Roswell Launches Tour of Historic Mill Village

Roswell’s Convention and Visitors Bureau Heritage Center has launched a walking tour focusing solely on the famous Roswell Mill and the Mill Village, where the Mill workers lived. 

The tour begins on Atlanta Street (Hwy. 9) and continues down Sloan Street to the Mill and Mill Workers Monument.  The tour is free and also utilizes digital MP3 players to guide visitors through the historic area.  Those interested in downloading the tour to their own digital devices can visit www.roswellhs.org or borrow an MP3 player from the Visitor’s Center.  A CD is also available, for those wanting to drive the tour.  Hikers can visit the old machine shop and Mill ruins along the Vickery Creek trails.

Experience Roswell’s Naylor Hall

Naylor Hall was built in the 1840’s by Barrington King for H.W. Proudfoot, manager of the Roswell mills.  Barrington King came to North Georgia with his father, Roswell King in the late 1830’s, to clear land and build the first mill.

In anticipation of Sherman’s march, a great many supplies of Confederate uniforms were taken from the mill and secretly stored at the Proudfoots home.  In the summer of 1864, the home was heavily damaged by Federal troops but Proudfoot began reconstruction of his home after the war was over.  He remained in his home until his death in 1871.

Experience Roswell’s Crabapple Commons

Nestled within walking distance to Roswell Area Park and Historic Roswell is Crabapple Commons.  These lovely townhomes were built in 1999 but still look new.  Crabapple Commons is a relatively small community, only 57 homes.

These four-sided brick homes were built by Pulte homes.  The community is beautifully maintained and the neighbors are friendly.  All the homes are 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths with 2 car garages.  All homes are fenced with small yards, some of which have become small sanctuaries with stone patios and small gardens.

Roswell’s Historic District Extension Approved

Shopping in Historic Roswell is about to get a little easier!  A bid to extend Mimosa to Canton Street via Webb Street has been approved.  This extension will provide more connectivity in the Historic District and provide more parking for Canton Street shoppers as well as alleviate some of the congestion on Canton Street from Atlanta Street.  Webb Street runs between Red Salt and the Antique Market.

Roswell’s Transportation Director said that the work should start in March.  Mimosa is already aligned with the drive that will be widened into the extension, so there won’t be any construction delays at the intersection.

Happy Valentine’s Day Roswell

Valentine’s Day has different meanings to different people.  On February 14th  we write poems about love, sing songs about love, go to movies about love – but what is love?  Here are some kids with their own unique perspective:

· I’m in favor of love as long as it doesn’t happen when The Simpson’s are on TV (Anita, age 6)

· If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don’t want to do it.  It takes too long.  (Leo, age 7)

· It gives me a headache to think about that stuff.  I’m just a kid.  I don’t need that kind of trouble.  (Kenny, age 7)

Roswell Roadwork Alert

Finally, the nutty intersection where Crabapple and Hardscrabble Roads meet is being improved!  All Roswell (and some Alpharetta) residents are aware of this intersection.  If you ever had plans of cutting across Hardscrabble from Highway 92 to Northern Roswell, you’re well aware of this juncture.  I’m sure you’ve either sat patiently waiting for all the north/south traffic on Crabapple to clear in order for you to dash across the intersection, all the while hoping that someone turning left off of Rucker hasn’t decided to ‘surprise’ you with accelerating their speed.  Or try not to get frustrated while waiting and noticing that part of the problem is that those drivers who are turning right on Hardscrabble from Rucker aren’t making their intentions clear by using their blinker.  I’ve often counted to pass the time.  I’ve consistently found that it’s a 30% chance that someone who has felt the plight of those in the long line waiting to cross actually uses their signal.

Strap Up Your Laces Roswell

The 8th Annual Chattahoochee Challenge 10K is this Saturday, February 7th.  Start time is 8:00 AM for the 10K and the 1-mile fun run starts at 7:30 AM.  The race starts and finishes at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. 

The Chattahoochee Challenge is an official qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race.  It’s a flat and fast 10K.  Not to mention scenic; the course runs along the Chattahoochee River.

Good News!

Existing U.S. home sales rose 6.5% from November to December; the largest percentage increase in seven years.  The increase is fueled by lower mortgage rate and the temptation of lower housing prices.

Total housing inventory at the end of December fell 11.7 percent to 3.68 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 9.3 month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 11.2 month supply in November.