A cultural asset is something that has value because of its contribution to a community's creativity, knowledge, traditions, culture, meaning, and vitality.

Everett's Music Barn

The Everett Family established bluegrass in Suwanee in 1964 when brothers Randall and Roger began playing guitars and singing together.

The brothers entered a talent contest being held by a local radio station, with the winner earning live radio time on a local show. Randall and Roger became regular members of the show, with the family attending each week to provide the applause. They met many musicians at the station and began to invite them back to their home to play music.

With Mama Everett's permission and the promise of "no foolishness and no drinking," the Everett brothers formed a band that recorded their radio shows in the living room of the family home. The shows were recorded on Friday nights and regular jam sessions began taking place on Saturday. A music room and later, the barn, was added to the home to accommodate the growing number of guests and musicians.

Though Randall, Roger, and Mama Everett have since passed away, the dream and the music goes on each Saturday night beginning at 8 pm. The stage is open to all levels of talent for jam sessions.

Suwanee Caboose

Like many Gwinnett towns, the City of Suwanee dates back to when the railroad was constructed. In 1871, the Georgia Air Line Railroad was completed from Charlotte to Atlanta, with a stop and depot on Main Street.

In 1992, the city acquired a retired caboose from Norfolk Southern to honor Suwanee’s roots as a town built on the foundation of transportation. 

In order to receive the caboose, the railroad company required the closing of a railroad crossing. Not every city council member agreed with the conditions, which became a highly-debated topic. Ultimately, the council voted three to two in favor of meeting the requirement and the process of transforming the $25,330 symbol of transportation in Suwanee was put into motion. 

The 1950 caboose was rusty and in need of restoration. The local body shop donated paint and volunteers were sought. (Notably, Atlanta Braves pitcher Mark Wohler volunteered during the 1994 baseball strike.) The grand project’s completion required a celebration of equal magnitude.

At the time, the City of Suwanee did not have a tree lighting ceremony. Jeannine Haynes and Polly Holt took the opportunity to “light up the caboose,” and the beloved Caboose Lighting tradition was born on Thanksgiving 1994. 

The landmark is stationed at Main Street near Pierce’s Corner overlooking the shops in Old Town Suwanee. 

Rhodes Hotel 

Daniel M. Born constructed the stately Victorian home on Russell Street in 1880 for his daughter, Lillie, and her husband, Henry W. Rhodes, who was the head of the Suwanee School Board and the railroad depot agent. 

The home was remodeled throughout the years, adding guest rooms to create Suwanee’s first hotel. Conveniently located near the train depot, the hotel has eight fireplaces, seven bedrooms, three parlors, wraparound porches, and a carriage house. With amenities ranging from a carriage ride to homemade dinners made by Ms. Rhodes, the hotel was known as one of the finest places to stay on the line.

The Rhodes Hotel served as a respite for travelers, particularly local teachers, who would reside in the hotel during the week and take the train home to Atlanta on the weekends. Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell was a frequent guest, using Suwanee as an escape from the Atlanta society gossip.

Still an important part of Suwanee’s future, the hotel is now an instrument shop. With stringed instruments ranging from violins to bases, Huthmaker Violins has been renting, repairing, and sharing their craft since 1989. 

Suwanee Methodist Church

Originally built in 1879, the Suwanee Methodist Church was home to both the Methodist and Baptist churches. At the time, preachers were limited and services were held sporadically. The close community aspect allowed congregates to go freely between the churches when the pastor was available.

As the years passed, the structure of the building fell into poor condition. During a windstorm in 1909, the church’s structure was completely destroyed. The board of trustees made the decision to relocate and rebuild, making the move from the west end of Main Street to the hill top of Scales Road in 1910.

M. Gus Jones was contracted to build the news church for $2,000. Member Charlie Craft hauled salvaged lumber from the storm to the new location using an ox team. The completed place of worship was deemed “The Church on the Hill.”

As Suwanee grew, the church grew. Not only were there more members congregating regularly, but more pastors were volunteering to conduct service. By 1952, three additional classrooms had been constructed just to teach religious studies; by 1960, the church had reached 70 members. In 1974 the church hired its first full-time pastor. The Suwanee Methodist Church bells still ring on Sunday mornings.

Jackson Street Cemetery 

In 1919, landowner J.H. Scales deeded land on Jackson Street in Old Town to “the Colored People of Suwanee” to be used as a cemetery. The cemetery has been previously known by many names: Allen Cemetery, Freeman Cemetery, and Cemetery Street Cemetery. After the keeper of the deed, Mrs. Juanita Meriday, passed away, the City of Suwanee took ownership in maintaining the site. 

Among the many African American Suwanee citizens buried in the Jackson Street Cemetery are soldiers, council members, landowners, entrepreneurs, and General Motors laborers. Some prominent individuals residing in the cemetery are:

• Grady Daniel the first African American to serve on the Suwanee City Council and WWII Navy veteran
• Paul Brandon affluent land owner
• Hoyt Brandon owner of  a local garbage company

Pierce’s Corner

George W. Little purchased the lot at the corner of the intersection of Main Street and Scales Road in 1905 from Dr. Edwin D. Little. The construction of the two-story building was completed in 1910 and served as one of the few convenience stores in the area, linking the rural and urban communities.

Most notably known as “the shop of many things,” it began as a 6,000-square-foot general store. In 1951, the shop was sold to George Pierce for $5,000. The building was in need of remodeling, as the ceiling was falling in and the roof leaked. George Pierce’s son, David Pierce, assisted with the repairs, eventually turning it into a cabinet shop. Other family members throughout the years had their own shops in the building, including an antique store and a convenience store.

Since 2005, the property has been owned by the City of Suwanee and is currently maintained by Suwanee’s Downtown Development Authority. Their vision is for the site to be a representation of the integration between the old and the new.

Suwanee Library

Located at 361 Main Street downtown, the Suwanee branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL) opened in 2004 and is the most popular branch in the entire library system.

“Our theory behind the popularity of the Suwanee branch is its great location,” said former Gwinnett Public Library Development Manager Shelly Schwerzler. “Its proximity to Town Center allows for amazing accessibility. You can go to the library, then the park, then for ice cream, all without getting back in your car.”

“Some of our older branches are a bit off the beaten path,” added Marketing Manager Cliff Ibarrondo.

In 1999 the Gwinnett library system was named a finalist for the Library of the Year award, and went on to win the award in 2000. This library system has also achieved the highest amounts of material circulation out of all libraries in Georgia.

Girl Scout Ashlee Tam's Gold Award Project seeks to highlight the many cultural assets of Suwanee. Through in-depth interviews with community legends, countless hours of meticulous research, and tours of historical landmarks, Ashlee details the city's immense history and shares its citizens' fascinating stories. She has collaborated with city staff to showcase a collection of six exciting preservation videos and notes from her own investigation.