It all started when…
Hapeville was founded in 1891 and is the home of the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (known as the worlds busiest airport), Delta Headquarters and the first Chic-Fil-A restaurant. The Hapeville Maker Space was created in 2017 as a communal maker space where community members of all ages may come and enjoy art /STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) classes. The location also holds a beautiful art gallery displaying some of the most talented artists in the metro Atlanta area and abroad. Located in the city of Hapeville, GA., it is housed in the second oldest existing building in Hapeville built in 1895. The Victorian style home is 6600 sq ft built and first lived in by Ms. Edwin Alonza Doane and Mrs. Flora (Betts) Doane. Mr. Doane co-owned with Wille Lowe the first real estate company in Hapeville; Hapeville Land and Improvement Company where by he sold land and was a key developer of the city starting the first subdivision. Doane was the Chief Civil Engineer for the Vanderbilt Railroads. He was also one of the first elected in 1892 as a Councilmen and School Board member. The home would also be known as the Waddy House and Reid House. In later years it turned into the Odyssey Family Counseling Center, Inc. by the Tri-Cities and Clayton County Drug Abuse Council (A.K.A. South Metro Drug Abuse Committee). The center was initially funded by private donations and a grant from then Governor Jimmy Carter; later a United Way Agency, funded in part by the State of Georgia. The location remained owned by the Odyssey Family Counseling Center until 2017 when it was purchased by The Hapeville Maker Space.
Flora Riley Byum
My grandfather Doane, Mr. Edwin Alonza Doane, married my grandmother. Flora Betts, in 1873. They had a son, Alonza Betts Doane, called Lonnie, and my mother, Jessie, was born in 1875. By the mid 80's, the four of them were settled in their first house in Hapeville on Fulton Avenue. Later I believe this house was called the Waddy House or the Reid House. I believe that my grandfather's older brother, William Hubbard Betts, and his wife, Mollie, were also here about the same time. My grandfather left off his railroad career and became interested in civic and real estate affairs. He helped found the school when he was on the school board. He was chairman of the school board in 1891.
