Pine Lake Scrapbook

Ten years ago I had temporary custody of a remarkable old scrapbook of Pine Lake.

It was a time of heightened political tensions in the city, a messy time, so I chose to make high-resolution scans of the scrapbook.

Now and again I'll be posting photos from the scrapbook, which contained a remarkable pictorial history of the city from it's founding in the 1930s. Perhaps, you, gentle reader, can help me fill me in on missing bits of history and help me to identify some of the locations.

The scrapbook contained an introductory history, written in 1952. It follows below the line.


On May 21, 1935 the first lots were offered for sale in a community located thirteen miles east of Atlanta on Rockbridge Road, DeKalb County, which was named Pine Lake.

Empty Lots at  Pine Lake, Decade Unknown

The setting was of natural beauty, surrounding a beautiful fourteen-acre lake, with well-laid-out streets which formed a summer resort for the tired business man in the city

From this beginning grew the City of Pine Lake of 1953; a city of eight hundred happy people, two hundred attractive homes, with its streets paved, all conveniences a metropolitan city enjoys, plus the quietness and restfulness of the county and the finest beach and swimming facilities to be found anywhere.

In 1938, by an act of the legislature, the City of Pine Lake, as a municipality came into being and was supervised by a mayor, three councilmen, a city clerk, and a Chief of Police

The Clubhouse is a popular gathering spot for all. The main building has been remodeled and refurnished, making it most attractive. The Woman's Club, at the cost of $1,000.00, has added a modern well-equipped kitchen. The grounds surrounding the clubhouse have been beautifully landscaped, a continuing project sponsored by the Woman's Club since its organization.

In September 1951, a Charter Night Banquet was held in the Clubhouse for the Pine Lake Lion's Club- with a beginning of thirty members. The club meets twice a month and enjoys delicious meals prepared in the kitchen and served in the Clubhouse banquet hall by the Woman's Club. The Lions Club is proud of its projects: a Christmas paper sale, broom sale, watermelon cutting, and other accomplishments.

Pine Lake Lion Club Members

The welfare of Pine Lake's citizens of tomorrow are uppermost in the minds of its adult citizens- the city is proud of its Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops.

Boy Scouts are sponsored by the Lion's Club and the Girl Scouts are sponsored by the Woman's Club.

This Cabin on Oak Drive Was Once the Boy Scout Hut

Pine Lake's younger citizens form a large segment of the Clarkston schools, which they attend. Bus service affords transportation to and from school.

The City's business section is one of which its citizens are proud, namely the Post Office, a modern grocery stores, an excellent restaurant, a barber shop and beauty shop, and a service station.

A Modern Grocery Store

With all these facilities and nature's beauty besides, Pine Lakers take pride in their well-kept lawns and homes, truly love their neighbors as themselves, and thank their creator for the many blessings He has bestowed upon them.

Chief A. Purvis, who supervised the building of Pine Lake from its beginning. became its Police Chief, a post he has continued to hold and is today the town's Number one citizen.

 The Scrapbook Identified These Men
as "Slow Leake," I.B. Melton, Chief Purvis, and Carlton Hicks
Chief Purvis is Third from Left, Mayor Melton Second from Left

In 1938 the Pine Lake Woman's Club was organized, with practically every woman in the community becoming a member. The projects, plans, and accomplishments of this club have been instrumental in making Pine Lake the wonderful city it is today.

Pine Lake is served by the DeKalb County Water System, which was installed in 1946, also by the Georgia Power Company and Southern Bell Telephone. The Atlanta Gas Light Company is completing the installation of gas mains and already service is being furnished a large part of the lake. The city also enjoys bus service to and from Decatur each day, and as the town grows, better service is anticipated.

During the year the northeastern dike at the lake has been reinforced and widened at the cost of $1,000.00. It is fourteen feet wide at the top and three feet wide above the water line. Grass covers the dike and is mowed regularly.

A new boardwalk, six feet wide and one hundred feet long extends into the lake.  Adjacent is a new diving raft. Additional floodlights have been installed for night swimming. During the year new porches have been built over terraces on both sides of the bath house, which improve its appearance and furnish picnickers shelter in case of rain.

The Boardwalk. Perhaps Its Footings Will Become Visible as the Lake is Drained

Widening and extending the swimming beach will double the swimming capacity, and the lake bottom has been sanded.

The City government today is comprised of a Mayor and five Councilmen whose terms are of three years each, with the mayor and one councilman elected one year, two councilmen the next, and two councilmen the following year. There is a full time city clerk, a Chief of Police with two assistants, a fire chief, and two full-time city employees. Additional help is employed during the summer season.

Pine Lake operates on a fifteen mil tax levy, its annual budget for 1953 being $1350.00. The City has no outstanding indebtedness and no taxes are more than three years in arrears. Financial condition is good and the city government anticipates a slight reduction in taxes for 1954.

Spiritual needs rank high in the minds of Pine Lake citizens. In 1939 the Pine Lake Interdenominational Chapel was organized, and for a number of years it served at the City's house of worship. Sunday School is still conducted in the Chapel.

Recognize this Building? It Still Stands on Pine Drive

 In 1947 a group of citizens felt the need of a denominational house of worship to fill their spiritual needs, and the Pine Lake Baptist Church was organized. Today our imposing edifice stands on the highest point in the city, and in this short time additional space is needed to accommodate a fast-increasing membership of two hundred church members and four hundred Sunday School members.