Alpharetta Historic Walk Preview

1

Old Milton Courthouse | 1895

This was the Courthouse of Milton County at the time it merged with Fulton County (1932). Created in 1857, the county was named for General Homer V. Milton (War of 1812), though some claim it was named for John Milton, first Secretary of State of Georgia.

2

J.J. Webb and Sons | 1910

The two-story brick building housed Shirley Brothers store, Milton County Bank, Buren Weatherford Grocery and Bates Grocery. C.P. Brady and Sons purchased it in 1934 and operated a Chevrolet dealership, gasoline station and garage.

3

First Baptist Church of Alpharetta | c. 1905

In 1903, a group of women who met weekly for prayer and Bible study began collecting offerings. From these collections, the women purchased a sixty by one hundred foot lot and began construction of the First Baptist Church. The project was completed in 1905 and was located on this site.

4

Alpharetta First United Methodist Church | 1834

Methodist circuit riders held camp meetings here in the early 1830s and a meeting house existed as early as 1834. In 1871, Isham Teasley donated land where the brick chapel now stands. A white frame church was there until 1931.

5

Norman House | 1910

The six-room Queen Anne-style cottage has heart pine floors and fireplaces with original mantels and tiles. Cotton broker Clifford Pierce Norman, wife Nancy Lee Shell Norman and their three daughters lived there.

6

Lewis-Manning House | 1895

Colonel Tom Lewis built the five bedroom Queen Anne-style house. Siblings Tom H., James H. and Annie Manning lived there 1905-1953. Alpharetta Mayor Sim Manning and his wife, Sarah, moved there in 1948.

7

B.F. Shirley House | c. 1910

This Queen Anne-style style home built by B.F. Shirley in 1910 used a Sears, Roebuck & Co. house pattern. Features include a nine-room interior, veranda, and exterior stairs leading to the second floor. Renovations have been made, but the original building structure has not been altered. The Alpharetta Woman’s Club purchased the house in 1962 and paid the bank loan with funds from community projects.

8

New Prospect Campground | c. 1835

Several springs and proximity to westward routes made the campground a suitable overnight stop for travelers and a place for settlers to camp until land could be obtained for homes. The site became known as New Prospect. Later, a log building was constructed for a school and church.

9

Manning Mercantile | c. 1910

James H. and Thomas H. Manning operated the store in a wooden building that burned in 1902. It was replaced by a one-story brick building that later housed the U.S. Post Office, Bates Grocery, Cowart Shoe Shop, Cook Shoe Shop and the Alpharetta Welcome Center. A second story was added in the 1990s

10

R.J. Webb Building | c. 1907

R.J. Webb built the two-story brick Webb Hotel, later known as the Alpharetta Hotel. Residents included Milton County court attendees and school teachers. Businesses included Norman and Trammell General Merchants, U.S. Post Office, Alpharetta Bank, Gordon’s department store and Talmage Burgess Grocery. The building was razed to the ground in the 1970s.

11

Webb Guano House | c. 1901

R.J. and J.J. Webb built the structure on property purchased from James Madison Dodd. The Teasleys bought the property in 1911 and built the Teasley’s Warehouse portion. Later occupants were Q. A. Wills’ cotton warehouse and chenille factory, Lad ’N Dad Slacks, and The Roswell Company. Frances Byers established the Cotton House Furniture store in the 1970s

12

Future Farmers of America Log Cabin | 1935

Members of Milton High School’s Future Farmers of America built this rustic cabin of hand-hewn logs. Teacher P. L. Elkins provided seed money and project oversight. Alpharetta merchants and farmers furnished other supplies. The one-room, one-floor cabin serves as a teaching museum for the Alpharetta Historical Society by illustrating life in the 1800’s.

13

Resthaven Cemetery | 1860

In December 1860, the Milton County Inferior Court gave two acres to the citizens of the county to be used as a graveyard. In May 1903, Milton County conveyed the Alpharetta Cemetery Lot, now four acres, to Members of the Town Council and their successors. The lot was to be used as a general burial ground under the supervision of the Town of Alpharetta. This is the final resting place for many of the founders of Milton County and the Town of Alpharetta. The earliest recorded burial is that of Susan Camp Garrison, born 1822, died 1861. The cemetery property had previously been owned by Susan’s father, Arthur T. Camp.

