#HistoricPreservation | AM 1180 Radio

July 5, 2026

Historic Homes of Georgia’s First Black Female State Representative to Be Preserved in Atlanta

Local News, Local News Items #AtlantaGA, #BlackHistory, #ChattoogaInfo, #CivilRights, #FultonCounty, #georgiageneralassembly, #GeorgiaHistory, #georgianews, #GraceTownsHamilton, #HistoricPreservation, #NationalParkService, #PreserveBlackAtlanta, #statenews, #VineCity, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, NAACP 0

The homes of Grace Towns Hamilton, the first Black woman elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, and her father, George Towns, will be preserved as historic landmarks through a new multi-million-dollar restoration project in Atlanta’s Vine City neighborhood.

Preserve Black Atlanta is leading the effort with approximately $2.3 million in funding from a National Park Service grant and Atlanta’s Westside Tax Allocation District. Fulton County commissioners approved a portion of the local funding in June, allowing the project to move forward.

Grace Towns Hamilton made history in 1965 when she became the first Black woman elected to the Georgia General Assembly. She served in the Georgia House for nearly 20 years and is credited with helping expand political opportunities for Black Georgians during the Civil Rights era. Historians also recognize her as the first Black woman elected to state office anywhere in the South.

Her father, George Towns, was a professor at Atlanta University and helped found the Niagara Movement in 1905, an organization that laid the groundwork for the creation of the NAACP.

Project leaders say the restored homes will become public historic sites while also contributing to neighborhood revitalization. Restoration work is expected to take about two years once permitting is complete.

WABE

June 13, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Next Step Set For Historic Floyd County Courthouse After Fire Damage

Local News, Local News Items #ChrisJackson, #CourthouseFire, #DebrisRemoval, #FireDamage, #FloydCountyCourthouse, #floydcountyga, #FloydCountyGovernment, #georgianews, #HistoricBuildings, #HistoricFloydCountyCourthouse, #HistoricPreservation, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #RomeGA, #wzqznews 0

Floyd County officials say the next stage for the Historic Floyd County Courthouse will be debris removal, following completion of the initial stabilization work on the 134-year-old structure.

Before debris removal begins, insurance representatives, engineers, contractors, and county officials are expected to conduct an on-site inspection. Floyd County Attorney Chris Jackson said the meeting is scheduled for June 26 and will help determine what can be preserved and what future work may be possible.

Jackson said officials want all parties involved to inspect the site together for safety and continuity.

The historic courthouse was heavily damaged by fire on March 23. Officials say insurance funds are currently being used for storage and related costs as the county works to move the recovery process forward.

May 23, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Battlefield Connector Trail Dedicated In Chickamauga

Local News, Local News Items #BattlefieldConnectorTrail, #ChickamaugaAndChattanoogaNationalMilitaryPark, #ChickamaugaBattlefield, #ChickamaugaGA, #CommunityDevelopment, #DowntownChickamauga, #GeorgiaTrails, #HistoricPreservation, #JohnCulpepperTrail, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #OutdoorRecreation, #TrustForPublicLand, #WalkerCounty, #wzqznews 0

Trust for Public Land, Walker County, and the City of Chickamauga officially dedicated the new John Culpepper Chickamauga Battlefield Connector Trail on Friday.

May 18, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia DNR Announces New Battlefield Preservation Grant

Local News, Local News Items #BattlefieldPreservation, #CivilWarHistory, #conservation, #georgiadnr, #GeorgiaHistory, #HistoricBattlefields, #HistoricPreservation, #LocalStateNews, #MondayMay182026, #NationalParkService, #StateGrant, #VinceDooleyBattlefieldTrustFund, #WZQZ 0

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has announced a new grant program aimed at protecting historic battlefield lands across the state.

May 13, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Rome Heritage Group Calls For Preservation Of Historic Floyd County Courthouse

Local News, Local News Items #CommunitySupport, #CoosaValley, #DowntownRome, #FloydCounty, #GeorgiaHistory, #HistoricFloydCountyCourthouse, #HistoricPreservation, #May132026, #NationalRegisterOfHistoricPlaces, #northwestgeorgia, #PlacesInPeril, #RomeAreaHeritageFoundation, #RomeGA, #WednesdayMay132026, #WednesdayNews, #wzqznews 0

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.

April 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Paradise Garden Celebrates Preservation Honor And Parade Tradition

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #FinsterFest, #GeorgiaArts, #GeorgiaHistory, #GeorgiaTrust, #HistoricPreservation, #HowardFinster, #InmanParkFestival, #ParadiseGarden, #summervillega, #WorldsFolkArtChurch, #wzqznews 0

It was a milestone this past weekend for Paradise Garden, as the nonprofit behind Howard Finster’s famous folk art environment received statewide recognition for historic preservation.

April 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia’s Rome Tourism Offering History Tours Across Rome

Local News, Local News Items #April29, #April292026, #DowntownRome, #GeorgiaHistory, #GeorgiasRome, #HistoricPreservation, #HistoricTours, #LocalEvents, #MyrtleHillCemetery, #northwestgeorgia, #RomanHoliday, #RomeClocktower, #RomeGA, #Wednesday, #wzqznews 0

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.

April 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Hurley Community Development Center Earns Michael L. Starr Award

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #CommunityDevelopment, #DowntownSummerville, #GeorgiaHistory, #GeorgiaTrust, #HistoricPreservation, #MichaelLStarrAward, #PreservationMatters, #summervillega, #wzqznews 0

A major preservation project in Summerville has received one of Georgia’s top historic preservation honors.

April 8, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Floyd County Approves Courthouse Stabilization Contract After Fire

Local News, Local News Items #CommunityUpdate, #CourthouseFire, #DowntownRome, #EmergencyFunding, #FifthAvenue, #FireRecovery, #FloydCounty, #FloydCountyCommission, #FloydCountyCourthouse, #FloydNews, #georgianews, #HistoricCourthouse, #HistoricPreservation, #JamieMcCord, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #QualityPlusServices, #RomeGA, #RomeGeorgiaNews, #StructuralStabilization, #TagOffice, #TaxAssessor, #TaxCommissioner, #TribuneStreet, #wzqznews 0

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.

April 3, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Future Of Historic Rome Courthouse Remains Uncertain

Local News, Local News Items #BreakingNews, #CommunityImpact, #CommunityNews, #CourthouseFire, #DowntownRome, #EmergencyResponse, #FireDamage, #FireInvestigation, #firstresponders, #FloydCounty, #FloydCountyCourthouse, #GeorgiaHistory, #georgianews, #HistoricBuilding, #HistoricPreservation, #HistoricRome, #LandmarkLoss, #LocalGovernment, #LocalHistory, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgianews, #PublicSafety, #RomeGA, #romegeorgia, #RomeNews, #wzqznews 0

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.