BUFORD — The city of Buford has always been on the cutting edge. Even at the turn of the century, the town was known for its business and educational success. It’s a town that has always been ahead of its time.

In 1902, a newspaper article dubbed Buford the “New York of Gwinnett” because of its fast growth and industry. Others referred to Buford as “Leather City” because of its leather crafters which designed saddles for Hollywood cowboys, among other things. It’s only fitting that such an eminent town would carry the name of a prominent man.

Incorporated in 1873, the city of Buford was named for Algernon Sidney Buford, the president of the Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railroad. Buford was an illustrious lawyer from Virginia, and a distinguished member of the Virginia Legislature. The construction of the railroad would lead to Buford’s fame — and its name.

“Buford was a railroad construction camp originally,” said Phillip Beard, Buford City Commission Chairman. “They built the railroad from here to Richmond, Virginia.”

Buford maintained an Atlanta office during the construction of the railroad, according to historical books Beard has read. It is unclear who suggested the town bear his name. But even today, Buford carries on its namesake’s legacy of success.

NORCROSS — The City of Norcross has always been a central point in Gwinnett’s landscape.

As the county’s second-oldest city, Norcross got its start as a resort town, a luxurious getaway for the wealthy in Atlanta. The well-to-do would arrive by train at the Norcross Depot, and according to historical documents, would often check in at the Brunswick Hotel located across from Thrasher Park.  

According to the City of Norcross Web site, the town was founded by John J. Thrasher. Rather than naming the town after Thrasher, who became the town’s first mayor in 1870, the honor went to another mayor — Atlanta’s first mayor Jonathan Norcross.

Undoubtedly, Thrasher was not angry the town he founded was named for another mayor. It is well documented that he and Norcross were good friends and business associates. Besides, his brainchild — Thrasher Park — carried his name, as did Thrasher Street.

“One of his (Thrasher’s) visions was a city park that would not be used for commerce,” according to a local history Web site, www.patsabin.com.

“The Norcross city park, named Thrasher Park after its founder, is still the center of Norcross, lined with stately Victorian homes, stores, and bordered by the railroad.”

It is unclear whether Jonathan Norcross ever lived in the city that bears his name. What is known is that he was born in 1808 in Maine. In 1836, at 28 years old, he ventured south to Georgia, where he bought a half acre of land for $200. He built a general store on that land and quickly became known in the community. In 1851 he was elected Atlanta’s first mayor.

County Name Honors Signer of Declaration  
By Jackie Watson
Staff Correspondent

LAWRENCEVILLE — Just about everyone knows Gwinnett County was named for Button Gwinnett. But not everyone knows who Button Gwinnett was and why he was so important that this county bears his name.

If you’re new to the county, or just need to brush up on your local history, you’ll find it interesting to note that Button Gwinnett never stepped foot inside the county line. In fact, he died long before the county was ever established, and had nothing to do with its founding.  

But Button Gwinnett made his mark in Georgia — and the nation — in a big way. He, along with two other prominent men from Georgia, was selected as a representative of the state to go to Philadelphia and sign the Declaration of Independence.

Why Button Gwinnett was chosen is no mystery, according to Frances Johnson, a volunteer at the Gwinnett Historical Society. In the short time that he lived in Georgia he made quite a name for himself. The born Englishman arrived in Savannah in 1765, and spent only 12 years in the state. During that time, he held various important positions that led to his being chosen to sign the country’s most historic document.

“He was a member of the Congress in 1776, a representative from Georgia,” Johnson said. “He also served as governor briefly before dying.” According to records, Gwinnett was also the commander of the regiment of regular troops authorized by Georgia.

Gwinnett’s untimely death on May 19, 1777 left the state without a governor and a daughter without a father. The cause of death? A duel with a man named Lachlan McIntosh.

During the time of the creation of various counties within Georgia, the state decided to honor Gwinnett as well as his two Georgia comrades who signed the Declaration of Independence. The other two signatures were from Lyman Hall and George Walton.

“They named three counties at the same time —  Hall, Walton and Gwinnett,” Johnson said. “The state honored these three men by naming a county after each one of them.”

All three Georgia representatives who signed the historic document were immortalized. Even though Gwinnett’s name might live on in the county, he left behind “no descendants to carry his name,” Johnson said. His widow and daughter moved to Charleston, SC shortly after his death, leaving no Gwinnetts on Georgia soil.

