North Decatur in DeKalb County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Dr. Chapmon Powell’s “Medicine House” and W.J. Houston Plantation
Photographed by Felch Dumas, July 2, 2008
1. Dr. Chapmon Powell's "Medicine House" and W.J. Houston Plantation Marker
About 1826, Dr. Chapmon Powell erected a log cabin beside the Shallowford Trail near this site. His Indian patients called it the “Medicine House.” His cabin had been relocated onto this site by 1863 when Powell’s son-in-law, Washington Jackson Houston (pronounced Hows-ton) purchased about 600 acs. of Powell’s farm lands, enlarged the cabin, and built a mill on the South Fork of Peachtree Creek. Powell's original log cabin is now part of the plantation complex at Stone Mountain.
On July 18, 1864, war came to this site as Federal troops advancing on Atlanta and Decatur skirmished here. After the Battle of Atlanta, Gen. McPherson's remains were carried through Decatur to this site; then on to Sherman’s headquarters at the Howard house.
In 1904, Houston and Dr. W.J.Houston Jr., converted his plantation’s mill (off Houston Mill Rd. at Hahn Woods Commemorative Forest) into Decatur’s first electric power generation plant. He also established the Houston Chapel at his wife’s request, and until his death he conducted services in it for the rural community surrounding his farmlands.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1772.
Location. 33° 47.386′ N, 84° 18.394′ W. Marker
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Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Piedmont and in Metro Atlanta. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Trail to Standing Peachtree and Houston Chapel (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Hardman Family Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site: J. Oliver Powell House Sherman's H'dq'rs (approx. half a mile away); Site: Judge James Paden House: Gen. J.D. Cox’s H’dq’rs (approx. 0.8 miles away); Baron DeKalb (approx. 1.1 miles away); Steatite Boulder (approx. 1.1 miles away); Houston Mill Millstone (approx. 1.2 miles away); DeKalb County (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Decatur.
Photographed by Felch Dumas, July 2, 2008
2. Dr. Chapmon Powell's "Medicine House" and W.J. Houston Plantation Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2008, by Felch Dumas of Decatur, Georgia. This page has been viewed 3,033 times since then and 86 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2008, by Felch Dumas of Decatur, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
