Flashback Photos: Who are Atlanta's streets named for?

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Flashback Photos: Who are Atlanta's streets named for?

Flashback Photos: Who are Atlanta's streets named for?

Jan. 4, 1977 -- Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and supporters Rev. Dr. Cameron Alexander and Atlanta City Councilman Arthur Langford (left to right) meet in Rev. Abernathy's office before a meeting at the New Hunter Street Baptist Church. Streets named for them: Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard (formerly Gordon Street), Cameron M. Alexander Boulevard (formerly Kennedy Street) and Ga. Highway 166, known as Arthur B. Langford Jr. Parkway (formerly Lakewood Freeway).

1961 -- Dr. Charles Allen, former pastor of Grace Methodist Church in Atlanta and who also has a church in Houston, Tex., autographs a copy of his new book, 'Healing Words' for Mrs. Beulah Winn at a party held in his honor at Rich's. Street named for him: Charles Allen Drive in Midtown (formerly Parkway or Parkwood Drive; prior to that, Jackson Street).

Jan. 6, 1961 - Checking time until the job is available: Mayor-nominee Ivan Allen Jr. (left) and Mayor William B. Hartsfield. Streets and landmarks named for them: Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, from West Peachtree Street west to Marietta Street (formerly Simpson Street for Leonard C. Simpson, Atlanta's first lawyer, Jones Avenue and Alexander Street for Dr. James F. Alexander) and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (formerly known as Candler Field, for Coca-Cola magnate and former Atlanta mayor Asa Candler, and Atlanta Municipal Airport).

July 30, 1980 -- The Rev. Joe Boone and Arthur Langford chat outside of a municipal courtroom in Atlanta. Street named for Boone: Joseph E. Boone Boulevard (formerly known as Simpson Street/Road for Leonard C. Simpson, Atlanta's first lawyer)

Jan. 10, 1957 - Dr. William Holmes Borders (at microphone), pastor of the Wheat Street Baptist Church, tells a crowd of about 1,200 that the campaign against segregated bus seating in Atlanta would "go forward at whatever the cost." Street named for him: William Holmes Borders Drive (formerly Yonge Street)

Atlantan Asa Griggs Candler bought the formula for Coca-Cola in 1888, marketed it aggressively and made his fortune. He was the 44th mayor of Atlanta, serving from 1916-1919. Streets and landmarks named for him: Candler Road (Decatur), Candler Field (former name of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport), Candler Park, Candler Building.

John Wesley Dobbs was a prominent Atlanta businessman and Grandmaster of the Prince Hall Masons. He was called the "mayor of Auburn Avenue" and gave the famous Atlanta street the nickname 'Sweet Auburn.' Street named for him: John Wesley Dobbs Avenue (formerly called Houston Street -- pronounced "HOW-stun" -- for pioneer Oswald Houston)

Atlanta insurance executive Jesse Hill was the CEO of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company and the first black president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Street named for him: Jesse Hill Jr. Drive (formerly called Butler Street)

Jan. 9, 1961, Athens, Ga. -- Attorney Donald Lee Hollowell, Hamilton E. Holmes, one of the first black applicants to the University of Georgia, and Alfred Holmes, father of Hamilton Holmes, confer about Holmes' attempts to enter the university. He was ultimately successful. Streets named after them: Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway (formerly Bankhead Highway/Bankhead Avenue and Bellwood Avenue) and Hamilton E. Holmes Drive (formerly Hightower Road).

