(Acworth Arts Alliance)
The McConnell house is thought to have been built in 1902-1903. The original owner, Jeff McConnell, did not have a formal education, but was able to read, write and manage several businesses in the Acworth area. His most successful business was a shoe repair, which started in the basement of the Kitchen & Williams Hardware Store. It was later located in the cellar of his home on Cherokee Street. Jeff McConnell is believed to have been the first African American business owner in Acworth.
The McConnell home stayed in the family until the death of his daughter, Ella McConnell Payton in 1982. A fire swept the front rooms of the house in 1980, and was rebuilt and continued as a residence until a Community Block Grant, organized by the City of Acworth, purchased the house in 2016.
The City of Acworth renovated the house in 2017, making it ADA compliant and a structure sound for commercial purposes. The Acworth Arts Alliance moved into the “Art House” in 2017. Shiplap was found under drywall in some of the rooms.
The Acworth Arts Alliance is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit that focuses on sharing visual arts with the city and surrounding communities. The Art House hosts 6-8 art exhibits annually and offers numerous art classes, workshops and Scholarships to local senior students who go on to further their education in visual art.
To view more houses on the tour click HERE.
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