Scroll down below the maps to see our confirmed houses for the 2023 tour.
Map Sponsors:
1. 4826 School St, cir. 1863
Bethel AME Church
Sponsored by: still available
HISTORY
“Bethel A.M.E. was built by the skilled hands of freed slaves, and has stood throughout time for 155 years. Bethel A.M.E.’s church history recalls General Sherman’s march throughout Georgia. At the end of the Civil War, there were 200 freed slaves remaining in Acworth. The emancipated slaves immediately became a vital part of the Acworth community, and took on a monumental task, and used their artistry and skill to build a church. After the end of slavery, members of the Bethel A.M.E. church and Zion Hill Missionary Baptist church shared church buildings. This tradition of alternating Sunday services lasted for many years until Zion Missionary Baptist church moved to a more contemporary church building in 1914; while the members of the Bethel A.M.E. remained in the original church building built by the freed slaves. Bethel A.M.E was built in 1878, and a bell tower was added in 1895.”
2. 4535 Dallas St, c. 1851
Sponsored by: still available
HISTORY
This charming Central Hallway Cottage was originally 560 square feet with 2 fireplaces. The Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, Circa 1920-1932 show the home with an addition of 780 square feet. The house today with the complete renovation is 3,500 sq ft with a new front porch, new rear deck and a detached two car garage.
Local historians refer to this home as “The Carrie Dyer Home.” The Club was established in Acworth in 1898 as the Calleopeans, but was renamed in 1901, upon Carrie Dyer’s death, to the Carrie Dyer Reading Club. Later, the club was named The Carrie Dyer Women’s Club. The Club purchased the home in 1910 and used the building as a clubhouse and public library. The group joined the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1908. Still active, the club holds the distinction of being the second oldest women’s club in Georgia.
The home was used as a community center and hosted lectures, special events and dances, and served as a meeting place for local organizations. The Club operated a library in the home until It joined the Cobb County Marietta Public Library in 1963.
In July of 2016 the home was purchased off the Courthouse steps by an investor and the home sat vacant for more than a year and a half. An entire section of the house was missing and the interior had been exposed to the weather. IT WAS A MESS. Malinda Howe, local Broker diligently started communication with the owner and finally convinced him to sell – it was then a task to marry the right buyer to the home who would preserve a piece of Acworth’s history. At last, someone stepped up for the challenge of our Mayor Tommy Allegood. He would restore the home and build an addition.
The home was completed and ready to hit the open market in August of 2018. In April of 2019 Linda & Wesley Hardwick purchased this historic home. Since their purchase the Hardwick’s have added a large front porch, added a roof over their back deck, added a detached two car garage, all new landscaped backyard with a cozy fire pit and just completed a kitchen renovation adding accents from deVol.
3. 4496 Lemon Street Extension, c. mid 1800s
Sponsored by: still available
HISTORY
This home is believed to have been built by Captain James Lile Lemon (Captain Lemon’s home is caddy corner to this home) in the mid-1800’s to attract a doctor to Acworth. The original section of the home was a two-room hall and parlor.
The home went under extensive renovations in the 1920’s when Helen Sills and her sister Ester moved here from Connecticut. With a great deal of family money, the home was enlarged as a cross-gabled bungalow. The front porch was added with a brick foundation, wide brick entrance steps and brick piers with tapered, squared, wood columns.
Helen married Albert Leroy Mason and they had one son, Albert Leroy Mason Jr. They had the first television set in Acworth (probably around 1948) and would invite friends into the home for “television parties.” They also had a Chow dog, which was very high society back then. Albert Jr. also had a pony.
The Sill sisters had purchased the Acworth Cotton Manufacturing Company that had been built on 60 acres of the Kitchen farm property in 1905 by Orlando Awtrey. They invested capital and manufactured coarse sheetings: tobacco shade cloth, osnaburg and sacks. Their company, Acworth Mills, employed 200 people. It also provided a whole village for its workers, including homes, a company store, a church and the 1928 brick Eli Whitney School.
Nicole & Clay Fletcher purchased the property in June 2010 and have spent years updating and renovating this beautiful home
4. Lakeview Court (first home on the left), c. 2022
Sponsored by: still available
HISTORY
This stunning European Style home was built for Ella & Gary Givens who immediately fell in love with the Historic Downtown Acworth Community. Their home is one of the 9 homes to be built on the cove on Lake Acworth a gated community. The home is 4 Sided Brick with stone exterior accents on the Fireplace, offering 4,000 sq ft of Living space and has beautiful Transitional Interior design. You will not want to miss this home!
