Q: Who puts on the Atlanta Passion Play and how long has it been running?
A: This springtime event, which is a tradition for some Atlantans, is in its 35th and final season. The production, which depicts events surrounding the life of Christ, including his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension to Heaven, debuted at the Atlanta Civic Center on Good Friday in 1977. More than 200 members of First Baptist Church Atlanta pulled together the first production of the musical drama – now more than 600 volunteers help stage the religious show. In 1980, the name changed, from the Life of Christ Pageant to the Atlanta Passion Play, and the play and script has evolved through the years to include different events and people in the life of Christ. The dates for this year's performance at the Atlanta Civic Center are April 9-10 and April 15-17.
Q: Was the Hamilton Mill area near the Mall of Georgia once known as Hog Mountain?
A: Let's pig out for a bit on some Gwinnett County history. The story of Hog Mountain, about 40 miles from Atlanta and 8 miles northeast of Lawrenceville, goes back to the early 1800s, when the area was in the possession of the Cherokee Indians. Historians say Fort Daniel was built in 1813 on a hill there to "protect the frontier from Indians aroused by the British during the War of 1812," according to its historical marker; an elementary school in Dacula is named after Fort Daniel. When Peachtree Road was built in 1813, it connected Fort Daniel to Fort Peachtree about 30 miles west, on the Chattahoochee River. Hog Mountain became a spot for commerce, even home to the county's first inn – The Hog Mountain House, at Ga. 324 and Ga. 124/Braselton Highway. Hog Mountain referred to the crossroads used by farmers driving their hogs through the area to market – that's according to local publications and even that Yankee paper, The New York Times. One prominent resident, William Maltbie, operated a trading post in Hog Mountain and married Philadelphia Winn, a daughter of Elisha Winn (the Elisha Winn House in Dacula, which was 2 miles from the trading post, is open for tours); he later became a founder of Lawrenceville and Gwinnett's first postmaster. It's no hogwash that Hog Mountain, which also was on stagecoach and mail routes, has changed over time, with developments including the massive Hamilton Mill neighborhood. Even Hog Mountain Baptist Church, which was founded in 1854 (and in its present location in Dacula since 1905), changed its name five years ago to Hamilton Mill Baptist Church.
What do you want to know?
If you’re new in town or just have questions about this special place we call home, ask us! E-mail Lori Johnston at q&a@ajc.com.
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