Weekly Acorn # 25
Woodberry Forest is the neighborhood that is located directly south of Oak Crest. It was developed in three phases on a large parcel of land owned by B K Millaway. Mr Millaway purchased the land in 1935. I am not sure of the previous owner of the land (maybe Harmon or Nading?).
This is the tract of land where the Harmon sisters lived in their little cabin. In fact, the earliest map of OC shows the land to the south as belonging to “Harmon”. Unfortunately, I have not found much information on the Harmon’s at this time.
I have been told that there were two houses on the property. A cabin and a house. The cabin was where the Harmon sisters lived and the house at one time was used as a party house by Mr Nading. I am still searching and asking folks who may have more information.
I do know that W D and Louise Millaway lived in the cabin for several years before building the house (in 1954) that Louise Millaway currently lives in at 245 Crepe Myrtle Cr. The cabin was located several hundred feet behind Mrs Millaway’s current house and approximately where the house at 2575 Aaron Ln sits now.
I remember the cabin when I was a child. I went to it many times, however, I was scared of bees and snakes and never stayed around it very long. At that time it was abondoned and all of the area surrounding it was overgrown. It was demolished in the mid 1970’s to make way for the third phase of Woodberry Forest.
Mr Millaway did not sell all of the land at the same time. Instead he sold it in portions, so the neighborhood was developed in three phases. He sold the first portion in 1963.
The first phase was platted in 196? and consisted of lots on Woodberry Dr and Talwood Ct. Woodberry Dr began at Reynolda Rd and ended at 2555 on the north side and 2554 on the south side of the street. Then the second phase was platted in 196? and consisted of lots on the rest of Woodberry Dr, Wakeview Hill, Aaron Ln (east) and about half a block of Aaron Ln (west). Finally the last phase was platted in 197? and consisted of lots on the rest of Aaron Ln (west) and Harmon Ct.
Woodberry Forest consists of one main street and several side streets that are all cul-de-sacs. The streets are as follows:
Woodberry Dr – This is the main street in the neighborhood. It begins at Reynolda Rd and heads east to begin with, and then meanders through several curves for a few blocks and finally ending in a cul-de-sac headed north.
Talwood Ct – This very short street that branches north of Woodberry Dr and is only about 100 feet long ending in a cul-de-sac.
Wakewood Hill – This is also a very short street that branches southeast (remember the curves) of Woodberry Dr ending in a cul-de-sac.
Aaron Ln – This street intersects with Woodberry Dr almost at the end of it. Woodberry Dr ends in a cul-de-sac just beyond Aaron Ln. Aaron Ln extends about one very short block east of Woodberry Dr ending in a cul-de-sac. It also extends about two blocks west of Woodberry Dr also ending in a cul-de-sac.
Harmon Ct – This street begins about half way along the west portion of Aaron Ln and extends north for one long block ending a cul-de-sac.
Well, next week’s post will be a surprise to you and me because I am not sure what I am going to write about next. I do have another multi-part series planned, but I do not want to end one and immediately begin another.