By Jackie Watson                
Staff Correspondent

SUWANEE — A mother’s greatest reward is to see her children grow up to become responsible citizens. But sometimes she gets a little more compensation than just the satisfaction of a job well done raising the kids.

Not every mother can claim she had a road named after her because she raised such a fine brood. But the motherly love and goodness portrayed long ago by Eva Kennedy in Suwanee landed her the honor of her own street. Eva Kennedy Road, located in Suwanee, is a permanent reminder of what a mother’s love can do for society.

“There was a fine lady who was named Eva Kennedy,” said Loretta Roberts, who was born and raised in Suwanee and will be 90 in January.

“She had a lot of children who lived in the area.”

According to Roberts, Kennedy taught her children — and grandchildren — the virtues of kindness, giving, and hard work. “A lot of them (children) did good things for the city. They did things — with no pay whatsoever — like clean the streets and do odd jobs. They were jacks of all trades,” said Roberts.

The road that Eva Kennedy’s family lived on did not have a name.

According to Roberts, the Kennedy family lived on that road for a long time. Upon Eva’s death, the family looked for a way to commemorate her life and legacy.

“When she died, the family wondered if it would be appropriate for that street — which didn’t have a name at the time — to be named after her,” said Roberts. As a result, the street she lived on was named as a tribute to her memory

Indian Trail Road Name is a Mystery
By Jackie Watson
Staff Correspondent

LILBURN — Most people know that Indians inhabited the area of Gwinnett prior to the county being formed in 1818. The Lower Creek Indians were said to have hunted long ago in the area now known as Indian Trail Road.

But no one knows for sure if Indian Trail Road was so named because of Indian activity —  particularly since the road is only 27 years old. Could it be that the namers of the street wanted to pay homage to the Indians that lived there so long ago?

Hugh Wilkerson, owner of Antiques in Old Town, a shop in historic Lilburn, has been studying the area’s history for many years. His take on the road’s name is that it has less to do with the area’s Indian history and more to do with its location to nearby Hightower Trail.

“Hightower Trail is only four miles away,” said Wilkerson. “It’s a famous Indian trail that runs from the Chattahoochee to Gwinnett County. It was a main thoroughfare for the Indians.”

Maria Traslavina, a receptionist who often travels down Indian Trail Road, believes the name probably derives from the Indian’s exodus from their land.

“The name reminds me of the Trail of Tears. The Indians that lived in this region had to leave their land, and must have used this area as a trail,” she said.

It could be possible that Indians used an exit route through the county that included the Indian Trail Road area. Surely the Indians trekked through somewhere when their land was ceded to the government. But the problem with this theory is that there are no records to support it.

“There may have been some significant Indian activity in the area but I have no evidence of it,” said Wilkerson.

In the quest to find an answer on why the road was named, several sources were called upon. From city governments and history buffs, to county officials and librarians, no one seemed to know for sure why the road was named Indian Trail.

Because there is no concrete evidence or documentation to even support the theory of why the road was given its name, it’s very unlikely that anyone will ever know for sure.

NORCROSS — If you get happy thoughts as you drive down Lively Avenue in Norcross, you might be reading too much into the street’s name. Even though it might seem like the street was given its name as a way of reminding people to be happy and live life in a cheerful manner, that’s not really the case.  

If you’ve been following the “What’s in a Name” series, you will probably deduce that Lively Avenue’s name has nothing to do with living life vivaciously. Although some might think otherwise, the street wasn’t the scene of enjoyable festivities in town.

Even though it would be fun to indulge the imagination with visions of dancing in the street, like many streets in Gwinnett, this road was named for a family that lived on it.

“The Lively family was one of the first families here in Norcross,” said mayor Lillian Webb. The family lived in Norcross even before it was incorporated in 1870. Their two-story white home, which is located on the intersection of South Peachtree and Lively Avenue, was the family’s homestead. 

“It’s the oldest standing house in Norcross,” said Webb.

According to Webb, not much is known or remembered about the Lively family, other than their roots in the city’s early years.

But Harold Medlock, a long-time Norcross resident, has done some research on the family and its importance to the city. “Milton Charles Lively and his son-in-law were in the saw-mill business. While the railroad was coming North, they had a contract with the railroad to cut cross tires,” said Medlock.

According to his research, Milton Lively owned a considerable amount of land — including the land that is now Lively Avenue. Aside from being a hard worker and entrepreneur, Lively had a generous heart and greatly contributed to the city’s growth. 

“He donated the land for the Norcross cemetery and for where the First Methodist Church was.”

