[Tony Radford]

Just felt compelled to do a little piece on the history of our town.

Atlanta
By Tony Radford

In a state that’s named for a king who reigned in the eighteenth century
is a southern town that’s world renowned and rich with history.

But long before her lights-galore and buildings stories-high
was virgin land with forests grand and unpolluted sky.

From Rabun Gap where rivers wrapped the land in strings of blue
to coastal plains where mountains drained and fields of cotton grew.

The Cherokee were first to see those hills of north GA
when tribes who came in search of game decided they would stay.

They built their mounds, they settled towns – they’d hunted, farmed and fished.
A place to be and living free was all they ever wished.

But with the train, the settlers came – they brought the white man’s creed
and gold that shown on land they owned would stoke the fires of greed.

The State then passed a law that cast the Cherokee aside
while all their land was changing hands and their right to stay - denied.

Forced to leave without reprieve, they left their home of years
and thousands killed by winter’s chill would line the trail of tears.

A rose of white would mark their plight, with petals – seven each
to symbolize the native tribes whose lands they’d never reach.

The Cherokee-Rose still freely grows and marks our darkest hour,
immortalized, forever prized – the state’s official flower.

Overnight, the City’s might would grow a hundred-fold
when thousands came, their only aim – to find some Georgia gold.

By ’45, the town that thrived was known as “Marthasville”,
but then the name “Atlanta” came – the name we call her still.

A path for freight would be her fate and all the tracks they laid
would bring her fame as she became the hub of southern trade.

In time, that boom would bring her doom when the nation went to war
and the Union’s might would bring the fight right to Atlanta’s door.

Her many routes supplied the troops – made sure the Gray was stocked,
and Sherman knew just what to do to see those routes were blocked.

General Hood did what he could to keep the North at bay,
but then he’d leave from months of siege and Sherman had his way.

Post-retreat, he cleared the streets – made all civilians flee
then put a torch to every porch – he hardly left a tree.

Atlanta burned – the tables turned and soon the war would end.
A town once graced, then laid to waste, would have a chance to mend.

And mend, she would – with time, she stood as though there’d been no war,
as from the flame, the phoenix came - much greater than before.

Her streets were lined with painted signs and lights so all could see
and like a flash, she went from ash to the town she used to be.

On Peachtree Street, old Jacob treated headaches with his brew.
He launched the brand and soon demand for “Coca-Cola” grew.

The Depression came and doused the flame – it knocked her to her knees
and desperate men who couldn’t spend would see Atlanta freeze.

Her pain was felt by Roosevelt as he watched the city wilt
and homeless cries were subsidized when Techwood Homes was built.

A grave affair, no jobs to spare and the banks were all in doubt,
but that special brew would see her through when Coke would bail her out.

By wintertime of ’39, the town was on the mend,
and stars would meet on Peachtree Street to see “Gone With the Wind”.

Again she grew in World War II when soldiers came to train
and aircraft jobs in northern Cobb began producing planes.

Hordes of feet would crowd her streets as the population swelled,
while racial lines had been defined – not everyone excelled.

The blacks and whites for civil rights would rip the town in two
and leaders lead while blood was shed when riots would ensue.

A preacher’s son would be the one to jump into the ring.
To lead the fight with passive might was Martin Luther King.

When a sniper’s gun would take the son in Memphis, Tennessee,
the Doctor’s name would fuel the flame of a movement meant to free.

A guy named Ted would start to spread the news by satellite
so TBS and CNN could reach us every night.

A sad event that Turner sent would make some local noise
when a man named Wayne would get the blame for killing little boys.

The Olympic Games propelled her name to those who didn’t know
while local news misread the clues when a hidden bomb would blow.

Other things would serve to bring more population growth,
the jobs that be, her history – or maybe some of both.

A town that spun some things you’ve done – you didn’t realize,
like drinking Coke or watching Hoke take Daisy for a drive.

Just take a look at any book that illustrates her past,
from hunting grounds to modern town – all thanks to quite a cast.

So many souls would set the goals for what she’d come to be,
the pioneers, the engineers and the noble Cherokee.

Great tycoons would lead the booms and rebels would defend,
a King would fight for civil rights and Mitchell took the wind.

Forever grand, Atlanta stands with the symbols of her name -
that special rose that freely grows and a phoenix from the flames.