Old Bartow Co. Courthouse - Cartersville, GA

Cartersville, GA has two courthouses. I wouldn't call the ornate 1903 courthouse "new" but it replaced this one as the current courthouse still.

This building was built in 1873, but eventually was moved. Since the courthouse was near the tracks, trains blowing their whistles would interrupt court proceedings.

Not too long ago, this older courthouse opened as a local history museum after presumably sitting vacant for a while.

Partially obstructing the view is where Church Street now has a bridge over the railroad tracks. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bartow Co. Courthouse - Cartersville, GA

The Bartow County Courthouse was built in an Italianate Style in 1903 and is topped with a clock tower and gold dome. In front of the courthouse is a statue honoring the men from the county who fought for the confederacy in the civil war.

Cartersville, GA September 11, 2001 Monument

September 11, 2001
We Will Not Forget

God Bless America

In Memory & In Honor
of Those Who Serve And Protect Our Great Country

Dedicated 9-11-2003, donated by Cartersville Monument Co. and Owen Funeral Home.

Church of the Ascension - Cartersville, GA

Episcopal church formed in 1844 - Cartersville, GA. The red entrance door really stands out.

On Memorial Day, Remembering Those Who Gave All

If you live near Murfreesboro, I recommend you check out the Flags of Remembrance. The grassy lawn on Medical Center Parkway next to The Avenue has been transformed into an awe-inspiring field of over 1500 United States Flags in honor of those Americans who serve and sacrifice.

Many cities and counties build memorials to remember the local people who died for our country and our freedom. Here is a sampling of some of those memorials.



First is the Stewarts County Veterans Memorial in Dover, TN, and the Sullivan County Memorial in Blountville, TN



Here is the Dickson County War Memorial behind the War Memorial building in Dickson, and the Hickman County Memorial in Centerville



Here we have the Simpson County Memorial in Franklin, Ky and the Bradley County memorial in Cleveland, TN



Finally, we have a couple of memorials to a couple of specific soldiers. On the left is a memorial to PFC Jerry Wayne Gentry in Cartersville, GA whose actions saved the lives of four other soldiers. On the right is a memorial to Medal of Honor winner Sgt. Francos Green in Erin, TN.

Sam Jones Memorial Methodist Church

This old church building is in the heart of Cartersville, GA named in honor of local preacher Sam Jones. Today their old sanctuary is on the National Register of Historic Places.

For those of you with Nashville connections, like me, Sam Jones came to Nashville to preach in 1885 and converted riverboat captain Tom Ryman. Ryman later built Union Gospel Tabernacle which later became the famous music venue Ryman Auditorium.

Cartersville, GA Friendship Monument

Perhaps one of the more unusual monuments you'll find in a small town is this one paid for by Mark A. Cooper in Cartersville, GA

The monument with a marble shaft has the rare distinction of a debtor honoring his creditors. Losses during the panic of 1857 forced Mr. Cooper, who was the proprietor of the nearby Etowah Iron Works, to offer this property for sale to satisfy a $100,000 debt. 38 of his friends signed notes totaling the amount to save the enterprise. When the debt was repaid three years later, he built this monument on which the names of the 38 benefactors are iscribed.

World's Oldest Coca-Cola Mural

You see the old Coke murals all over the place, and it had to start somewhere. Not surprisingly, it wasn't far from Atlanta. This mural was painted on the side of Young Brother's Pharmacy in Cartersville, GA.

In 1894, James Couden, a Coca-Cola syrup salesman, felt the vast exterior of the building would make a great location to advertise his product. 100 years later, preservationists wanted to see what this sign originally looked like and 25 layers of paint were carefully removed. Thus, in 1994 the sign was repainted and preserved to look like it did a century earlier.

This sign is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When it was painted, the target audience would likely be train passengers (railroad tracks are right behind me.) but a few decades later, the Dixie Highway passed by also.

Bartow Co. Courthouse - Cartersville, GA

The Bartow Couthy Courthouse was built in an Italianate Style in 1903 and is topped with a clock tower and gold dome. In front of the courthouse is a statue honoring the men from the county who fought for the confederacy in the civil war.

World's Oldest Coca-Cola Mural

You see the old Coke murals all over the place, and it had to start somewhere. Not surprisingly, it wasn't far from Atlanta. This mural was painted on the side of Young Brother's Pharmacy in Cartersville, GA.

In 1894, James Couden, a Coca-Cola syrup salesman, felt the vast exterior of the building would make a great location to advertise his product. 100 years later, preservationists wanted to see what this sign originally looked like and 25 layers of paint were carefully removed. Thus, in 1994 the sign was repainted and preserved to look like it did a century earlier.

This sign is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.