Unbeknownst to would-be mockers, the name ‘Possum is actually not that much of an insult — if you look at it from a historical perspective.  

Lake Lucerne, a man-made lake in the Parkview area, is at the core of the ‘Possum name. It might be hard to believe that Lake Lucerne has anything to do with football rivalry. But as it turns out, Lake Lucerne was originally called Opossum Lake.

“Parkview was no sooner built than one of my friends from South Gwinnett told me that we were going to be the Parkview ‘Possums named after the lake,” said Tim Reeves, 40, who grew up in the area and went to Parkview High School.

“Every football season someone on the football team would end up with a dead ‘possum on their car the week of the big South Gwinnett-Parkview game.”

Opossum Lake was built sometime around 1940. No one knows why it was given that peculiar name. Many people speculate that the area was a haven for the critters and that’s how it got its name. One thing is for sure — the name didn’t last too long before it started to cause a stink in the community.

According to Bill Baughman of the Gwinnett Historical Society, stories about changing the name of the lake were told by founding member John Hood. “He told the Historical Society that one of the local garden clubs didn’t like the name so they changed it,” said Baughman.

Over time, the name became a sore spot for many in the community, and it was changed to Lake Lucerne. Yet, old timers still refer to the lake as Opossum Lake. According to J.B. Williams, an elderly gentleman who has lived in Lilburn all his life, the entire area was once known by the “pet” name. “This used to be called ‘Possum Corner over here,” said Williams.   Parkview Panthers can’t seem to shake the moniker — even though the history behind the name is probably already forgotten. Something meant to sound derogatory is actually a history lesson in disguise.

“I don’t think any of them remember the roots of the name, but it’s kind of catchy so it has stuck,” said Reeves.

It is unclear why Lucerne became the new name for the lake. But most everyone agrees that the name is a lot more appealing than the original.  

SNELLVILLE — What do you think of when you drive down Webb Gin House Road?   Does your mind ponder the wild parties that must have been held somewhere along that road for it to earn such a name?   

Who was Webb? And was there so much gin drinking going on in his house that it earned an infamous reputation? Sometimes things aren’t what they seem. That’s the case with the history of why Webb Gin House Road received its name.

Contrary to what the road’s name might imply, there wasn’t any partying going on in the Webb home. In fact, the road’s namesake, Andrew Webb, was a Baptist minister during the late 1800s. As would be expected in the home of a respected minister, the type of gin referenced in the road’s name has nothing at all to do with drinking.

“I had heard that there used to be a cotton gin somewhere around here,” said Dawson Nixon, church business administrator at Cannon United Methodist Church, which is located on Webb Gin House Road.

According to Alice McCabe of the Gwinnett Historical Society, Andrew Webb (1844-1924) was, in fact, involved in cotton ginning. “Webb did have a gin house there,” said McCabe. “They ginned the cotton there at that house. Until very recently the house still stood there,” she said.

But the well-known preacher owned more than just a farmhouse that grew cotton. He also owned a store and post office on his property. Webb was so distinguished and respected that at one time, the entire area was once named in honor of him, according to McCabe. “That whole section was called Webbville.”

DULUTH — If you’re a conspiracy buff, you might flicker with cynicism to learn there isn’t a top-secret satellite headquarters located on Satellite  Boulevard. The truth is, it isn’t top secret. And it’s no longer in the area.  

In the early 1980s, the beginnings of what is now known as Satellite Boulevard was called Davidson Industrial Boulevard. Gwinnett’s landscape was dramatically changing, and with the 1984 opening of Gwinnett Place Mall, the area was becoming a hub for business and opportunity. One potential business entity caught the eye of county officials.

According to Don Jascomb, the Gwinnett County director of development, the county was trying to lure an aerospace firm, Rockwell International, into locating within the county. The piece de resistance? A street named in honor of the company.

“Satellite Boulevard got its name in the early ‘80s when the county was trying to attract Rockwell International,” said Jascomb, who has worked with the county for 20 years. “From what I remember, part of the development incentive to attract them to Gwinnett County was the change of the name (From Davidson Industrial) to Satellite.”

The firm, which built government and military planes and — of course — satellites, did in fact operate from its Satellite Boulevard headquarters for some years. Changing the name of the road paid off for the county, as it added a high-profile firm to its business roster.

Although Rockwell International is no longer located in the county, the name remains.

By Jackie Watson
Staff Correspondent  

LAWRENCEVILLE — A drive down Scenic Highway will give credence to the old adage that time takes its toll on everything.  