Atlanta Constitution publisher Clark Howell speaking (date unknown). Howell also served as a Georgia representative and senator and was Speaker of the Georgia House. He founded radio station WGST as well. Streets named for him: Clark Howell Highway near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson speaks at a press conference in 1977. Following his death in 2003, Jackson, Atlanta's first black mayor, has been honored around the city in a variety of ways. Streets and landmarks named for him: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal (at airport), Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Boulevard (leading to International Terminal), Maynard H. Jackson High School in Atlanta (formerly Girls High, Roosevelt High and Southside High)

Reverend Joseph Lowery speaks to ministers at a conference on AIDS at the Interdenominational Theological Seminary. He is the president of the SCLC. Streets named for him: Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard (formerly called Ashby Street for Civil War General Turner Ashby)

Dr. Benjamin Mays, in his study in 1980. Mays served as president of Morehouse College from 1940-67, mentoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the modern civil rights movement. Streets and landmarks named for him: Benjamin E. Mays Drive (formerly called Sewell Road) and Mays High School.

Oct. 15, 1981 -- Mayoral candidate Sidney Marcus addresses partygoers at an Oktoberfest celebration. Marcus served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1968-83 and ran unsuccessfully against Andrew Young in the 1981 Atlanta mayoral race. Streets and landmarks named for him: Sidney Marcus Boulevard, Sidney Marcus Park (Atlanta), Sidney Marcus Auditorium (Georgia World Congress Center)

Ralph McGill, shown here in his newspaper office in the early 1960s, was the Atlanta Constitution publisher who won the Pulitzer Prize for his anti-segregation editorials in 1959. Street named for him: Ralph McGill Boulevard (formerly called Forrest Avenue, for Civil War lieutenant general and first Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan Nathan Bedford Forrest, and Fortune Street)

Feb. 6, 1976 - Georgia House Speaker Tom Murphy presides over a legislative session. Murphy served in the House from 1960-2002 and acted as Speaker from 1972-2002, making him the longest serving House Speaker of any United States legislature. Murphy died in 2007. Roads named for him: Tom Murphy Freeway (Interstate 20 from the Alabama state line to I-285 on Atlanta's west side)

John Portman at one of his many Atlanta area developments, Peachtree Center, in the 1980s. Street named for him: John Portman Boulevard At Historic Harris Street, by Atlanta City Council vote in 2011 (formerly called only Harris Street for Fulton County's first elected legislator)

Oct. 4, 1981 - Rev. Ralph David Abernathy presents Atlanta mayoral candidate Andrew Young with a T-shirt for the West Hunter Street Baptist Church Centennial. Aside from being Atlanta's 55th Mayor, serving from 1982-90, Young has served as a Congressman from Georgia and the US Ambassador to the United Nations from 1977-79. Street named for him: Andrew Young International Boulevard (formerly called International Boulevard, Cain Street for pioneer John J. Cain, and Magnolia Street, per 1886 map -- a one-block section between Marietta Street and railroad tracks)

Peach trees as far as you can see: Georgia is known as the "Peach State" and perhaps no city honors the peach tree quite like Atlanta and its surrounding metro area. Peaches have been a part of Georgia's agriculture since 1571, peaking with nearly 8 million bushels produced by 1928. Streets named after the vaunted peach tree (just to name a few): Peachtree Center Avenue (formerly called Ivy Street for pioneer Hardy Ivy), Peachtree Walk (formerly called Centre Street, per an 1895 map) and Atlanta's famed Peachtree Street south of the railroad Gulch downtown (formerly called Whitehall Street for the Whitehall Tavern, a tavern/inn established in the 1830s)

And you thought our list was confusing? Take a gander at this: Here's a list of the 225 street name changes in Atlanta up until 1903, published in the Constitution. Developer Forrest Adair gave the list to the Atlanta City Council as a means of documenting the various street name changes made from Atlanta's founding until 1903.

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Jan. 4, 1977 -- Rev. Ralph David Abernathy and supporters Rev. Dr. Cameron Alexander and Atlanta City Councilman Arthur Langford (left to right) meet in Rev. Abernathy's office before a meeting at the New Hunter Street Baptist Church. Streets named for them: Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard (formerly Gordon Street), Cameron M. Alexander Boulevard (formerly Kennedy Street) and Ga. Highway 166, known as Arthur B. Langford Jr. Parkway (formerly Lakewood Freeway).

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