Old House To Be Demolished in Downtown Canton

CANTON, GA -- Canton's Historic Preservation Commission has given the green light for a property owner to demolish an old home in the city's downtown.

The committee at its March 13 meeting voted 3-1-1 to allow the owner of property at 251 West Main Street to demolish the residential structure, which sits at the corner of Hill Street Circle.

Commission members Addie Price voted against the measure while Jane Shelnutt abstained from the vote.

Community Development Director Ken Patton said the home is located next to the former Canton textile mill offices. Some Patch readers may be familiar with this building as the former home of the Cherokee County Board of Education.

Patton said the decision does not have to go to the City Council for approval. As part of the decision, representatives from the Cherokee County Historical Society will make a trip to the property to see if there's anything inside the structure worth salvaging for preservation purposes, Patton told Patch.

That could happen in the next 10 days, he added.

Historical society Executive Director Stefanie Joyner said she's in the midst of trying to coordinate volunteers to retrieve some of those items, which could include doors, pine paneling, oak floors and possibly some of the structural components.

The house formerly owned by Darlene Cagle was acquired, along with the former textile mile offices, by the Harris Group. Interior demolition of the property is currently underway to accommodate plans to open boutique shops and stores within the structure.

The space where the house currently sits will be redeveloped into parking spaces for use by the public.

Photo: a May 2015 photo of the home at 251 W. Main Street in downtown Canton. Credit: Google