Johns Creek Historical Society - History Activities & Projects

ACTIVITIES - Trips and exploring historic resources

Visiting historic Rogers-Bell cemetery
Visiting the Rogers-Bell Cemetery

In addition to regular scheduled meetings, there will be opportunities to join others in exploring historic resources in the area and in researching inhabitants and life in the Johns Creek area during earlier times.

Trips to local cemeteries, history sites, museums, and to archival resource centers, plus meeting and networking with members of other historical societies.

Past Activities and Tours

LEARNING CEMETERY PESERVATION

photos: Pat Miller, Kirk Canaday, Joan Compton

Several of our historical society members participated in cleaning grave markers at the Old Roswell Cemetery on Saturday, March 23, 2019. Our thanks to the Roswell Historical Society, their Cemetery Chairperson, Jan Johnson, and Pat Miller, the cemetery section leader who directed our work (also a member of the JC Historical Society). It was a chance to help another historical society, but also to learn the correct process for cleaning cemetery grave markers and monuments.

The Old Roswell Cemetery is 10 acres in size, much larger than any cemetery in Johns Creek, but the knowledge and expertise that the Roswell Historical Society has gained over the years is extremely helpful to us in any future efforts to help restore or preserve cemeteries within Johns Creek. We thank the Roswell Historical Society's Cemetery committee for generously sharing their experience.

While we are not yet ready to start any cemetery projects, let us know if you are interested in the preservation of cemeteries, visiting local cemeteries with our group, or researching the stories of the people buried there - contact us with your interests. info@johnscreekhistory.org

May 4, 2019 9am-4pm
Presenting history as part of the Secret Garden Tour

The Johns Creek Historical Society was pleased to be part
of this year's Secret Gardens of Johns Creek garden tour.

We had displays and shared stories of the history of the land and earlier inhabitants of the area that is today's City of Johns Creek.

December 4, 2018
Tour of the Warsaw School

This was a wonderful tour of one of Johns Creek's historic structures. It was led by Mark Burkhalter who preserved a piece of Johns Creek history by purchasing, renovating, and repurposing the building, while maintaining its historic integrity. Mark also attended the school as a child, so this was a great chance to learn about the building's history and hear memories of attending the school when this area was still rural.

Our thanks to Mark Burkhalter for leading the historical society on a tour of the old Warsaw School building in December. It was a wonderful chance to learn about the building, how Mark saved and carefully renovated it, and hear memories of attending the school when this area was still rural.

We in the City of Johns Creek owe Mark our gratitude for preserving part of the area's history by repurposing the old school building while maintaining its historic integrity.

Mark has also offered to let us copy his collection of Warsaw School photos and documents. Several people will be needed to help with the scanning. Contact us at info@johnscreekhistory.org if you want to help.

October 20-21, 2018 Historical Society at the Johns Creek Arts Festival

We had a busy two days meeting and talking history with visitors at the Johns Creek Arts Festival October 20th and 21st!

We hope all enjoyed learning a bit about the Johns Creek area in the 1800s, playing with toys from the past, and making pinwheels.

August 10, 2018 Tour of the Alpharetta History Museum

The JC Historical Society explored the new Alpharetta History Museum, located in the Alpharetta City Hall with Pat Miller, President of the Alpharetta-Old Milton Historical Society.

March 15, 2018 Tour of the Smith Plantation in Roswell

The Johns Creek Historical Society booked a group guided tour of the Smith Plantation and visited this antebellum home built in 1845.

December 6, 2017 Visit to the Roswell Archives

We toured the Roswell Archives located in the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, visiting their research library, viewing some of their collection of documents, maps, clothing, photos, etc., and learning how they store and organize their sizable collection of physical archives.

October 21-22, 2017 Historical Society at the Johns Creek Arts Festival

Under the tent with other Cultural Arts Alliance of Johns Creek nonprofits, we enjoyed talking about our organization and sharing local history stories with Johns Creek residents and visitors to the area.

On Sunday, the Historical Society provided a free pinwheel heritage craft in partnership with the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve & Heritage Center.

October 8, 2017 Local History Books presented to the Johns Creek Spruill Oaks Library!

Tim Spruell, a local historian and descendant of the Spruell/Spruill family, spoke October 8th about the 4 historic communities of today's City of Johns Creek.

At an October 8th program, local history books were presented to the library.

The books are are still being processed by the Fulton County Library System, but will soon be available in the reference area for any interested in tracing the genealogy of a local family or discovering stories of the land, events, and earlier inhabitants of the Johns Creek area.

Providing several libraries with a research section on local history is an initiative of the Alpharetta & Old Milton Historical Society. The Johns Creek Historical Society is proud to be a partner in this initiative.

July 22, 2017 History Program at Macedonia Cemetery

Program included the the history of the cemetery, church, and landowners of the 1800s. Research by the Historical Society was shared to clear up misunderstandings and errors in the story of slave April Waters.

June 10, 2017 "Hero 4 a Day" Cleanup of Macedonia Cemetery
Photo shows just some of the many "Hero 4 a Day" volunteers who removed trash, limbs, and other debris from the cemetery under Rachel Sullivan's leadership.

Macedonia Cemetery cleanup crew