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Published Sunday, October 05, 2008 in Local
Trust ramblers touring Coweta
The Times-Herald
The Georgia Trust ramblers arrived from all over the state and parts of Florida Friday to tour Senoia, a historic town in southeast Coweta, mostly to see first-hand how people have restored and live in their historic homes.
Friday marked the beginning of the 2008 Fall Ramble, which runs through today. The ramble, open to members of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, is showcasing some of the historically significant places in Senoia, Newnan and Roscoe.
"It's the only time when its socially acceptable to be a voyeur," laughed Denise Kilpatrick of Alpharetta.
Kilpatrick and about 200 other members of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation go on rambles or visits twice a year to historically significant areas of the state.
This year's fall ramble is featuring about 30 private homes, gardens, churches and commercial properties in the Newnan-Coweta area including several noted on the National Register of Historic Places, several Georgia Trust Preservation award winners and a 2009 nominee for Georgia Trust's Places in Peril program -- the Mary Ray Memorial School in the Raymond community.
Friday's ramblers began their tour at the Senoia United Methodist Church where they picked up registration packets, maps and instructions. After admiring the stained glass windows that date back to the church building's 1896 construction, several went on to tour the Travis-Price House, about a block away.
Wiley Parker of Atlanta appreciated the detail that went into restoring this 1906 Queen Anne house.
"People put a lot of elbow grease and love in these things," he said.
Overwhelmingly, the ramblers enjoy having access to many of the private historic homes.
"I like to go on the rambles because you do get to go to people's homes. It's very nice to see how they take a historic property and live there as a family," said June Harp of Johns Creek, Ga.
"What we really enjoy is getting to see how people live," agreed Berry Penhallegon of Bainbridge, Ga.
Kilpatrick, who lives in a newer home, also enjoys learning about the history behind each property.
"If you belong to the Georgia Trust, you're into history," she said. "Not everyone is in a position to live in and restore a historic home. It's a nice diversion."
Many first-time visitors also enjoyed shopping and dining in the town's downtown restaurants including the recently opened Redneck Gourmet and Maguire's Irish Pub.
"The one antique store we've been to in this town is as nice as any of the shops I'd find in Atlanta," Harp said.
The Presbyterian Church-Smoak House, was often referred to as a "must-stop" visit by several of the members. Once a church, then a wedding chapel, it was converted into a home by owners Jason and Amy Smoak. The Smoaks kept many features of the original church including the church's altar. Their bed sits on the raised platform of the altar. At the foot of the bed is a square covered hole in the floor where the podium once stood. April Parker, Amy Smoak's sister, explained the cache was the 116-year-old church's safe deposit box.
Ramblers were also buzzing about the Brandenberg-Merrick House. Jack and Ann Merrick moved into this two-story Gothic Revival home 33 years ago. In that time, the 135-year-old house has been the setting for three movies, most recently Tyler Perry's production of "Meet the Browns." Jack Merrick said one of their renovation projects, the wood floor in the kitchen, was made possible by renting the house for the film's production.
Besides the private homes, Georgia Trust members also got to roam through two bed and breakfast places, the neoclassical Veranda B&B built in 1907 and the Victorian-style Culpepper House, built in 1871.
In addition, ramblers were treated to a presentation about the development of Historic Senoia and given a tour of Riverwood Studios.
Toward the end, ramblers took in the Mary Ray Memorial School in Raymond. The school is a 2009 nominee for Georgia Trust's Places in Peril program.
Allen Robertson, president of the school's preservation group, explained efforts are under way to preserve the school he had once attended. The school opened about 1908-1909 and closed in 1949.
Inside, ramblers got a first-hand glimpse into what a property looks like before restoration. Two of the school's original blackboards were perched against exposed walls. On hand to share some of the school's history besides Roberton was Paula Martin Stanford, chairwoman of the trustees for the school's preservation. Stanford's mother, the late Elizabeth McDonald Martin, also attended the school as a child and later became one of the school's principals.
Senoia's day with the Georgia Trust wound down with cocktails and dinner at The Magnolias Plantation, a federal style house built sometime between 1829-1833, and moved to its location on Bill Hart Road in Newnan.
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