Scenic Highway — also known as Ga. Highway 124 — doesn’t appear to live up to its name. At least, not anymore. You’re more likely to see bulldozers, businesses and traffic congestion than anything picturesque.  

Where’s the scenic view promised by the road’s lovely name? According to residents that have lived in Gwinnett for many years, there was — most definitely — beautiful scenery along Scenic Highway at one time.

Scenic Highway was funded in the late 1940s. Soon after, county officials set out to lay the new road alignment that would be known as State Route 124.

“It had one of the longest straight sections in North Georgia. The road was straight lined,” said Wayne Shackleford, former Department of Transportation Commissioner.

According to Shackleford, on the more elevated areas of the road, you could actually see clear from Snellville to Lawrenceville.

It is unclear at what point the “Scenic” moniker was added to the road’s official name. Shackleford said he remembers that home economics clubs were tasked by County Commissioner in the 1950s and 1960s to propose names for county roads. Very likely, it was at that point that Ga. 124 received its scenic designation.

Before the road was eyed as a commercial hotspot, Scenic Highway was a calm, peaceful place. “There used to be cows and horses grazing, and beautiful ponds,” said Alice McCabe of the Gwinnett Historical Society. Shackleford lived on Scenic Highway for 31 years before moving. A new Chick-Fil-A now sits on the property that was once his home. The nearby Lowe’s was once where his neighbor’s Arabian horse farm was located.

Scenic Highway’s name might not coincide to the road’s fast-paced commercial ambiance today, but it definitely serves as a historical reminder of what it used to be.

SNELLVILLE — With some roads, it’s easy to decipher why they’re named. With the passing of the years, others become somewhat of a mystery. Very often, a street will carry the name of a family who lived on it. 

Some roads might be named in honor of an important community leader, or a visual characteristic that describes the area. 

No one is absolutely sure, however, why Skyland Drive in Snellville was given its name.

Some residents believe the name might imply one’s ability — long ago — to see clear from the land to the sky from that road. But there’s no history or information to back that idea, and residents who have lived in Snellville their entire lives aren’t sure if that’s the case.

“I really don’t know why it was named,” said Louise Martin, a long-time Snellville resident. Gloria Odum was raised on Skyland Drive and still lives in the city. She and her husband Wayne are also unsure why the road was given its name. The question even stumped some officials at City Hall.

Former mayor Emmett Clower believes his mother might have something to do with the naming of Skyland Drive. According to Clower, she may have named the road during a contest back in 1952. “The town of Snellville was in a contest to name street names,” said the former mayor. “I know she named Wisteria. I think she named Skyland.”

Although it is unclear why Skyland Drive was given its name, there are some things that are known about the street that crosses over busy U.S. Hwy. 78.

“I’m pretty sure that road was paved when South Gwinnett High School opened up in the 1950s,” said Joe Hall, Gwinnett County Land Acquisition Supervisor, who paved part of Skyland Drive during the 1970s. “It was already named in the ’70s.”  

SUWANEE — It is obvious that the charming town of Suwanee possesses an Indian name. In all of Gwinnett, no other city name boasts such a Native American sound.  

Named after Indians that inhabited the area,

the city pays homage to its native roots through its name. But the spelling of Suwanee differs from the tribe the city was named after. Technically, the town’s name is misspelled.

“The city was named after Shawnee Indians who lived on this creek,” said Glen Jackson, who has lived in Suwanee since 1962. Referring to Suwanee Creek, Jackson maintains that the area’s Indian past is still very much obvious today — some 166 years after the town’s establishment. “This place is covered up with arrowheads.”

According to the City of Suwanee Web site, the town was once home to the Shawnee Indian tribe, which settled in the area toward the close of the 18th century. This band of Indians was a tribe of the Algonquin Indians.

“Shawnee is an Algonquin word for ‘Southerner’ and was used because the Shawnee lived the furthest south of all the Algonquin tribes,” states he city’s history page on its Web site, www.suwanee.com.

Why the city was named Suwanee, instead of Shawnee, is blamed on English mispronunciation. It is said that the inability to accurately spell the tribe’s name is the reason for the incorrect spelling of the town’s name.

The city of Suwanee, established in 1837 and incorporated in 1949, should really have been called the city of Shawnee.  

SUGAR HILL — World War II had a huge impact on the entire nation — and Sugar Hill was no exception.

