Flashback photos: Druid Hills and North Druid Hills, 1936-1986

Things to Do

Flashback photos: Druid Hills and North Druid Hills, 1936-1986

Take a look back at the leafy stretch of Atlanta and Dekalb that contains some of the city's oldest mansions.

I-85 at Druid Hills Road in October 1959. N06-146_01, Tracy O'Neal Photographic Collection, 1923-1975, Photographic Collection. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University.

Dogwoods in Druid Hills, March 1, 1936. Edgar Orr/AJC

An aerial shot of the newly built Druid Hills Methodist Church in August 1956. LBGPF6-052a, Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers Photographic Collection, 1920-1976. Photographic Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library.

The original caption reads: ""Call to Worship- People from all churches in the Druid Hills community respond to the call to worship Monday night at the Druid Hills Baptist Church, and offered up their prayers of thanksgiving that the war in Germany is over. Dr. Louie Newton, pastor, is seen in the front row. Journal Photo May 8, 1945" AJC file.

A trolley which is one of the attractions at the annual Druid Hills Home and Garden Tour, March 27, 1986. Pictured on the trolley are Ted Taylor (from left) of Taylor Associates Architects which is sponsoring the trolley, and volunteers Patricia Foles, Maureen Rollins, Joy Stuart, Estella Gholston, Mary Kay Wilcox, Kathy Myers, and trolley owner Glenn Phillips. AJC file.

A jogger in the Druid Hills neighborhood, November 8, 1979. AJC file.

Wall construction near I-85 as part of an underpass, North Druid Hills Road, Atlanta, Georgia, February 28, 1980. Bill Mahan/AJC

Druid Hills Methodist Church in August 1956. LBGPF2-030a, Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers Photographic Collection, 1920-1976. Photographic Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library.

Druid Hills Methodist Church in August 1956. LBGPF2-030b, Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers Photographic Collection, 1920-1976. Photographic Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library.

The description on the back of the photo, from June 1, 1957, reads: "Another Link-- a 2 1/2-mile extension of the Buford Highway section of Atlanta's Expressway System was opened formally in ceremonies Friday, Mrs. Sallie R. Quillian of Gainesville cut the ribbon. Shown above are cars lined up for a motorcade of state and local officials and civic leaders. The strip of concrete running horizontally across the picture is the bridge carrying North Druid Hills road over the expressway." Frank Beatty/AJC

An undated shot of Druid Hills Road, likely from the 1950s. LBGPNS4-040a, Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers Photographic Collection, 1920-1976. Photographic Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library.

Druid Hills United Methodist Church, Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia, February 15, 1972. Steve Deal/AJC

Expressway at North Druid Hills Road, May 31, 1957. AJC file.

An undated photo of the intersection of Briarcliff Road and North Decatur Road, probably in the early 1950s. LBGPNS2-044a, Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers Photographic Collection, 1920-1976. Photographic Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library.

A Druid Hills home surrounded by Dogwoods, April 27, 1960. Bob Dendy/AJC

Colonial Stores supermarket at Clairmont and North Decatur Road in June 1952. LBGPNS3-075a, Lane Brothers Commercial Photographers Photographic Collection, 1920-1976. Photographic Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library.

1 / 16

I-85 at Druid Hills Road in October 1959. N06-146_01, Tracy O'Neal Photographic Collection, 1923-1975, Photographic Collection. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University.

Today's Gallery Headlines

PHOTOS: Ossoff, Bottoms hold campaign rally at Cobb Convention Center

PHOTOS: Bulldogs fall to Auburn in Athens

PHOTOS: Atlanta Dream face the Golden State Valkyries in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals

PHOTOS: At ‘No Kings’ rally in Atlanta, Black voters are urged to vote early

More Galleries

PHOTOS: Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire perform in Atlanta

PHOTOS: 2026 Juneteenth Festival held in Piedmont Park

PHOTOS: "Weird Al" Yankovic

PHOTOS: Atlanta Jazz Festival 2026