Unless by deliberate choice, most drivers zipping around the east side of of Decatur don’t turn into the short cul-de-sac marked as Ponce de Leon Court. Though it’s within walking distance of the city’s vibrant downtown hub, the street is a bit of a hidden gem with a distinctive personality that sets it apart from others in the DeKalb County seat.
For starters, there are palm trees.
“This street reminds me of a tropical garden,” said resident Bob Bohanan. “It’s got palm trees, pine trees and a small bamboo forest. At one time, there were even banana trees.”
The reason Ponce de Leon Court has such an interesting landscape lies in its history. Built between 1924 and 1926, the development was the brainchild of a builder who wanted to put a little piece of Florida in Decatur. Twenty-six plots were laid out, and predominately Craftsman-style houses with a variety of exterior accents were built. At the edge of the landscaped island at the bottom of the street, a pastel-colored apartment building in the style of a grand beach hotel went up. The project was also one of the first in the area to have driveways that accommodated the family automobile.
Over the years, residents have made modest embellishments such as screened porches and pastel colors while maintaining as much of the original vision as possible. In fact, they have been so adamant about sticking to the developer’s objectives that three years ago they had the neighborhood placed on the Georgia Register of Historic Places. A year later, they earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
“Everybody pitched in on the historic designation, and that’s how we all got to know each other,” said Bohanan, whose wife Donna bought a house on the street in 1981. “And we’ve stayed very friendly. We do progressive dinners and potlucks at each other’s houses. We have a good little group here.”
When Donna Stenger Bohanan moved in 32 years ago, she was the only single person on the street. Most of her neighbors were original owners, but today the community is largely filled with families and children.
“Sometimes I feel living here is like being on ‘Leave It to Beaver’,” she said. “Everybody knows everybody. Even our postman knows what’s happening on the street and keeps us informed!”
Owners of one of the oldest homes on the street, the Bohanans are happy to show off the exposed brick walls in the basement, the original French doors and hardwood floors. But Donna Bohanan, a master gardener, is equally fond of the street’s interesting landscape. She’s been part of a group that replanted palm trees at the street’s entrance, and she keeps one healthy palm in front of her own door.
“The one in my front yard has been there since 1990,” she said. “It’s so interesting what grows on this street. We have an odd sort of microclimate here. It’s just another thing that makes this street so special.”
Each Saturday, we shine a spotlight on a local neighborhood, city or community. To suggest a place for us to visit, e-mail H.M. Cauley at hm_cauley@yahoo.com or call 404-514-6162.
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