society honors Local PRESERVATION efforts during annual celebration

Cobb Landmarks held its Annual Membership Meeting on January 24th. The event took place at St. James’ Episcopal Church and drew a large crowd. Attendees enjoyed a buffet of delicious food provided by the Cobb Landmarks Board of Trustees and countless volunteers. During the meeting, Board Chair Abbie Parks and Executive Director Trevor Beemon reviewed milestones from 2018, highlighting the relocation of the c. 1830 Manning Cabin from Powder Springs to Cobb Landmarks’ Root House Museum campus in downtown Marietta last September. David Freedman led the awards portion of the program, which celebrated preservation projects throughout Cobb County. The award-winning projects are: 

Carrie Dyer House - 
Carol and Tommy Allegood accepting the award
The Carrie Dyer Reading Club was established in Acworth in 1898. In 1910, the group purchased a c. 1850 house in downtown Acworth for use as a clubhouse. The house was used to host lectures, special events, and dances, and also served as a meeting place for local organizations such as the Girl Scouts of the USA. The Carrie Dyer Reading Club also operated a library in the home which merged with the Cobb County-Marietta Public Library System in 1963 after a new public library was built nearby. The home then returned to residential use.

The following years were not kind to the home. After decades of neglect, the home was purchased by a developer, and plans were drawn up in 2017 to replace the home with a modern structure. Cobb Landmarks immediately contacted the City of Acworth. Cobb Landmarks felt that retaining the original front rooms and facade of the structure was extremely important. The depth of the lot would allow for a substantial modern addition while the front facade and main front rooms could be retained. Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood heard our concerns and decided to take off his mayor hat and put on his builder hat, purchasing the home and remodeling and enlarging it for a modern buyer.
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Elizabeth Porter Park - 
Elizabeth Porter History and Mural Committe accepting the award
Construction for Elizabeth Porter Park began in August 2017 and was completed in 2018. Located at the intersection of Allgood Road and North Marietta Parkway, it features a walk/run track, spray pad, and pavilion. A great recreational amenity, the park was also designed to ensure the preservation of local history through the use of public art. Most prominently, a symbolically rich 130-foot mural depicts activities relevant to the site and surrounding neighborhood over time. Secondly, a statue of Elizabeth Porter, the park's namesake and former recreation center director, was incorporated into the park entrance. The statue design shows Mrs. Porter beside two children representing those she worked with during her 22 years as director.

Glover Park Brewery - 
Sam Rambo accepting the award
In 2018 Hank DuPre and Sam Rambo opened Glover Park Brewery in downtown Marietta. The owners rehabilitated a c. 1930 Sears, Roebuck and Company building, which had been significantly altered through the years, and was at one point gutted by a fire. Restoring the historic brick facade, they added historic character back to the interior spaces by using reclaimed materials and fixtures. Downtown Marietta's first brewery, Glover Park Brewery is a wonderful addition to Atlanta Street and the Marietta Square. 

McConnell House - 
City of Acworth and Acworth Arts Alliance accepting the award
This c. 1900 structure housed one of Acworth's first African American businesses. Jeff McConnell operated a shoe repair business from the basement and lived on the main level. The home was rehabilitated by the City of Acworth for use as an Art House by the Acworth Art Alliance.

Willingham-Micheletto House - 
Sara and Jon Micheletto accepting the award
The Willingham-Micheletto House is a stunning 1924 Colonial Revival, made even more stunning by its restoration after a tragic fire in 2016. The home was spared the wrecking ball by Sara and Jon Micheletto, and has been closely restored  to its c. 1924 appearance based on the home's original plans designed by famed Atlanta architect Leila Ross Wilburn.