Beyond the Jewels and Grandeur

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.