National Register of Historic Places

Ponce de Leon Court Historic District

Decatur, De Kalb County, Georgia
Listed
November 2, 2011
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
11000774

About this property

The Ponce de Leon Court Historic District consists of a single cul-de-sac located immediately east of downtown Decatur, Georgia. The street is accessed off of East Ponce de Leon Avenue, a historic road that runs east from Atlanta, Georgia through Decatur. Historic Decatur Cemetery is located to the north, and affluent Glennwood Estates, developed in 1927, and Glennwood elementary school border Ponce de Leon Court on the east. Ponce de Leon Court is a local historic district in the city of Decatur, and was listed in the Georgia Register of Historic Places in June 2010. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 2, 2011. The single-street district includes approximately 26 parcels, and was based on a subdivision plat developed by John L. Womack in the 1920s. Womack reportedly wanted homes on this street to remind him of the tropics, so he planted both palm trees and banana trees. The palm trees flourished, but the banana trees died. In the twenty-first century, residents successfully reintroduced banana trees on the north end of the street thanks to a change in the microclimate. The Womack family still owned property on the court when it was designated a historic district. The closely spaced homes on the narrow street are within walking distance of downtown Decatur, and were constructed in an era when developments did not plan adequately for the automobile. The sense of scale and detail created a strong sense of community, and resulted in this street being recognized as a unique asset in Decatur. Ponce de Leon Court primarily includes 1920s-era American Craftsman bungalows, but also has a few historic multi-family homes. Both the single and multi-family structures, as well as historic palm trees, have remained largely intact from the era when they were built. The street consists entirely of homes. There are no churches, businesses, or apartment blocks. Clark, Caroline McKinney. The story of Decatur, 1823-1899. Dekalb Historical Society (1996). Meeting Minutes, Decatur City Commission, February 21, 2006. Price, Vivian. Historic DeKalb County: An Illustrated History (Georgia Heritage Series). Historical Publishing Network (2007).

Location

Decatur, De Kalb County, Georgia
33.77846, -84.29094

Categories

ARCHITECTURECOMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

Hampton, Cora Beck, Schoolhouse and House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Decatur Cemetery
Listed
0.3 mi
Decatur Downtown Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi
Pythagoras Lodge No. 41, Free and Accepted Masons
Industrial
0.4 mi
Blair-Rutland Building
Industrial
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Decatur Georgia July 1864
1864Civil War
0.4 mi
Battle of Atlanta — Cheatham's Frontal Assault on DeGress Battery
1864Civil War
2 mi
Battle of Atlanta (July 22)
1864Civil War
2.8 mi
Battle of Atlanta — Leggett's Hill (Bald Hill) Defense
1864Civil War
3.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ponce de Leon Court Historic District listed on the National Register?

Ponce de Leon Court Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 2, 2011.

What type of historic resource is Ponce de Leon Court Historic District?

Ponce de Leon Court Historic District is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Ponce de Leon Court Historic District?

The period of significance for Ponce de Leon Court Historic District is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Ponce de Leon Court Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Ponce de Leon Court Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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