The Toccoa Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has begun a historic plaques program to highlight ten historic buildings in downtown Toccoa. The plaques will be placed at the ten historic buildings over the next ten months. Each one will be unveiled at a ceremony the first Thursday of the month at 5 PM. The ten properties were selected by the DDA as they reflect the interesting and diverse history of downtown Toccoa. The City of Toccoa has funds set aside in the Main Street budget for the cost of the plaques, which are provided to the downtown businesses at no charge.
The history of these ten buildings will be highlighted in a walking tour that will feature the plaques. The history of these buildings will also be discussed in a podcast to accompany the walking tour. Main Street has developed the historic plaques program to create more interest in downtown and its history with local residents and visitors. Main Street Information and Graphics Specialist, Katy Sides said “the historic plaques program will be a great way to create awareness and excitement about the interesting history of downtown Toccoa.”
The first historic plaque was unveiled Thursday, November 3, 2011 at The Studio in downtown. The plaque at the Studio was the first plaque unveiled, as this is the oldest building in downtown Toccoa, and dates to when Toccoa was still part of Habersham County. The building, circa 1857, was best known as the Acree Mitchell Grocery Store. It was originally a free-standing building and a popular gathering place for early Toccoa residents. Since then, the building has been a Masonic Lodge and is currently an art gallery. The bricks used in its construction are hand-made and you can still see horsehair in some of the bricks. The building also features wide plank wood floors upstairs.
The next plaque will be dedicated at The Toccoa Record on December 1 at 5 PM. Everyone is invited to attend the plaque dedication. Please contact the Main Street Office staff for further information.
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