Beyond the Jewels and Grandeur

About the Book

After attaining approval from the governor to form a city on April 21, 1821, Gainesville, Georgia, transformed into a commercial and resort area that soon attracted a street railway. When its line was expanded in 1877, Green Street eventually became one of the most desirable places to raise a family. Even after a fire nearly destroyed the town in 1851, its determined residents persevered. In 1975, the Green Street homes were placed in the Green Street Historic District and on the National Registry. Within a fascinating presentation, Helen Martin looks beyond the jewels and grandeur to capture the past and offer a glimpse into the versatile house designs of North Green Street. Some of the homes described include the Martin–Matthews–Norton house built at (58) 393 Green Street between 1910 and 1911; the Wallace House at 417 Green Street, constructed at around 1900; and the Nalley Martin house, one of the last homes erected in 1938. Included are historical photographs and additional details regarding the twenty-five homes that fell in the name of progress. Beyond the Jewels and Grandeur is an architecture book you’ll definitely want in your bookshelf. It shares the architectural history of a beloved street in Gainesville, Georgia, as its homes and residents endured changes through both simple and challenging times.

About the Author

Helen M. Martin is a graduate of Brenau College and the University of Georgia. Now retired from the Gainesville City School System, Helen enjoys volunteering, interviewing veterans for the Library of Congress, and participating in church activities. She is a member of several historical organizations that include the Colonel William Chapter, NSDAR, and the Jamestown Society. Helen lives in Gainesville, Georgia. This is her third book. Bud Savage is a very gifted and self-taught artist. He has sketched and drawn hundreds of houses, churches and other buildings in North Georgia and beyond. Bud captured North Green with his pictured especially depicting the outstanding architectural features that has made these houses worthy of future protection. Bud serves as the church photographer at Central Baptist Church on Main Street.