The Rome Area Heritage Foundation is calling on Floyd County leaders to preserve the Historic Floyd County Courthouse following the March 23 fire that damaged the landmark structure.
Traveling into downtown Rome by way of Second Avenue has been a source of frustration for many drivers as the ongoing road construction project continues.
Representatives from the Georgia Department of Transportation District 6 will provide a public informational update on the Second Avenue widening project on Monday, May 11, 2026. The presentation is scheduled from 5 until 6 PM in the City Commission Chambers upstairs at Rome City Hall.
GDOT officials are expected to share updates on construction progress, project timelines, and ongoing work related to the widening project.
State Representative Katie Dempsey of Rome thanked GDOT District 6 officials for continuing to communicate with local leaders and residents throughout the process.
The presentation will also be livestreamed through the City of Rome YouTube Channel, the same way regular Rome City Commission meetings are streamed
Photo credit: WRGA Radio
Stabilization work is continuing on the Historic Floyd County Courthouse following the March 23 fire, as crews move closer to securing the damaged structure.
Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord said contractors have already removed loose brick and coping from the building. Unstable gable ends have also been taken down where the roof structure no longer exists, and two damaged walls in the main courtroom behind the bell tower have been removed.
Crews are still monitoring cracks on the Tribune Street side of the courthouse.
The next major step is a stabilization process known as banding. McCord said a support band will be placed around the building about 45 feet up. Scaffolding is expected to go up this week, and the banding work could begin as early as Friday.
McCord said securing the building is the primary goal, especially so streets around the courthouse can safely reopen. The current target date for reopening the roads is May 22, though officials hope that could happen sooner if work goes smoothly.
McCord acknowledged the closures have been a major disruption, especially with a river crossing shut down in Rome and Floyd County.
All stabilization work is being covered by insurance.
Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism is inviting residents and visitors to step back in time with a series of story-driven tours highlighting the people, places, and events that shaped Rome’s history.
Cancer Navigators will hold its annual Daisy Drop on Sunday, April 26, at 3 p.m., giving the community a chance to honor loved ones affected by cancer during a special afternoon in downtown Rome.
Floyd County leaders have approved a contract to begin stabilizing the Historic Floyd County Courthouse after the March 23 fire, marking a major step toward eventually reopening parts of downtown Rome, including Fifth Avenue.
Officials in Rome say there is still significant uncertainty surrounding the future of the historic Floyd County Courthouse following a massive fire that tore through the landmark.
The Floyd County Historic Courthouse was evacuated Monday afternoon after a fire was discovered inside the building around 2:20 p.m.
According to Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord, all employees inside the courthouse were safely evacuated. Crews with the Rome-Floyd Fire Department responded to the scene and were working to contain the fire.
As of mid-afternoon, roads in the downtown area were blocked and police were evacuating portions of Broad Street.
Officials said the courthouse was undergoing renovations at the time of the fire. The cause of the blaze remains unknown and is under investigation.
One of Netflix’s biggest hits is continuing to draw tourists to Rome, and local leaders are working to turn quick photo stops into longer visits that benefit downtown businesses.
Tourism officials say the “Creel House” from Stranger Things — known locally as the Claremont House on Second Avenue — has become a major attraction. Last year, an estimated 5,000 fans visited the house, and so far this year, about 2,000 visitors have already made the trip.
President Donald Trump made a whirlwind visit to Rome on Thursday, stopping at The Varsity before ending the day with a rally at Coosa Steel where he praised his tariff policies to a loud, energized crowd.















