"Peachtree", the now - famous trademark of Atlanta, originated in what is now northwest Atlanta,
( the Upper West Side ), and is much older than the city itself. Even further back than 1715,
the Creek and Cherokee Indians lived and traded at the Indian village of Standing Peachtree,
which is located in Bolton, on an Indian path where Peachtree Creek flows into the Chattahoochee River.
During the War of 1812, this knob overlooking the river was chosen as an ideal crossing point,
and the expertise of Major James McConnell Montgomery was needed to help build a fort,
( Fort Peachtree / Gilmer ), and a flat raft crossing system, ( later Montgomery Ferry,
then became Defoor Ferry. ) Because he thought it was such a beautiful area,
Montgomery moved his family here in about 1821 and became the first white settlers to the region.
He built a house and continued to run the ferry, making this the first business
and the first neighborhood in what was to become Atlanta. Montgomery Ferry was named
the Terminus of the new city, but it was decided that with the river and the soon coming railroad
so close together, the Terminus should be moved to where it is located today.
By 1838, the Western & Atlantic Railroad completed the Chattahoochee Bridge at Boltonville,
that connected Chattanooga to Savannah, Augusta, and Macon. The railroad was chiefly responsible
for the phenomenal development of Atlanta and soon became the most important inland
transportation center of the state.
Some of the still existing Civil War Shoupades are nearby. These and other stories are just the beginning of the important events that make up the rich history of these forgotten neighborhoods that we call