Discover Johns Creek History
What Johns Creek Country Club community had their original club house and sales center in a cattle barn?
Find the answer and see other research on-going by the historical society.
Black History Month
National Archives Resources
The National Archives provides wonderful online access to documents and other primary resources about all sorts of topics of our national history! To celebrate Black History Month, they are making available documents that demonstrate the contributions of Black Americans to our nation's history. Here is a partial list of their online resources:
- Guide to Black History
- NARA's African American History subject portals, including Black Power, Migrations, Voting Rights, and World War I.
- African American Heritage web page
- African American records community on History Hub
- Records of the Black Experience in DocsTeach
- People in Black History
More records in their holdings can be found on their Rediscovering Black History Blog and resources for teaching Black History Month teaching are on their Education Updates blog.
Additionally, National Archives News has a special topics page showcasing educational resources, published articles, featured holdings, and public programs related to Black history.Johns Creek Historical Society part of Appen Media's Preserving History Podcasts
Podcast posted January 2, 2023:
Usually focused on politics under the Gold Dome and around the state, The Georgia Politics Podcast with Craig Kidd recorded two installments of special "local history" episodes highlighting the history and preservation efforts of Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, and Johns Creek. We hope you'll enjoy the program (maybe leave a comment if you do), and become curious about what this area was like before we arrived. Let us know if you'd like to help in discovering, preserving, and sharing the the fascinating history of where you live, work, and play.
Our thanks to Appen Media (publisher of the Herald newspapers), Craig Kidd, and Hans Appen for providing their podcast platform to bring awareness of North Fulton history to a new audience.
Listen to Preserving History - Milton & Johns Creek podcast
Listen to Preserving History - Alpharetta & Roswell podcast
Listen to The Georgia Politics podcast of weekly podcasts covering topics of local, regional, and state politics.
Wreath placed at Macedonia Cemetery to honor PFC Toney Howell as part of Wreaths Across America program
December 17, 2022: As part of the national program "Wreaths Across America", a ceremony was held with the Johns Creek Veterans Association to place a wreath at a temporary marker for Pfc. Toney Howell who served in WWI. Like most buried at Macedonia Cemetery, there is no grave marker for Toney Howell; however, his death certificate indicates he is buried at the site.
"Wreaths Across America" is a way for communities to remember and honor veterans buried in their cemeteries. This year, we partnered with the Johns Creek Veterans Association to honor Toney Howell's service during World War I. Toney registered June 5, 1917, was called up and began his military training February 25, 1918 at Camp Gordon in Chamblee, and left for France on the U.S.S. Matsonia on April 29, 1918. Toney served overseas during WWI until returning June 6, 1919 on the S.S Von Steuben. He was honorably discharged from Company B 514th Engineers on June 14, 1919.
Mayor John Bradberry, Councilwoman Erin Elwood and others watched as Kirk Canaday placed a wreath at a temporary marker for Toney Howell, a WWI US service member.
Our thanks to the Johns Creek Veterans Association for honoring Toney Howell's service at the wreath-laying ceremony at Macedonia Cemetery.
We know Toney Howell was born in Sheltonville (in the Shakerag area of Johns Creek) in 1894 or 1895 and as a teen was caught up in the racial and frightening events of Forsyth County's 1912 expulsion of Blacks and mob violence. Identifying Toney Howell as one of the unmarked burials at Macedonia and a veteran of WWI, along with compiling dozens of documents for our archives to help tell his story, are the result of extensive research on those buried at Macedonia provided by the Johns Creek Historical Society, with particular thanks to member Carla Carter.
Other Macedonia News:
November 28, 2022: At their work session, City Council discussed the Macedonia strategic plan and approved staff's recommendation to create a new nonprofit for the Macedonia Cemetery.
August 2022: The City received the "Macedonia Church and Cemetery Site Strategic Plan". View the strategic plan for Macedonia.
Degradation of the Hattie Harris grave marker at Macedonia Cemetery
A Geodetic Marker found that determines the AME Macedonia Church location
Special program held at the William Rogers house
October 23, 2022: Our thanks to the Rogers descendants for allowing us to hold a meeting at the historic 1839 William Rogers house. The October 23rd program included a discussion of the Johns Rogers and Sarah Cordrey Cherokee family, with a focus on their 2nd son William who held leadership positions in the Cherokee Nation and represented the Cherokee in negotiating with the U.S. for Cherokee land rights. We were also fortunate to have a grandson of William Wilson (owner of the house in the 1940s), share memories of visiting the house and farm as a child.
After pointing out features of the historic home and attendees touring the house and grounds, we visited the Rogers-Bell cemetery where Johns Rogers, his wife Sarah, and many of their descendants are buried.
There are very few historic structures left in Johns Creek and the William Rogers "Oakland" home is a treasure, rich in stories of its residents and association with this area's Cherokee past. Our thanks to the Rogers descendants and William Wilson for their part in caring for this important historic home and property so it still stands today.
Girl Scout Macy McKenzie honored for work at Macedonia Cemetery
October 3, 2022: Congratulations to Macy McKenzie, who worked on her Scout project during a 2 year period, coordinating with Historical Society board member Kirk Canaday. Macy was recognized by the City for her 100 hours of work to benefit Macedonia Cemetery, her organization of 2 Macedonia cleanup days, and fundraising for 6 grave markers.
Local restaurant showcases Johns Creek's past and present
Special Thanks for Donations in 2022
$1,000 from Commissioner Liz Hausmann. The Johns Creek Historical Society is honored to have received $1,000 support from Fulton County Commissioner Liz Hausmann. Our thanks to Commissioner Hausmann for this support, her leadership as a multi-term County Commissioner, and her continued understanding of the importance of preserving history.
$2,500 from Johns Creek Advantage. Our thanks to the Directors of the Johns Creek Economic Development Corporation (DBA Johns Creek Advantage) for their contribution of $2500. We are honored by their support and recognition of the economic impact the Johns Creek Historical Society provides to the City of Johns Creek.
In Case You Missed It . . .
Neighborhood history - Country Club of the South Resident of Country Club of the South researched the history of her neighborhood's land
