Flat Rock Archives

I’m an Atlanta area native and though I’ve visited many of the historic landmarks and attractions around the city, there are so many that I have yet to experience. Recently I got to mark one off my list. I took a short drive to the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area near Stonecrest, Georgia and had the opportunity to tour the Flat Rock Archives. The Flat Rock Archives feature the rich history of descendants of the people who were enslaved in the area. The Archives also feature the still standing home of the Lyons family, who enslaved them. Other sites included on the tour include the Bryant Homestead, Flat Rock Historic Cemetery, and the Flat Rock Methodist Episcopal Church site.

The journey started with meeting Mr. Johnny Waits, our tour guide and descendant of the bold and brave people that made up the Flat Rock community. Our first stop was the Lyon House, where Johnny shared details about the Lyon family, who enslaved a recorded 17 people and likely held them in a small basement like area underneath the house and potentially in 3 cabins east of the main house. These enslaved people constructed the Lyon’s home, and many other structures on land. They were also forced to work the cotton fields that existed there. I got the opportunity to tour the inside of the home and see more of the craftsmanship as well as learn more about the home’s history and the way of life there. It is one of the oldest structures in all of DeKalb County and accessible from the Arabia Mountain NHA Path Trail.

Our next stop was the Flat Rock Historic Cemetery. Johnny led the way down a path in a heavily wooded area, some of which is currently being cleared for an upcoming residential development. As we walked the trail to the cemetery, I was stunned to see the impact of the disruption of the natural landscape by the residential area being built. There were several trees that had fallen, potentially as a result of other trees which have been deliberately removed. Once we made it to the cemetery, I saw neatly etched gravestones, others with more crude carvings, and some large stones with no markings at all, indicating the final resting places of the people who were a part of the Flat Rock community. The cemetery is also said to have been a Creek Nation burial ground prior to that community being forcibly removed by white settlers from the area. Johnny shared personal stories connected to the cemetery and showed me where his own relatives are buried there. He also shared stories of witches who were found breaking headstones in the cemetery for their rituals and who may have lived on the nearby Salem Road. Through hard work and true dedication, the Flat Rock Archives was able to preserve and protect this historic site and prevent it from being built over by the neighboring development.

Next, we visited the site of the Flat Rock Methodist Episcopal Church where the people who were enslaved in this area gathered and worshiped. Johnny shared that the original structure had no walls, so that worshippers could be clearly viewed for fears of planned escapes, retaliations,etc. I also learned of the school that existed just across the road and was burned down in the 1940s. The Flat Rock Methodist Episcopal Church was remodeled in 1919 and stood on the site until the 1970s. It was replaced by the brick structure you can now see today called the Christ Deliverance Tabernacle of Grace.

Our final stop on the tour was to the historic Bryant Homestead which was owned by local businessman and landowner T.A.Bryant Sr., who lived and farmed there, and made it possible for other residents to own land and preserve the Flat Rock Community. The Flat Rock community was heavily made up of farmers and sharecroppers who raised animals such as cows, chickens, and pigs and produced crops such as cotton, wheat, and corn. Today at the Bryant Homestead you can view original equipment used to prepare animals for consumption, an original outhouse, barn and more. There is also an actively growing garden on site maintained by Johnny, who, along with the Arabia Mountain NHA, is truly helping to keep the rich history of this community alive. 

The Bryant Homestead, Lyon House, Flat Rock Historic Cemetery, and the Flat Rock Methodist Episcopal Church site all make up the Flat Rock Archives and can be toured by booking on AirBNB at https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/330710. I had an amazing time learning about the history of the area and being guided on the tour by Johnny! Come check it out for yourself!