Summerville Main Street Begins Downtown Historic Plaque Project with The Help of Georgia Humanities Grant Funding

Georgia Humanities awards program grants to support public humanities efforts across the state that are creative in their approach to organizing and delivering the knowledge and understanding of the humanities to the general public. These grants bring together and strengthen communities through dialogue and shared experience. Recently, Summerville Main Street was awarded a $2,500.00 grant for the purpose of educating the community and visitors on the heritage and history within the downtown historic district. These funds were used to begin a Downtown Historic District Plaque project that tells the story of Downtown Summerville’s buildings history.

Summerville Main Street’s Historic Plaque Project identifies the original use, date of construction of properties, and brief history of buildings within the historic business district of Summerville.

Five significant properties were identified to begin this project.  The Chattooga County Historical Society graciously provided the historical information on these properties in collaboration with Summerville Main Street. Plaques were mounted on the following buildings during Live, Love Local Month in honor of supporting local:

The Arrington Building

The Chattooga County Courthouse

The Summerville Hospital Building

Thompson Hiles/Montgomery Knotting Mill

The Tooga Theater

Summerville Main Street plans to continue and expand this project, adding additional plaques each year.

To celebrate Historic Preservation Month, during the month of May Summerville Main Street will offer guided tours within the Downtown Historic District to interested school groups, homeschool groups, and other organizations. For more information, contact Susan Locklear, Summerville Main Street Executive Director slocklear@summervillega.org.