By Eva Goss, as seen in Season Magazine, Summer 2003

From the Cherokee & Creek Indian nations to a Southern pioneer to the “iron horses” of our nation’s great expansion to the modern-day developer with a dream, the story of Vinings Village is a true patchwork of America’s and Metro Atlanta’s history.

Just like Atlanta, Vinings was created by the Western & Atlantic Railroad, chartered by the State in 1836 to connect the Chattahoochee and Tennessee Rivers and to other railroads running through Athens, Madison and Columbus. In those days, most of the residents were railroad workers, a bit of a bawdy lot, whose supervisor was an engineer who officially received mailbags from the postman every week. That engineer’s first name remains a mystery, but his last name was Vinings!

Another early settler was an adventurous entrepreneur named Hardy Pace who moved from North Carolina to build his home on the east bank of the Chattahoochee where he operated a ferry. The rapid progress of the railroad, however, caused Pace to move to what is now the intersection of Paces Ferry Road and Paces Mill Road where he added a gristmill operation and tavern-ownership to his growing empire. Throughout this time, Pace was also buying land and it wasn’t long before he had amassed a 10,000 acre tract stretching from what is now known as Buckhead to the City of Smyrna.

The winds of the Civil War intervened in the Village’s growth. In the summer of 1864, Vinings became a bivouac for General William Tecumseh Sherman and his Union troops. It was from the top of Vinings Mountain, then known as MacRae’s Hill, that General Sherman saw his target - Atlanta. Historic markers, planted all around Vinings, tell the story of the community’s major involvement in the battles fought.

As Reconstruction began, Atlantans found a new form of entertainment: driving by carriage or riding the train to Vinings for all-day picnics. By this time, the Pace family was growing by leaps and bounds, other families - Smiths, Vannemans, Elliotts, Yarbroughs and Carters - were being created and all were enjoying the healthful “spa” waters of the Chattahoochee. Social clubs sprang forth, including one known as the “Every Tuesday Club.” A moonshine still, owned by Rufus Rose became the R.M. Rose Company Distillers.

From the turn of the 19th Century until now, Vinings’ development has followed that of the nation with trains whistling past, carrying passengers from the North to Florida, automobiles creating the need for paved roads, new houses being built and strong neighborhoods being forged.. However, Vinings differs from most other communities in its resolve to keep the Village’s integrity and uniqueness- making it a world away from uncontrolled urban sprawl. And one man, a real estate developer by trade, is largely responsible for keeping Vinings’ charm intact.

Beginning in the late 1960’s, Atlanta developer Felix Cochran, a resident of Vinings, began to amass property in the area. His passion to create a gathering place or “town center” that would keep the look and feel of Vinings’ past was so intense that it took him 15 years, and reams of design plans, to make his dream come true. The result is Vinings Jubilee, acknowledged by residents as “downtown Vinings” with shopping and dining opportunities housed in a grouping of multiple buildings, each featuring an architectural element from the Victorian period. Dedicated in October, 1986, Jubilee opened, complete with its street lanterns and a large clock tower as beacons for newcomers.

Streets have been widened to accommodate the flow of new residents but in keeping with the philosophy of the community and that of Mr. Cochran, sidewalks have been added to encourage more pedestrian traffic. While large office buildings, restaurants, service businesses, and other shopping centers have arisen, all have respectfully kept the integrity of Vinings historic significance as have the increasing numbers of elegant homebuilders and condominiums/apartments builders in the area.

An historic treasure valued by those who live and work there, Vinings is also a great treat for visitors who discover it.