Crowley Graves at the now dead Avondale Mall

Avondale Mall, formerly named Columbia Mall, was one of the earliest enclosed malls in the Atlanta area.  It was renamed Avondale Mall in an attempt to stave off it's inevitable economic decline by associating it with nearby stable and upscale Avondale Estates.  The mall now sits empty, and recently Walmart attempted to locate on the grounds against neighborhood objections (the neighbors were successful in blocking Wal-mart).

I had always heard in the 60s that the parking lot of the mall had engulfed a family graveyard after the family had resisted attempts at relocation of the remains.  I vaguely remembered seeing an enclosure there, and since I was in the area photographing Avondale Estates, decided to look for the graves.  Click here to see the photographs.

The plaque is a bit hard to read in my photos (a locked gate seperated me from the plaque and the stairway to the graves) but it claims that the land was originally a royal grant, and that the Crowley family occupied it in 1802.  This would place the Crowleys on the land well before the 1821 land lottery which  cleared the Muscogee Indians from the land and distributed land lots to Anglo-American settlers.

If the information on the plaque is true, I think it would be reasonable for people in the area to demand that however that land is developed that a decent and dignified buffer (a small park or a plaza) be placed around the gravesites.

If anyone knows any of the Crowley descendents I'd love to talk to them.

Comments

[Jim Colleran]

Larry,

So sorry to hear that your wife passed on. It must be quite difficult. I am happy to see that you are resuming your essays on Atlanta neighborhoods. I missed them.

Jim Colleran

[Louis]

Thanks Larry for these photos of Capitol View and the history. I am an Atlanta native, in to my mind, these historic neighborhoods are the jewels of the city.

I myself spend a lot of weekends walking around older Atlanta neighborhoods. I've come close to exhausting ones that I know, so I am looking for some new ones to explore.

[Josh Cargile]

Thanks for the info on the Crowley graves. I pass Avondale mall everyday on my way to work and have seen this structure dozens of times, always assuming it's some sort of storage building or the like.

[Rebecca Holcomb]

Hi Larry,
I am a descendent of the Crowleys. My father, William Holcomb was one of 3 sons of Aretha Crowley. In the past 2 years both my mother and father died, but I know that Dad had a key to the grave and it is here in the house somewhere. I remember hearing stories about this grave and actually have some pics of it. My father's 2 brothers are still living and probably remember more of the family history. I remember something about the land grant, I believe it was that they could have as much property as they could ride a horse around between sunrise and sunset. At least that's the story I remember as a kid. I always thought it was from the Holcomb side of the family since the Holcombs have always had a presence in Atlanta, but from your note above, it was most likely the Crowleys.
Thanks for the article.
Becky

[Arthur Paul Crowley]

PLEASE POST ON BULLETIN BOARD AND FORWARD TO THE CORRECT PARTY: CROWLEY/MCKEEVER/DITMAN etc.

DEAR FRIEND,

MY NAME IS ARTHUR PAUL CROWLEY AND I AM ATTEMPTING TO FIND MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. AT 18 MONTHS, MY MOTHER AND FATHER LEFT ME WITH MY GRANDMOTHER AND NEVER RETURNED. I AM NOT FILLED WITH ANGER OR ACCUSING QUESTIONS . I JUST WANT A FEW PICTURES AND TO SAY HELLO TO A FAMILY THAT I ‘VE NEVER MET.

MY MOTHER:JUNE CROWLEY nee. MCKEEVER..RACE:WHITE.DOB 1934+/-. BIRTH PLACE: PENNSYLVANIA.USA. LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 2210 EUTAW ST. APT 17. BALTIMORE, MD. MOTHER’S NAME: BLANCH ???

MY FATHER: PAUL WILLIAM CROWLEY, RACE: WHITE. DOB: 1925 +/-.
BIRTH PLACE: BALTIMORE, MD.USA. LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 2210 EUTAH ST, BALTIMORE, MD.USA.ALSO LIVED IN: ATLANTIC CITY, NJ.USA.

MY FATHER’S MOTHER: ZETA CROWLEY, DOB: CIRCA 1890. LIVED IN BROOKLYN’ SOUTH BALTIMORE, MD USA (A GOOD PART OF HER LIFE).

MY GRANDFATHER: WILLIAM CROWLEY. WW II. NAVY VET USA. MEMBER OF THE MARYLAND YACHT CLUB, USA.

MY FATHER’S BROTHER: ARTHUR CROWLEY, DOB??? LIVED FOR A WHILE AT: 6605 WINDSOR MILL RD.WOODLAWN, MARYLAND, USA. WIFE: LOUSIE CROWLEY nee???

