New Book Uses Photos To Showcase Cherokee County History

CANTON, GA — The Cherokee County Historical Society recently released its newest publication, "Past in the Present: Cherokee County in Images." This large photography book features 125 full-color pages of historic photos of Cherokee County and their modern-day counterparts.

“This book took us down roads we haven’t often traveled and helped us rediscover what we love about Cherokee County," said CCHS Executive Director Stefanie Joyner. "Taking iconic historic photos and figuring out the vantage point was challenging, but fun. We also recreated a lot of historic aerials to show how Cherokee County has grown. We hope to use this book as a tool for preservation to show how demolishing historic buildings drastically alters the landscape.

“We are indebted to local photographers Gary Mullet, Bill Cornelius and Stephen Shelnutt for their work on the book," Joyner added.

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The book was created by a grant from the Joe E. Johnston Foundation. Joe E. Johnston was a Woodstock resident, businessman, and philanthropist who served in both the Georgia House of Representatives and the Senate.

You can purchase the book at the Cherokee County History Museum and Visitors Center at 100 North Street in Canton. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It can also be ordered online at rockbarn.org.

The Cherokee County Historical Society is a private nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation and education. It maintains the historic Rock Barn and also run the museum and history center. All proceeds from the book benefit the Historical Society’s educational outreach programs.

Photo 1: Cherokee Mills was located at the confluence of the Little and Etowah Rivers and operated for approximately 100 years. The original mill and dam were built before 1840. The property was purchased and modernized by Joseph M. Brown in 1915 before being sold to Georgia Power in 1927.

Photo 2: Ball Ground Depot & Central Church 1911- This view is looking northwest from present-day Depot Street. The depot was demolished in 1970s and Central Church burned around 1915.

Photo 3: Depot Street & US Post Office- The depot was replaced by a row of commercial brick structures and the present day post office on the corner of Depot and Valley Streets was constructed in 2001.

Photo 4: Lake Allatoona at Little River- The site of Cherokee Mills was flooded when Lake Allatoona was constructed.

Images via Cherokee County Historical Society