5. 5038 Dewberry Circle, c. 1965
Sponsored by: still available
HISTORY
In 1959 four prominent Acworth Businessman RJ Eaton, WB Hamner, LM Awtrey JR, FJ Kienel, had a vision of creating a new subdivision north on Main Street near the newly created Lake Allatoona. The Subdivision would be called Lakewood Heights. The creation of Lake Allatoona purpose was for flood control and hydroelectric generation. It was in the Mid 1930’s and the ranch plan originated out of California. After World War II the ranch plan was one of the few types of homes that FHA would finance. By 1950 the ranch plan was the most predominant residential style in the country.
The ranch plan emphasized on the horizontal and the result of the automobile – carports or garages attached – predominant landscape with Driveways, 8ft interior ceilings, shutters deceased, the creation of the picture window to out at the landscape, windows and doors become one with sliding glass doors bringing nature into the home.
This mid-century ranch home was initially built for Jack and Becky Day Diemer (Owners of Day’s Chevrolet) and later sold to Wally Poczatek (former mayor of Acworth) in the late 1960’s. Teresa & Ron Sanford purchased this home in January of 1993 from Mr. Poczatek.
On February 1 1993 they moved into their new home – February 14th 1993 Acworth was hit with an ice storm and one month later a blizzard. Needless to say, the approximate number of pine trees initially was 75 on the property and after these storms the Sanford’s had 35 pine trees removed
Teresa mentioned that the home was like revisiting 1965 with 3-inch shag carpeting thru-out and painted walls to match. One of the very first items was to remove all the shag carpet to only reveal beautiful hardwood oak floors. The home originally was a 4 Bedroom & 4 full Baths – but now 3 full baths to reincorporate to a true owner’s bath. The original bath fixtures and tiles were sky blue, peach, beige and tan – each bath has been completely renovated. In 2005 the kitchen was renovated and in 2009 the Great Room floor plan was modified. A must see is to explore their stunning gardens which have been one of the Sanford’s greatest pleasures.
6. 5225 Dawn Drive, c. 2006
Sponsored by: still available
7. 5212 Dawn Dr., c. 1999
Sponsored by: still available
HISTORY
Steve and Lori Prather commissioned for this custom built Southern Living lake home to be built in 1997 and it was completed in 1999. The home sits nestled on 1/2 of an acre on the shoreline of Lake Allatoona with a dock offering endless summer fun on the lake for the family. Here are just a few of the home features: 4 Bedrooms & 3 1/2 baths, 4 sided brick recently white washed, full basement, custom built-ins, hardwood floors, screened in porch, deck leading to a outdoor fireplace where the family has the opportunity to enjoy all the wildlife in the area and spectacular unparalleled views of the lake
8. 4378 Dallas St., c. 1930
Sponsored by: still available
Pickup Tickets: Original Acworth Jail (Acworth Cultural Arts) , 4367 Center St.
The original jail in Acworth (c. 1935) has been repurposed and is now the headquarters of Acworth Cultural Arts. You can find it situated behind Fusco’s Via Roma, adjacent to Center Street Tavern.
Pickup Tickets on Saturday 11/11/23 from 11:00-4:00
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ON THE TOUR BUT WORTH LOOKING OUT FOR
Acworth Presbyterian Church (c. 1870), 4561 Church St.
(Acworth Presbyterian Church Congregation)
This church is not on the tour, but certainly worth a look on the outside.
