Description: In 1890, the newly founded Athens Park and Improvement Company bought 300 acres north of Prince and west of Barber Street and made an agreement with Athens’s street railroad company to extend its tracks into their land, making an easy commute to downtown. Thus, Boulevard, the first “streetcar suburb” in Athens, was established. The Boulevard neighborhood became home to a diverse population that encompassed virtually all social classes and income levels. Boulevard forms the spine of the neighborhood and is characterized by wide lots and larger homes, mostly in the Queen Anne and Neoclassical styles. The north edge of the district was (and still is) bounded by railroad tracks, and a textile firm, the Southern Manufacturing Company, established itself along the tracks. The streets surrounding it were developed with mill houses for the company’s workers. Like many of Athens historic in-town neighborhoods, neglect and development took its toll in the mid-20th century, and the neighborhood became largely rental. Luckily, Boulevard’s faded grandeur, cheap rent, and proximity to downtown drew artists, musicians and writers, many of whom later purchased and rehabilitated its homes. The diversity which characterized Boulevard at its founding continues today, and eclectic and creative types abound. This tour will last approximately 2 hours. Times: 10 a.m. ACHF Member: $12 / Non-member: $15