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Our thanks to Johns Creek Beautification for including the Johns Creek Historical Society as part of their Secret Gardens Tour on May 4th.
We were located at a beautiful garden in Chartwell where we displayed a mini history exhibit and shared stories of the history if the area that is today's City of Johns Creek.
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photos: Pat Miller, Kirk Canaday, Joan Compton
Several of our historical society members participated in cleaning grave markers at the Old Roswell Cemetery on Saturday, March 23. Our thanks to the Roswell Historical Society, their Cemetery Chairperson, Jan Johnson, and Pat Miller, the cemetery section leader who directed our work (also a member of the JC Historical Society). It was a chance to help another historical society, but also to learn the correct process for cleaning cemetery grave markers and monuments.
The Old Roswell Cemetery is 10 acres in size, much larger than any cemetery in Johns Creek, but the knowledge and expertise that the Roswell Historical Society has gained over the years is extremely helpful to us in any future efforts to help restore or preserve cemeteries within Johns Creek. We thank the Roswell Historical Society's Cemetery committee for generously sharing their experience.
While we are not yet ready to start any cemetery projects, let us know if you are interested in the preservation of cemeteries, visiting local cemeteries with our group, or researching the stories of the people buried there - contact us with your interests. info@johnscreekhistory.org
Johns Creek Herald, Mar 21, 2019
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
"The Mystery of the Trees is the story of curiously bent trees that were used by Indians as sign posts across the continent. As they traveled, often great distances, to hunt, trade, gather medicinal plants, and communicate with other tribes, the trees guided their way. Exploring a story that has been hidden for many years, this presentation also leaves the audience with an appreciation for Native people who hold a great reverence for the earth and nature. These living artifacts have many names: Indian Trail Trees, Marker trees, Thong trees, Signal trees, Prayer trees and Culturally Modified trees are a few." ~ Don Wells
Read more about the work of Don Wells and Mountain Stewards to identify and map trail trees.
Read the Johns Creek Herald article about Don Well's presentation March 6th.
Thanks to Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and the City of Johns Creek for providing a location for our March 6th meeting.
Do You Remember . . .
The old sign posts that use to mark important local intersections?In our rural past, these posts would have been at major road intersections in all areas of what is today's Johns Creek. Most have disappeared as roadways moved, intersections widened, or weather and age took their toll. Only a couple are still standing and they are badly deteriorated. Fortunately, Tom Udell, Deputy Director of Public Works - Traffic, photographed the few he found over the years and recently the Spruill/Buice sign post was donated to the Johns Creek Historical Society as a piece of local history reminiscent of the days of dirt roads, little traffic, and rural farms.
If you can help us date these old road markers or remember where they were located, please let us know. Our contact email is info@johnscreekhistory.org
Larry Garrard talking about the old barn next to the 1800s house where he grew up.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Our January program was focused on Newtown, one of the four historic communities in today's City of Johns Creek. Larry Garrard and others with deep local roots talked about the history of the area and attending Newtown School.
Our thanks to Park Place and the City of Johns Creek for allowing us to use the old Newtown School building for this meeting.
Read more about the meeting in the Johns Creek Herald article by Carson Cook.sign-up for our email news
Our thanks to Mark Burkhalter for leading the historical society on a tour of the old Warsaw School building in December. It was a wonderful chance to learn about the building, how Mark saved and carefully renovated it, and hear memories of attending the school when this area was still rural.
We in the City of Johns Creek owe Mark our gratitude for preserving part of the area's history by repurposing the old school building while maintaining its historic integrity.
Mark has also offered to let us copy his collection of Warsaw School photos and documents. Several people will be needed to help with the scanning. Contact us at info@johnscreekhistory.org if you want to help.
Thanks Shady Grove Church and Linda Swafford for organizing this event!
On Saturday, August 25th, six members of the Johns Creek Historical Society met with Shady Grove Church members and other long-time residents of Shakerag to hear old memories of life in the community and scan photos and documents they brought to share.
The scanned items will be stored in our digital archives as part of the record of Shakerag history. Scanned photos include:
- a photo of Warsaw Academy students and teachers in the early 1900s,
- a photo of Albert Matthew Bell (he was the boy who witnessed the 1864 Civil War skirmish along Bell Road),
Read more and view some photos of the event
Please contact us at info@johnscreek history.org if you have memories, photos, documents, or objects from the Johns Creek area's past or if you would like to help us research and capture local history.
Johns Creek Historical Society begins capturing oral histories with help from the City of Johns Creek
As part of its mission to preserve and promote local history, the Johns Creek Historical Society has started a project to collect recorded memories and family stories of this area's past.
We've made a test run of the process by interviewing Judy Webb, a long-time resident with deep family roots in the area, who is known for her community activism and knowledge of local history.
We're compiling a list for the next set of interviews. Let us know if you are a descendant of the early farm families of this area or are a long-time resident with memories of the area when it was still a rural farming community.
Please contact us.
The oral histories collected will be retained in the Johns Creek Historical Society's archives for research, education, and promotion of local history.
Our thanks to the City of Johns Creek Communications Department for videotaping and editing the oral history interviews.