Capt. Lemon was one of the founders of Acworth Presbyterian Church. The church was built in 1875 on land donated by James’ brother, Smith Lemon. [1]
The Acworth Presbyterian Church was established in 1870 as a mission from the Mars Hill Church. Thirty-four members were dispatched to start the Acworth Church, and Mars Hill provided a joint minister until 1956. Smith Lemon donated the property and together with his brother James Lile, supervised the construction of the church building in 1875. [2]
The Church features stained glass windows, Gothic arches, and intricate brickwork are features of the brick edifice. Many of Acworth’s pioneer families were among the charter members. [3]
Thirty-four members from Mars Hill were received as charter members. They were: M.J. Abbott, Mrs. F.J. Ansley, J.H. Bate, W.T. Bate, Dr. A. Cotten, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Cotten, Mrs. Hattie Hull, W.H.A. Johnson, J.P. Lawhon, Mrs. J.P. Lawhon, Miss Lula Lawhon, Miss Belle Lemon, J.L. Lemon, Mrs. J.L. Lemon, Miss Jennie Lemon, Jessie, L. Lemon, M.E. Lemon, Margaret E. Lemon, Smith Lemon, Mrs. M.K. Litchfield (known as Mr.s Kansas Williams after her second marriage), H.H. Logan, Mrs. Emily L. Logan, J.E. McEver, Mrs. J.W. McMillan, John L. Nichols, Mrs. Maria L. Nichols, W. J. Palmer, Mrs. W.J. Palmer, Miss Nola Palmer, Miss Eula Palmer, William Prichard, John E. Prichard, J.C. Stancel, and Mrs. L.H. Tanner. [4]
On November 4, 1883, J.W. McMillan and H.H. Logan were ordained as elders by Rev. A.G. Johnson, the first minister of Acworth Presbyterian Church. [5]
Acworth Presbyterian Church was used in the 2011 remake of ‘Footloose’ as the Church of Bormont where Dennis Quaid’s character, Reverend Moore, is the minister. Carol Allegood, homeownter of the R.L McMillan House, is featured as an extra during one of the church scenes, along with Kim Wigington, Headmaster of Brookwood Christian School, one of Acworth Charm’s Hosts. [6]
1. Acworth Society for Historic Preservation, Inc., p. 61.
2. Ibid.
3. Rebecca Nash Paden and Joe McTyre. pg. 45
4. Mary Dell Williams, pg. 2
5. Ibid.
6. Southern Outdoor Cinema
Acworth Christian Church (c. 1858)
(Acworth Christian Church Congregation)
This newly restored church is not open for a tour, but is certainly worth a look from the outside.
In 1858, Acworth had been established as a watering stop for the Western and Atlantic Railroad, but would not be incorporated until 1860.
That year, Nathan Smith, an established evangelist, founded the Acworth Christian Church, which originally was located on Mitchell Hill. Smith was one of the first schoolmasters in Acworth, and the first worshipful master of the Acworth Masonic Lodge.
The church thrived until the Civil War, when the building was dismantled and used as shanties for Union soldiers. The church re-established in 1875 at its current location on Northside Drive. Tragedy struck again in 1899, when a fire destroyed the church. Nathan Smith died that same year, so he never got to enjoy the rebuilt church, which opened its doors in 1901.
The church has been a fixture in Acworth ever since, and can be seen from Main Street and the downtown area. The church’s original brick exterior was covered by stucco in the 1980s.
SOURCES
[Unless otherwise cited, all photography courtesy of TCPics]
-Acworth Society for Historic Preservation, Inc. Acworth. Charleston SC, Chicago, Portsmouth NH, San Franscisco: Arcadia, 2003.
-City of Acworth Property Records
-Angela Chao, Old Acworth Jail Memorabilia. Acworth, GA Patch, March 11, 2011. https://patch.com/georgia/acworth/amp/431263 (accessed August 11, 2019)
-Charlotte McClure et al, Acworth, Georgia: from Cherokee County to Suburbia. Acworth. Carrie Dyer Woman’s Club, 1976.
-Rebecca Nash Paden and Joe McTyre. Cobb County. Charleston SC: Arcadia, 2005.
-Wendy Parker, “Sprayberry to Celebrate 65th Anniversary, Hold Gala Fundraiser Saturday.” East Cobb News, April 13, 2018. Accessed May 15, 2020.
-Abbie Tucker Parks, Albert L. Price, and Shirley Fowler Walker. Remembering Acworth: Fact, Fun, and Trivia. City of Acworth, 2010.
-Thomas Allan Scott. Cobb County, Georgia and the Origins of the Suburban South: A Twentieth-Century History. Marietta GA: Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society, Inc, 2003.
-Southern Outdoor Cinema. “‘Footloose’ Starring Julianne Hough, Filmed in Georgia.” Southern Outdoor Cinema, February 14, 2014. (Accessed 08/20/2019)
-Mary Dell Williams. Acworth Presbyterian Church, The First Hundred Years, 1870 – 1970. Acworth GA, 1970