History

In 1932, Buckhead was a crossroads community in the country, north of the city of Atlanta in Fulton County, with a few commercial stores and homes and some estates with wooded acreage. There was little street paving north of Buckhead and services such as trash removal were left to local communities to handle as best they could.

The BUCKHEAD FIFTY CLUB is a unique Civic Club composed of outstanding business leaders with varied professional occupations. The Buckhead Fifty Club throughout its history has maintained an outstanding record of civic and political accomplishments which have been recognized on a statewide basis since its founding. The Buckhead Fifty Club is the oldest civic club in north Atlanta. A meeting of the Buckhead Fifty Club assembles attorneys, Judges, Realtors, engineers, salesmen, and businessmen of various occupations in a spirit of friendship, fellowship and mutual interests in the Buckhead area.

A Brief History of Buckhead and the Buckhead Fifty

Buckhead is approximately 28 square miles located about 4 miles from downtown Atlanta

The area was first occupied by Cherokee and Creek Indians, farmers, hunters, traders and warriors. By the 1820’s the Indians had “sold off” to the White man most of their lands which were subsequently occupied by Andrew Jackson’s military.

In 1838, Henry Irby of South Carolina purchased 203 acres in what is now the center of Buckhead for $650. He built a combination tavern and grocery store near the intersection of Peachtree and Paces Ferry. First tagged “Irbyville,” it took on the popular designation of “Buckhead” around 1838 when a large buck killed in nearby woods was mounted on a post not far from the tavern.

Buckhead was growing because, as it is today, it was an important crossroads community. There was little street paving north of Buckhead and trash removal and many other services provided by governmental agencies today were left up to the local community to handle as best it could.

By 1932 the need became apparent for the local businessmen of the Buckhead area to organize a Club which could handle the community problems in a spirit of mutual cooperation for the common betterment of the community. During the month of February 1932, John W. Pickelsimer called businessmen to meet at the Buckhead Fulton National Bank Building, 3039 Peachtree Road, N.E.

Officers and Charter members of the Buckhead Fifty Club elected at the first organized meeting were as follows:

Founder and First President; J.W. Pickelsimer,
Vice President; R.B. Miller,
Treasurer;  J . Schiey Thompson,
Secretary; Matt G. Perkins,
R.E. “Red” Dorough;
Lon Bridges,Sr;
E.J. Wood,
John Allen;
Chief George Mathieson;
Oscar Jones;
Bub Clark;
George Murray, Sr;
T. Dumas,
H.C. Rippy, D.D.S.;
Gene Minhinnett;
Charles Adams, M.D.;
Marvin Roberts, Sr., R.P.H.;
 R.H. Johns, D.D.S.;
D.E. Pinkard;
Dr. Bussey;
Davis & Courtney Theatre (Mr. Davis and Mr. Courtney

The name “BUCKHEAD FIFTY CLUB” was chosen in order to distinguish it from the other clubs in the Atlanta area. The first Constitution and By-Laws of the Club were written and adopted immediately following the organization in 1932.

During the 1930’s the club was interested in the paving of various streets in the Buckhead area; proper street lighting, trash and garbage collection, and the parking situation at this early stage. In April 1932 a committee was appointed to handle the garbage situation in Buckhead. On April 5, 1938 the Club was relieved of cleaning streets in the business section of Buckhead by Fulton County. Many of these problems were solved by cooperation with the Fulton County Commission. In May, 1936 the Buckhead Fifty Club recommended to the County Commission that the Waldo M. Slaton Post 140 of the American Legion be given the opportunity of purchasing a tract of land in the Buckhead District for the purpose of erecting thereon a permanent home and club house. The Buckhead Fifty Club met at the Buckhead Fulton National Bank from the time of its organization until it began to meet at the Waldo M. Slaton Post 140 of the American Legion on Powers Ferry Road. From August 1936 to January 1937, the Club requested the County Commission to continue work on the Northside park and is now known as the Chastain Park in honor of county Commissioner Troy Chastain.

In March and April 1937, the club met with a delegation from Cumming and Roswell, Georgia including the Mayors of Roswell and Cumming for the purpose of studying the possibility of “Constitutional Boulevard connecting Buckhead with Roswell.

The Club held an opening meeting concerning the Roswell Road project in May, 1937 attended by a large delegation from the northern part of Fulton County and along route #9. By August 1937 the Club was advised that the Highway Board had appropriated funds for the Roswell Road project.

The Club took an active leadership role in presenting the facts to the voters of the Buckhead area when the annexation of the Buckhead area to the City of Atlanta was defeated by the voters of the area in 1952. This was later followed by the Plan of improvement which was passed by the Georgia General Assembly. placed the Buckhead area within the City of Atlanta.

The Buckhead Fifty Club was interested in property tax relief as early as 1956. The Club sponsored the “50” Club Little League Baseball Team in 1955 with G.W. Whitlow, Coach.

The Club has historically held an Annual August Political Night Dinner to which candidates for local and state Offices were invited to address the Club. Club Vice-President Charles Milton Davis was Chairman of these political nights during the Nineteen-Fifties and Nineteen-Sixties.

Members of the Buckhead Fifty Club assisted in the formation of the Buckhead Merchants Association which later became the Buckhead Business Association.

Each year the Club holds its Annual Ladies Night Dinner in September at which a fine dinner and entertainment are provided to several hundred members, their wives, and guests.