Norcross, Georgia arose in Georgia after the South fell in the
American Civil War. A man named Norcross served Atlanta as its fourth
mayor. In 1870, his friend, "Cousin John" Thrasher, bought tracts of
land out where the new rail line terminated, and he sold lots in the
new town to commuters and merchants. Thrasher named the new town for
his friend, Mayor Thrasher. Close to where a depot arose, Thrasher
deeded a tract of land to the city, never to be used for industry. Farmers came to the town to buy supplies at the merchants and to ship
goods by rail. Families in the city arrived by rail to escape the
chaos of the city, taking a summer holiday at the Brunswick Hotel,
three stories tall, constructed in 1870. When the train came to town,
people at the Brunswick dressed up and greeted family members at the
adjacent depot. On some summer nights, everyone walked over to the
town park and enjoyed a concert. On other summer nights, guest and
visitors sat on the verandas and contemplated life, drinking sweet tea
surely and lemonade perhaps. How long this way of life continued, I
cannot look up as I write this in downtown Norcross. Perhaps World War
II brought the close to this chapter, after which the Brunswich Hotel
fell to a demolition crew. Maybe the pull of the railway hotel faded
as the Chevrolet and Ford Dealerships set up shop on Peachtree across
from the Depot, putting a car in every garage. Some time around turn of 20th Century, a woman took in a child named
Edward Buchanan as a foster son. The historical markers doesn't
mention a foster father. Young man Buchanan made his fortune as a
stockbroker, and built a great house on north edge of the town park.
Unlike other homes of historical character, the Buchanan house is not
marked with placque to bear his name. He started several businesses in town, including a company to build
the Nor X automobile. I have noticed no indication that these vehicles
could be purchased from a dealership on Peachtree. In 1907, Buchanan
donated 2500 dollars to the Ladies's Club for establishment of a
library for the youth in town. Not long enough after, Buchanan visited
the Ladies Club to borrow that sum for his foster mother. Edward had
lost a goodly amount of his fortune it is said, but as the marker
declares, the loan was paid back with interest. Around 1918 or so, a
brick building arose on the west edge of the town park, serving as
library and club meeting room. If you like the story of Edward Buchanan, wait until we visit the
Friendship Monument in downtown Cartersville, Georgia, another story
of credit & repayment, a southern tale of a wonderful life. In 1926, a Civic Club erected cut stone gates at the northwest and
southwest entrances, serving a sidewalk that cuts diagonally through
the mature grove. In 1934, can't be sure because I'm to far from the
marker to check, the city parents voted to call their park Thrasher
Park, after the donor. The railroad long ago built out past Norcross
and passenger rail from the city only reaches Dunwoody, stopping at
the Marta station just outside the 275 beltway. A powerful train
blasting through downtown Norcross, past the Depot restaurant, is a
frequent event.
American Civil War. A man named Norcross served Atlanta as its fourth
mayor. In 1870, his friend, "Cousin John" Thrasher, bought tracts of
land out where the new rail line terminated, and he sold lots in the
new town to commuters and merchants. Thrasher named the new town for
his friend, Mayor Thrasher. Close to where a depot arose, Thrasher
deeded a tract of land to the city, never to be used for industry. Farmers came to the town to buy supplies at the merchants and to ship
goods by rail. Families in the city arrived by rail to escape the
chaos of the city, taking a summer holiday at the Brunswick Hotel,
three stories tall, constructed in 1870. When the train came to town,
people at the Brunswick dressed up and greeted family members at the
adjacent depot. On some summer nights, everyone walked over to the
town park and enjoyed a concert. On other summer nights, guest and
visitors sat on the verandas and contemplated life, drinking sweet tea
surely and lemonade perhaps. How long this way of life continued, I
cannot look up as I write this in downtown Norcross. Perhaps World War
II brought the close to this chapter, after which the Brunswich Hotel
fell to a demolition crew. Maybe the pull of the railway hotel faded
as the Chevrolet and Ford Dealerships set up shop on Peachtree across
from the Depot, putting a car in every garage. Some time around turn of 20th Century, a woman took in a child named
Edward Buchanan as a foster son. The historical markers doesn't
mention a foster father. Young man Buchanan made his fortune as a
stockbroker, and built a great house on north edge of the town park.
Unlike other homes of historical character, the Buchanan house is not
marked with placque to bear his name. He started several businesses in town, including a company to build
the Nor X automobile. I have noticed no indication that these vehicles
could be purchased from a dealership on Peachtree. In 1907, Buchanan
donated 2500 dollars to the Ladies's Club for establishment of a
library for the youth in town. Not long enough after, Buchanan visited
the Ladies Club to borrow that sum for his foster mother. Edward had
lost a goodly amount of his fortune it is said, but as the marker
declares, the loan was paid back with interest. Around 1918 or so, a
brick building arose on the west edge of the town park, serving as
library and club meeting room. If you like the story of Edward Buchanan, wait until we visit the
Friendship Monument in downtown Cartersville, Georgia, another story
of credit & repayment, a southern tale of a wonderful life. In 1926, a Civic Club erected cut stone gates at the northwest and
southwest entrances, serving a sidewalk that cuts diagonally through
the mature grove. In 1934, can't be sure because I'm to far from the
marker to check, the city parents voted to call their park Thrasher
Park, after the donor. The railroad long ago built out past Norcross
and passenger rail from the city only reaches Dunwoody, stopping at
the Marta station just outside the 275 beltway. A powerful train
blasting through downtown Norcross, past the Depot restaurant, is a
frequent event.
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