The Heritage a Quarterly Publication 2020 Newsletter Competition Spring 2021 Vol
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The Heritage A Quarterly Publication 2020 NEWSLETTER COMPETITION Spring 2021 Vol. 50 No. 1 AWARD WINNER Circus Entertainment in Gwinnett page 9 Woodward’s Mill page 17 Contents Features Entertainment When Traveling Circuses Visited Gwinnett .......................................................................................9 Reminiscences Matrimony in Gwinnett ...................................................................................................................... 13 Woodward’s Mill and Surrounding Area of Gwinnett .................................................................. 17 John B. Brogdon’s Store ..................................................................................................................... 22 Preservation Rock Springs United Methodist Church Cemetery.........................................................................19 Rowen Research Park ...........................................................................................................................20 Quarterly Reports A Word from the President ..................................................................................................................3 Committee Reports ................................................................................................................. 4, 5 & 21 News .........................................................................................................................................................6 Tidbits ......................................................................................................................................................7 Photo Gallery ..........................................................................................................................................8 Index .......................................................................................................................................................23 Calendar .................................................................................................................................................24 About the cover: Portrait of John Bill Ricketts, an entrepreneur in American circus entertainment. Although Ricketts’ circus never came to Georgia this portrait captures the spirit of Ricketts’ celebrity as an eighteenth century horse showman. Oil on canvas, c. 1795-1799, by Gilbert Stuart. Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Statement of Purpose Gwinnett Historical Society collects and preserves the history and genealogy of Gwinnett County, Georgia, and the records of the early settlers of the county, including the churches, schools, organizations, and other institutions. Gwinnett Historical Society Invites You to Become a Member $25 for Individual $35 for Family $10 for Student $25 for Institution Membership includes subscription for THE HERITAGE and password for the members-only website. 2021 SPRING VOL. 50 NO. 1 2 THE HERITAGE, A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION The Heritage A Word Miriam Machida, Editor From Contributors: Gene Ramsay, Catherine Long Eli Stancel, Jim Cofer The President Proofreaders: Bill Baughman, Betty Warbington Richard Lux Photo Editor: Tyler Holman Gwinnett Historical Society Dear GHS Members, 2021 Officers I am writing this message on December 14, 2020, the President ......................................................Beverly Paff night of my installation as president of the Gwinnett Historical Vice President ..................................................Jim Cofer Society for 2021 and 2022. Today is a truly significant day in Treasurer ......................................................Richard Lux the history of our nation. The first COVID-19 vaccinations Assistant Treasurer ............................Betty Warbington are being administered and COVID-19 deaths just surpassed Recording Secretary .............................Kathryn Baskin 300,000. Also, the electoral college votes are being cast during Board of Trustees a political climate racked by controversy and turmoil. Gwinnett citizens, churches, businesses, and election officials are all Diane McCormic (2021−2022) struggling during this Pandemic. Shelley Berrong (2021−2022) The year 2020 has been difficult for Gwinnett Historical Frances Johnson (2020-2021) Society. The shutdown of our office due to COVID-19 Mark Tkacik (2021-2022) restrictions led to us going without access to our phone calls Bill Baughman (2021) and emails. Meetings had to be canceled. Even into December, Committees we are operating on a very limited basis under social-distancing African American History ......................Bernice Bailey guidelines. Our former president, Susan Youngblood Gilbert, Archives ............................................... Frances Johnson continues to be in our thoughts and prayers as she fights Cemetery ..................................................Bobbie Tkacik to recover from surgery to remove a brain tumor. We find ourselves feeling slightly askew from this storm, but thankful First Families of Gwinnett ......................Phyllis Davis that vice president, John Hopkins, took over the helm as Genealogy .............................................Elizabeth Olson president. Historian ...........................................Mary Frazier Long I look forward to the New Year. COVID-19 is still with IT/Website .............................................................vacant us, but our GHS officers, trustees, and committee chairs Library ..................................................Harriett Nicholls are all dedicated to working together to find ways to hold Membership ..............................................Gene Ramsay our meetings, offer speakers and activities to our general Newsletter .............................................Miriam Machida membership, and most importantly to continue our work in Preservation ........................................Diane McCormic the community preserving Gwinnett history. The year 2021 Publications .............................................Bill Baughman offers promise of a new normal. I am humbled by the work Winn Fair ....................Beverly Paff/Betty Warbington done by those before me and will offer my best efforts to fill Winn Property ...................................Betty Warbington their shoes. Gwinnett Historical Society 185 West Crogan Street P. O. Box 261 Lawrenceville, GA 30046-0261 770-822-5174 THE HERITAGE is published for members of Gwinnett Historical Society in [email protected] www.gwinnetths.org March, June, September, and December. Gwinnett Historical Society, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions LIKE GWINNETT HISTORICAL SOCIETY are tax deductible to the full extent provided by the law. ON FACEBOOK © 2021 Gwinnett Historical Society THE HERITAGE, A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION 3 2021 SPRING VOL. 50 NO. 1 Cemetery Bobbie Tkacik application is Wednesday, June 30, 2021. This deadline This is an update on the encroaching construction will ensure that there is time to review your application (RZR2017-00004) near Upchurch Cemetery, located on and approve or ask for additional information to C the northwest side of Bethesda Church Road, about compete your application before the September general 500 feet north of the Ronald Reagan Parkway ramp, and membership meeting. Hopefully, we will be able to hold across the street from the Unitarian Universalist Church our First Families Award Program this year during the O driveway. Construction has started for a traditional September meeting. neighborhood development of 153 units on 23.42 My cell number is 770-827-0810. Please call me if acres along Bethesda Church Road and Ronald Reagan you have questions about your application and I will try to M Parkway. Earth has been excavated behind the cemetery assist you. I look forward to hearing from you. and a steep embankment remains. The developer is not M required to fence in the cemetery as the cemetery was Membership Richard Lux adjacent to the project. New Members Phase 2 of the Eagle Scout Holmes Cemetery Georgia I project has been started in the Kensington subdivision Denise Dutton Benshoff, Snellville off Webb Gin House Road. Due to a tree falling over part Joan Compton, Johns Creek of the cemetery, the scouts will not be able to complete Frank Czarny, Lawrenceville T the project until the tree is removed. Jesse J. Garbowski, Lawrenceville Julie Needham, Grayson First Families of Gwinnett Penny Oslin, Lawrenceville T Phyllis Garner Davis Mark Patterson, Lawrenceville Happy New Year GHS members! I hope all of you Patricia Higgins Reichert, Marietta E are well and plan to begin the new year by applying for a Alabama First Families application or by completing Daniel R. Champion, Leeds your First Families application. It would Texas E be most helpful when you check out an Janice P. Mahoney, Jonestown application if you would complete your contact information in order for us to Winn Property Betty Warbington offer assistance when assistance is needed. Big changes have come to the Elisha Winn We have applications that have been checked out and not Property! You will only have to take one step onto the returned but no way to contact the applicant! property to see what is happening. All changes support R This past year was a difficult time for all of us as handicap accessibility! Accessibility has been a goal of the GHS office was closed and we did not have access the Gwinnett Historical Society for many years. Thanks to our office or records. Several First Family