MY FATHER’S SISTER: EMILY, DITMAN nee CROWLEY. DOB circa 1915???

HUSBAND: WILLIAM (WINNIE) F DITMAN. ADDRESS: 6605 WINDSOR MILL RD, WOODLAWN, MARYLAND USA. WORKED FOR BLACK LABLE BEER, BALTIMORE MD. BILL + EMILY DITMAN HAD THREE CHILDREN:

SON: PAUL (STANLEY) DITMAN. PASSED AWAY JUNE - 1995. GRADUATED FROM A CHRISTIAN COLLEGE IN CHATTANOOGA TENN. US- ARMY, VIET NAM VET. 1980 FORMED: GOOD NEWS FOR LITTLE PEOPLE, inc. (A BAPTIST MINISTRY BASED IN TN. USA). WIFE: LINDA DITMAN

DAUGHTER: EILEEN HASTINGS nee DITMAN. WHO MARRIED RICHARD HASTINGS AND MOVED TO CALIFORNIA. HAD DAUGHTER NAMED NOEL HASTINGS.

SON: WILLIAM DITMAN WORKED IN WASHINGTON DC, SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND.

PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN OR FORWARD THIS REQUEST TO A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER. WHO MAY DO GENEALOGY LIST. THANK YOU!!!!!!

IF YOU HAVE ANSWERED THIS E-MAIL , PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I’V BEEN AT THIS A LONG TIME AND REPETITION HAPPENS. SORRY !!

E-MAIL ME AT: artiechoke@verizion.net

[Sunny Crowley]

I too am a Crowley. We are all saddened by the loss of the keys and the plaque from the Crowley Grave site/Mausoleum. My understanding is that the graves cannot be moved, no matter who buys the land. I wonder if anyone knows any other great stories. I wrote to the two other commenting Crowleys, and am hoping to have more dialog. Perhaps the site was never made an actual "historical Site" and that might be why there is no one taking care of it. Seems like not that many people care. Well, there are many CROWLEYS who do, and we are working on this.

[Ed Crowley]

Larry, thanks for the nice story on the website. I am a descendent of those buried in the Avondale Mall cemetery. My father lives somewhat nearby in Buckhead (Morgan County).

We visited that site a year and a half ago, but we were unable to find out who has the key so we could pay respects to our ancestors. Do you have any idea about how one might gain entry?

Ed Crowley
El Cerrito, California (near San Francisco)

[Hannah Cathey]

My great-grandma's name was Emily Crowley and my great-grandpa's name was William Ditman.They both lived in Baltimore, MA. Hope this helps...

[Jameela]

I have been trying to find this site for the longest and I actually went on to the locatin late last night and I got chills through my body cause I was amazed at how this family buried I actually want to see come pictures of the family if you have a link on them please email it to me jameela_harmon@yahoo.com

[Michael Eugene Crowley]

All, My name is Michael and I was born and raised in Mena, Arkansas. I am the son on James Lawrence Crowley and geandson of Aurthur Lee Crowley. My Aunt Betty Crowley, now Betty Hooper, told me of the graves in Atlanta. I am here visiting now with my daughter Jennifer. I am very interested in finding more family. I know of my grandfather's (Arthur) brother Forrest and his son Edward of Houston. Other than that, I don't know a whole lot. I do have a copy of a last will and testament of the Decatur Crowleys. If anyone is interested, let's talk.

Mike Crowley
1119 Heritage Road
Burkburnett, TX 76354

[Frances Long Greene]

My 4th g grandfather, John Hawkins is buried in the Crowley Cemetery at Avondale Mall. I remember the graves as a child, when they were located in a cow pasture. Didn't know until recent years that John Hawkins is also buried there. He was a close family friend of the Crowleys. Also a descendant of Martha Crowley Edwards through my Edwards line. G grandfather is named for them...Benjamin Crowley Edwards.

[Charles Winburn Carlisle Jr]

My name is Charles Carlisle of Lincoln Alabama. I just discovered that I am descended from the Crowley line. My Great, Great Grandmother, Elizabeth A Crowley (McMillian), was the daughter of Harrison Crowley of Panthersville Ga. My great grandparents moved to Alabama around 1910 when my grandmother was about 4 or 5 years old. I would love to visit the site in Decatur and meet some of the Crowley family. I assume some of my 50+ cousins here in Alabama would as well. Please contact me at ccarjr@yahoo.com

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