Acworth Charm Tour of Homes 2024: Map
Map Sponsor: Still Available
Ticket Pick-Up Location: TRG Vino Market, 4823 S. Main St.
Ticket Pick-Up Sponsor: TRG Vino Market
Sponsor Details:
TRG Vino Market is your local haven for fresh market finds including hand-selected wines, seasonal fruits, artisan cheeses, and much more.
1. Bethel AME Church, 4826 School St., cir. 1863
Sponsor Details:
Brookwood Christian School is Downtown Acworth’s private school for dyslexic learners, grades 1-12.
House 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, 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. 4784 Northside Dr.
Sponsored by: TK & Sons Plumbing
Sponsor Details:
TK & Sons is dedicated to serving our community through quality plumbing services.
House History: TBD
3. 4510 Lemon St., c. 1900
Sponsored by: 1885 Grill
Sponsor Details:
1885 Grill is a southern coastal restaurant specializing in fresh seafood, quality steaks, and southern cuisine.
House History:
Edward W. Lemon, mayor of Acworth in 1907, built this classic Queen Anne house with its wrap-around, turreted porch and columns complimented by Greek Ionic capitals. Other distinctive façade features are asymmetrical placement of dormers, windows, and doors; decorative shingles; and stained glass.
Edward (1872-1958) was the seventh of James Lile and Eliza Lemon’s 10 children and served as Mayor of Acworth in 1907, shortly after this photograph was taken. He married Myrtle Dismukes (1877-1912) whose father Thomas was a manager of the Acworth Inn.
His father, James Lile, served as President of the S. Lemon Banking Company, as well as city Alderman and a church elder in the Acworth Presbyterian Church
Edward’s grandfather, James Lemon, was a wounded War of 1812 veteran and moved to Acworth with his wife Mary in 1845 and purchased 800 acres of land near the town center and built a small frame house which their son, James Lile, expanded to the current Lemon House that sits across Willis Street, at the end of Lemon Street.
4. 4450 Seminole Dr., c. 1938
Sponsored by: Raven Printing
Sponsor Details:
Raven Print & Marketing has over 45 years of servicing the Colorado print and marketing community.
House History:
Built in the 1930s, this 2 bedroom 1 ½ bath home reflects classic bungalow architecture with elements of a post-colonial revival Cape Cod. Features include interior arched doorways, hardwood floors, and original woodwork. The recent exterior paint scheme reflects the cape cod elements of the home and the former garage, on the right, was converted to additional living space. An attached garage was quite an innovative feature for the time.
Esther Sill is believed to be one of the first owners, possibly the builder as well. Esther came to Acworth with her sister, Helen, to purchase Acworth Cotton Manufacturing in 1923 from Orlando Awtrey.
Locals recall that the house was built to “attract” a new doctor for the town/mill. Obviously successful, the house soon became home to Dr. Moses McCall and his wife, Mary. Mrs. McCall and Mrs. L.M. Awtrey, Jr. organized the Acworth Garden Club in 1949 and Mary also has the distinction of serving as Acworth’s first female mayor in the 1950s.
One of the current owners, a transplant from Cleveland, Ohio, was drawn to the house “because of the quiet charm of the neighborhood and the character of the house”. He and his wife adore their neighbors and the convenience of the neighborhood to Main Street, and all that Acworth has to offer.
SOURCES:
-Acworth Society for Historic Preservation, Stroll Through Time
-Acworth Society for Historic Preservation, Inc. Acworth. Charleston SC: Arcadia, 2003
5. 4430 Dallas St., c. 1900
Sponsored by: Anchor Realty Partners
Sponsor Details:
Anchor Realty Partners are here to help you find your dream home in Historic Downtown Acworth. Deborah & Malinda both LIVE, WORK & PLAY here and have a vested interest in where we live!
House History: TBD
6. 4496 Dallas St., c. 1907
Sponsored by: Bowling Law
Sponsor Details:
With over 20 years of experience, Bowling Law specializes in commercial and residential real estate closings and deed preparations. When it comes to the biggest purchase of your life, choose an expert. They pride themselves on the extraordinary customer service they offer in their small, personable firm. Eddie Bowling’s expertise and attention to detail show through in every closing that we conduct.
House History:
The Awtreys, one of Acworth’s earliest families, were well known for social gatherings and merrymaking.
This large Craftsman bungalow was built on the corner of Dallas Street and Seminole Drive by Lemon Awtrey in 1907 for his bride, Varah Hill. The home contains 13 rooms and 5 bathrooms and features stained glass, decorative shingles, and a door with a transom and sidelights. Lemon was a president of the S. Lemon Banking Company, Mayor of Acworth in 1918-19, and served as a long-time Alderman.
In the late 1930s under the financial pressures of the Great Depression, the Awtrey family was forced to develop their pastureland, and Seminole Drive became Acworth’s first in-town subdivision. Before the sale of the land, by lottery, the Awtreys had a grand barbecue on the property. This barbecue tradition continued during the wartime years when families would spontaneously gather on an empty Seminole lot for impromptu picnics and cookouts.
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ON THE TOUR
BUT WORTH LOOKING OUT FOR
Acworth Presbyterian Church (c. 1870), 4561 Church St.
This church is not part of the tour but is worth seeing from 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)
This church is not part of the tour but is worth seeing 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
-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