Just a stroll around this little railroad town reveals many ‘tales’ that are historical ‘firsts’ in Gwinnet County.
Begin in Thrasher Park and walk northward along the tree lined sidewalks of North Peachtree Street and less than a block on your right is the ‘first’ apartment building in the county. Still owned and managed by the daughter of the original builder, dwellers enjoy the close proximity to restaurants, parks, and shopping. Quiet and convenient, the complex stays full of happy residents.
Cross the street and head back to town and you’ll find yourself in front of the brick Woman’s Club, notice the ‘Library’ sign over the door. This building not only housed the first Woman’s Club in the county, it also was home to the first independent library location in the county.
Envisioned in 1907 by a group of club members wishing to heed the state’s call to observe Library Day, the Norcross Public Library made a ‘brave beginning’ in a small room of the public school. With $100 of donated seed money the ladies purchased a set of New International Encyclopedias and books were also donated by residents. The 300 stacked books were checked out and in by hand notations of the ‘first’ librarian, appropriately named Harriett Webster. Quickly out growing this location a generous donation from locally born millionaire Edward Buchanan helped secure the lot across from the park and the land was dedicated and blessed on April 1, 1920 but ground was not broken until 1921 when a cornerstone was placed. The stone was a time capsule of sorts containing a list of the pastors of Norcross churches, the name of Postmaster W.M. McElroy, a history of the town written by members, a Confederate bill, a Untied States flag, a silver coin, and a bible. The Library officially opened in September of 1921 with 2,500 books of the shelves, refreshments were served.
From the steps look to your left and you’ll spot another ‘first’ in town. The stone house at the corner was built in 1910 for Buchanan’s adoptive mother using granite blocks quarried from Stone Mountain, carried to Norcross by many trips of horse drawn wagons. Each stone was numbered as it was removed from the mountain and replaced in numerical order as the home was built. Wanting her to have all the modern conveniences, indoor plumbing and electricity, but with no utilities in town yet, Buchanan initiated the first water tower in town and began the first electric utility. neighbors and businesses were encouraged to ‘hook up’ and slowly lights flickered on around town making Norcross officially ‘Edified’.
Now, walk towards the tracks and pass 7 Jones Street at the corner, this was the first brick structure in town built by Riley Owen Medlock. Head over to fire station number ‘1’, dubbed for obvious reasons. Before the county developed public fire crews, individuals volunteered to man the bucket brigades sent into actions at the sound of a siren that could be rung by smashing the window of a little shed, once located close to today’s city hall. The siren blared folks into action from a bellow still located atop the old bank building at the corner of Jones and South Peachtree Streets. If your feet can still carry you, head back over the tracks, down Holcomb Bridge Road, and sneak behind the old Warbington place.
A careful investigation near the creek between that road and Lade Drive will reveal the stone relics that once outlined the county’s ‘first’ pool. The pool was hand dug and dirt lined and folks paid Grandma Warbington a dime to swim all day. She usually threw in a biscuit with jelly or a sliver of ham for lunch. Locals could change back into dry clothing in one of the two bath houses on the property. Those who can recall the pool also recall it being used as a baptismal on Sundays…careful consideration of snakes was also in order.
Speaking of 'firsts', may I boasts a bit? I have been informed by the Gwinnett History Museum’s curator, Kim Elmore, that my book, “Remembering Norcross; Nuggets of Nostalgia” published in 2009, was the ‘first’ book ever published about an individual city in the county. It was also a ‘first’ for this author as it was the ‘first’ of my published books to grace the shelves of the public library.
www.SallyToole.com
