

“I’m taking this personally,” he said. “A turtle, whether it’s a pet, copper or bronze, should be protected.”