History in Danger in Vinings

One of the most beloved historic buildings in Vinings is in danger and needs the community’s help to make some urgent repairs.

The Yarbrough House sits in the heart of Vinings with the Pace House and the . It serves as the main office for the .

“We have a contractor on the board and he saw something about the roof and got the roofing people over here,” said Gillian Greer, executive director of the Vinings Historic Preservation Society. “Well the roof’s about to start leaking. It’s probably just the age.”

Greer added that the building is also in dire need of repainting, but because of the house’s age a paint crew that specializes in lead-based paint is required to do the job.

“We’re right here in the center of the village,” she said. “We’re the center of the community and we’re very visible. We don’t like it when our property is sitting here in a state of disrepair and our generous donors and businesses who support us are driving by seeing a building with paint peeling off of it.”

But before cosmetic repairs can be made to the outside of the Yarbrough House, enough money has to be made to repair the roof. Greer said the Pace House is also in need of some repairs to its foundation. Both buildings are more than 120 years old.

Greer said originally the plan was to use money raised from the to pay for the Pace House’s foundation repairs and use what was left to repaint the Yarbrough House, but repainting is on the backburner now that the buildng needs a new roof. Now Greer said she hopes there’s enough money to cover all the repairs.

For information on how to help call the Vinings Historic Preservation Society at 770-432-3343.