When they renovated, they found what a Civil War soldier left behind

ajc.com

Credit: Jennifer Brett

Credit: Jennifer Brett

As a Marietta native, former city councilman and a Realtor with Harry Norman, Johnny Sinclair knows lots of trivia about the town, making him the perfect fit for co-chair of the annual Marietta Pilgrimage tour of homes. He's in the saddle for the fifth time this weekend (although he claims it's for the last time).

“There's a lot to please everybody," he said. "We’ve got lots of history and also lots of design.”

 Johnny Sinclair, right, and former homeowner Mark Kirk made a stunning discovery in 2009. Photo: Jennifer Brett

Credit: Jennifer Brett

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Credit: Jennifer Brett

One of the houses on tour this year has a particularly fascinating history. In 2009, Sinclair was working with a client to list the property. With the floor in an upstairs bedroom sagging like a soup bowl, Sinclair suggested renovations. Workers wrenched up the nearly 150-year-old heart pine boards and discovered something a Civil War soldier left behind after the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.