During the late 1940s, when a committee of local leaders united to begin naming streets in Sugar Hill, it was only natural for them to name a street after President Franklin Roosevelt. The street that Sugar Hill native Donald Robinson, 72, lived on most of his life would become Roosevelt Street in honor of the U.S. President.

“I’m certain it was named in honor of President Roosevelt,” said Robinson.

Franklin Roosevelt, the nation’s 32nd president, was an optimistic leader who led the country through the Great Depression and World War II. He declared war after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He died in office in 1945 — less than one month before the surrender of Germany during the war.

Robinson lived on the road — before roads were given names. His father and a family friend owned the land and “cut the street” to build homes, he said.

After World War II ended in 1945, community leaders — including Robinson’s older brother James Robinson — met to begin naming the city’s streets.

“The mayor had them form a committee to start naming streets,” said Robinson, who was in high school when the street received its name.

“All the streets were named in the late 1940s.”

Some roads were named after prominent roads in the city of Atlanta, recalls Robinson. Others — such as Roosevelt Street — would have much more significance.

According to worldhistory.com, “the U.S. lost 295,000 soldiers in death, and had a total of 405,399 American casualties (including wounded).” It is no surprise that community leaders would name a street in honor of the late president that took the country through the turbulent times of economic crisis and war. Roosevelt Street is located near City Hall.

LILBURN — One family’s penchant for walking is the reason there’s a road in Lilburn named Walking Lane.

What started as a way to keep in shape and enjoy serene strolls turned into an avid pastime for the Greer family during the 1960s. Delores Greer Davis recalls walking each day on the family’s land housed between Burn Road and Beaver Ruin Road. But she wasn’t alone.

“Our family started walking in 1963. We walked every morning, then we walked at night,” said Davis, who now lives in Winder on a 20-acre farm. “Our husbands would walk and all our family would walk. It was a family affair.”

Walking Lane was named in the late ’60s when Davis’ father, John B. Greer, petitioned the county to create a roadway for the family’s 10-acre property which he bought in 1960. According to Davis, her father was asked to name the road. Rather than go the traditional route and give it the family name, her father decided to get a bit more creative. Because the family was so known for its stride, Walking Lane seemed a natural choice.

The road was constructed and the county accepted the name. “The road was built so we’d have access to a driveway. They had to cut a road for us to get our mail,” said Davis. When her father initially purchased the land, all of her family moved there.

When she got married, Davis and her husband moved in next door to her parent’s home. Surrounded by aunts, uncles and her sister, the walking never stopped. In fact, new walkers were introduced to the family ritual on a fairly regular basis.

In 1968, when Davis was pregnant with twins and her sister Joyce Greer Evans was also expecting, the walking didn’t cease. “We walked when we were pregnant and we walked pushing strollers months later,” said Davis. “We walked all the time. Everybody who rode down Beaver Ruin could see us walking.”

No one from the Greer family lives on Walking Lane anymore. The road is primarily used as a cut-through. But the memories of her family’s walking days are immortalized through the road’s name.  

GRAYSON — If you drive down Rosebud Road, you’ll be hard pressed to find a single bud in bloom. In fact, you’ll not see rose bushes at all. If the road was named because of its fabulous flora, there’s no evidence of that today.

According to Alice McCabe at the Gwinnett Historical Society, the meaning behind the road’s name has nothing to do with flowers and everything to do with its location. During the middle 1800s, Rosebud Community was the common name for the small community that was located between Grayson and Centerville. The village centered around the Rosebud Store and a school called Rosebud School.

“Rosebud Road was named because it went to that community,” said McCabe. However, many old-timers in the area believe that Rosebud Road was actually named after Rosebud Store, a large and thriving community general store established in 1899 and owned by local resident Olin Upshaw. The store was the focal point of the community, selling everything from food and general merchandise to cars.

According to information obtained by the Grayson History Center, the three-story building, now a charming antique store, has a rose painted on it.

Local legend has it that the store — and therefore the road — was named in honor of the store’s lovely daughter. Although there’s no evidence to conclude the daughter is the reason the store was named, most people agree that the road and community received its name because of the store.

“The store was known as Upshaws for years and not just Rosebud Store... but later the community kept being called Rosebud because the store kept being known as Rosebud,” said Grayson historian Steve Starling.

Could there be fallacy to that account? McCabe believes the area was called Rosebud Community long before Rosebud Store opened its doors. So the question remains, where’s the rose in Rosebud Road? In this case, the real answer to the street’s name will likely remain a mystery.