Property Owners Honored For Historic Preservation Work

CANTON, GA -- Historic preservation advocates and their supporters came together on March 17 to honor six owners for their work in retaining what makes their property stand out in Cherokee County.

The Cherokee County Historical Society hosted its annual Historic Preservation Awards banquet, which recognizes the work of property owners who honor the sites they have in their possession.

The Historical Society feels that it is important for communities to retain and honor these historic sites, "because it gives residents a sense of place, which is critical in maintaining a unique identity in suburban Atlanta."

“It was a pleasure to meet the winners this year," said Historical Society Director Stefanie Joyner. "The buildings present a great cross-section of Cherokee County. We have a log cabin, beautiful homes and a renovated school.”

This year's award recipients are:

E.T. Booth House, Woodstock

Smith & Nina Johnston worked hard to save the E.T. Booth house in Woodstock when it was threatened with demolition. The house was built in 1940 by Eugene Theodore Booth and his wife, Lucy. Mr. Booth was a prominent educator in Cherokee County and served as superintendent for eight years. To save the house, it was turned around and then moved to the back of the lot and renovated into a commercial space. The original floors, doors, plaster walls and windows were preserved.

Founder’s Insurance, Woodstock

David and Melissa Potts spent two months renovating the former Beverly’s Day Spa in Woodstock into a beautiful new office for their insurance company. This Queen Anne style landmark on Main Street was built in 1906. This sensitive renovation kept the many historic details that make the property unique, while updating the structure to meet the needs of a modern office.

Chattahoochee Technical College, Woodstock

Built in the 1930's, the former Woodstock Elementary School has undergone two massive renovations in 2013 and 2016 to become the hub for Chattahoochee Tech. The gymnasium was a primary focus of the 2016 remodel and is now home to the college’s Student Center, as well as Fresh Start Cherokee’s The Circuit, a business incubator created to foster entrepreneurship in the county. A new roof was placed on the gym and the original hardwood basketball court was restored. They also saved the original scoreboard and reinstalled it. Most of the renovations focused on returning to the original bones of the school. They included removing the drop ceiling and saving and restoring the hardwood floors. Chattahoochee Tech made use of the original classroom space, but modernized it for today’s student. They also installed a new HVAC system and plumbing to maintain functionality in the school.

Sparks-Sellers House, Canton

The Sparks-Sellers home is one of the few properties in Cherokee County that can claim to have had only two owners in its 65 year history. The Sellers family purchased the home in 2016 (?) and spent months on the renovation with a kitchen remodel that included new 1950’s styled appliances. They updated one bathroom while keeping another in its original design, utilizing the same fixtures, including the pink tile. They kept the original lighting and repaired the plumbing and wiring where they could. They also repaired cracked and pealing plaster, as well as refinished the original hardwood floors. The Sellers also repaired the historic fireplaces, rebuilding one entirely. Lastly Mrs. Sparks was an avid gardener and belonged to a local garden club- the Sellers honored her legacy by taming the yard and saving any original heirloom plants.

McCanless-Jones-Morgan Home, Canton

Built in 1929 by Eugene McCanless, this home was designed by the A. Ten Eyck Brown who also designed the Historic Courthouse in Canton and the Federal Building in Atlanta. The home is in the Colonial Revival style and features a hipped roof. The home was later purchased by Louis and Peggy Jones, owners of the Canton Cotton Mill. The Morgan family purchased the home in 2014 and did extensive work to honor the history of the home. Nearly all of the walls in the home are plaster and were repaired as necessary. The Morgan’s also kept the original tile floors in the sunroom and breakfast room. The Morgan’s also spent a lot of time and energy to save the wood floors in the butler’s pantry. In the master bedroom, the wall was removed between the sleeping porch and the bedroom to make one room. A master bath and closet were also added. Many of the light fixtures are original, including one that was found under the stairway wrapped in burlap. The home also features a pool which was repaired and a pool house, where the Morgans added new tile, cabinets, and appliances.

Sroka Log Cabin, Ball Ground

While Cherokee County possesses numerous log cabins, only one came from the State of Maryland. Rich and Shirley Sroka’s home was moved from Greenbrier State Park to Ball Ground. The circa 1880's two-story log structure was largely unaltered when it was dismantled and rebuilt in Georgia. The owners updated the cabin for modern day living, but preserved the unique historic features.

Each year the Historical Society also recognizes an outstanding volunteer and this year’s clear standout is longtime volunteer and advocate, Carme Stone.

Carme has volunteered since 2007, and has been involved in numerous projects including being a docent in the museum, as a researcher for special requests, and as an interviewer as part of our oral history project.

“We are blessed to have Carme and have called upon her skills too many times to count," Joyner added. “Her enthusiasm for her work is catching and she helps us all to be better historians.”

Photo 1: Chattahoochee Tech's renovated space
Photo 2: E.T. Booth House
Photo 3: Founder's Insurance
Photo 4: McCanless-Jones-Morgan
Photo 5: Sellers House
Photo 6: Sroka Log Cabin
Photo 7: Carme Stone
Images via Cherokee County Historical Society