14

Dodd Hotel | c. 1870

Dodd Hotel was owned by James Madison Dodd, 1828-1895. A businessman and Milton County constable, he operated a livery stable and barn on the north side of the street. The two-story hotel boarded cotton traders, drummers, court attendees and teachers. Dodd’s wife, Sara Ann, prepared meals. The hotel operated until the 1940s.

15

Oliver-Waters-McCollum Warehouses | c. 1910

Originally the three buildings faced the National Highway, now Old Roswell Road. A brick facade was added in the 1970s. In 1909, John A. Oliver constructed the two-story Oliver warehouse. Prior to 1914, D.P. Waters constructed the Waters warehouse that connected the Oliver and McCollum structures. The McCollum warehouse was built around 1909. The only known elevator in Milton County was installed here and still exists.

16

Skelton-Teasley House | 1856

The Greek Revival-style home was built for the family of Dr. Oliver P. Skelton, physician, postmaster and Ordinary of Milton County. His son-in-law John I. Teasley, a cotton planter, subsequently occupied it. The house sits on one of the highest points in Alpharetta.

17

Waters House | 1890s

This Colonial Revival structure has served as the home of numerous early city and county officials, physicians, and business owners since the 1890s. Residents include the McLesky, Foster, Oliver, Jones, Robertson, Waters and Garmon families. There have been changes to the exterior including the addition of brick columns and the enclosure of one of the side porches. The Waters family lived here during the first half of the 20th century. Mr. Waters owned the Alpharetta Drug Store and was the book agent for Milton County Schools.

18

Alpharetta Business District

Alpharetta was formed in 1858 and a thriving business district soon developed. Many businesses had two entrances – one facing the Milton County Courthouse on Norcross Street, (now South Main Street) and the other facing National Highway, (now Old Roswell Street). On June 26, 1902, a fire destroyed much of the town. Most of the lost buildings were replaced with brick or stone construction

19

Alpharetta Business District

Buildings south of Jones Alley housed the A.G. Carroll store, Shirley Brothers Mercantile and Milton County Bank (c. 1910), Jones Merchandise (c. 1914), Teasley Ford Motor dealership, Q.A. Wills Merchandise, Louie E. Jones Funeral Home (c. 1940), Barnett Brothers (c. 1950) and Parsons Hardware. The Webb Gin operated behind the complex (early 1900s)

20

Alpharetta Business District

J.A. Oliver’s general store at 1 South Main Street operated until 1920, followed by the grocery stores of Jones, Lively and Talmage Burgess. In the mid 1950s, Phillips Variety Store opened. At 3 South Main Street were the Teasley, Johnson and Moore stores, John M. Martin Grocery and establishments owned by the Devore, Mayfield, Waters, Thomas, Shaw, Kirby, Goswick and Reese families.

21

Mansell House | 1910

The six-room Queen Anne-style clapboard farmhouse was built by Robert Mansell for his wife, Maude Dorris. The Mansells were primarily cotton farmers. Originally situated on the family farm, the house was donated by the Herman Miller Company to the Alpharetta Historical Society and moved to its current location in 1993.

22

Upshaw House | 1925

This Craftsman style cottage was built for Teasley and Ruth Summerour Upshaw in 1925. The simple two bedroom, one bath home features 10 foot ceilings, heart pine floors with a large living room, dining room and kitchen. The interior has seen little change since construction. Mrs. Upshaw taught sixth grade at Milton school while Mr. “Tater Teas” operated a potato curing business and coal delivery business.Three potato storage houses stood on the property facing Upshaw Drive. Teasley Upshaw also served several times as Alpharetta mayor. There have been only two family owners in the 88 year history of the house - the Upshaws and Kathryn and Garland “Bulldog” Williams.