Sometimes, a book comes along that defies a simple description because of the intense detail and devotion with which it covers a subject. Such is “The Tangible Past in Athens, Georgia,” four years in the making.
It’s the product of 13 authors, each writing on a different aspect of the cultural history of Athens’ people, places and preservation.
Charlotte Thomas Marshall is editor and publisher and the book is dedicated to Dr. Henry Hull and Augustus Longstreet Hull, whose “Annals of Athens” this book emulates.
The new book covers the history of the city, particular streets and the preservation of its houses, with a hundred pages devoted to Prince Avenue alone. Many aspects of historic preservation are featured, from moved houses to reusing historic elements in later houses. One chapter focuses on 25 houses linked to the famous Cobb family.
Architects and builders who worked in Athens get specific chapters, including Fred Orr and M.B. McGinty.
Each chapter is well documented with footnotes and is illustrated with original documents and photographs of the houses, buildings and people covered.
Anyone with a deep love of Athens and of historic preservation will marvel at the depth of the efforts outlined herein to preserve the past amid all the pressures of a growing university town.
There is a full bibliography and a full-name index. This 635-page book is a great example of what community historians can do when they are organized and the expertise of the respective contributors is pooled. Hopefully, some other Georgia cities will try something similar.
This book is a must for anyone with an interest in Athens, its history and its preservation efforts. It is available at local shops in Athens and by mail for $55 plus 7 percent sales tax ($3.85) and $7 shipping (total: $65.85); checks made out to Marshall Books. Order from The Tangible Past, 402 Riverview Road, Athens, GA 30606-4828.
For more information, contact georgemarshall@charter.net, and for a preview go to tangiblepastathens.com.
Archives holiday schedule
The Georgia Archives December holiday schedule and 2015 holidays can be found at georgiaarchives.org under "Visit." The Archives are open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
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