Forsyth Herald - May 4, 2023

The Forsyth County Planning Commission approves a special event venue on Matt Highway at an April 25 meeting. Nearby residents spoke in opposition

Planners back Matt Highway projects

ter of their neighborhoods.

County pins hopes on road upgrades to accommodate large development

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — While The Gathering at South Forsyth is expected to bring unprecedented economic growth to Forsyth County, officials say road upgrades in the area will manage related traffic concerns.

County Manager David McKee said the new Ga. 400 interchange and the widening of McGinnis Ferry Road, as well as the extension of Ronald Reagan Boulevard, will be completed before The Gathering opens if plans are approved. The site for the proposed development is located at Union Hill Road and Ronald Reagan Boulevard. Drawing from 2019 figures, the County Engineering Department estimated traffic counts for Union Hill Road at 5,180 vehicles a day. It showed 9,490 vehicles on McGinnis Ferry Road.

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — In a meeting spanning nearly four hours, Forsyth County planning officials approved proposals for new projects bordering subdivisions April 25, following resident requests to preserve the charac -

The County Planning Commission unanimously voted to endorse a conditional use permit request to operate a special event facility and short-term rental in existing buildings on Matt Highway.

Residents of the neighboring Haddon Hall subdivision attended the meeting to oppose the projects, citing concerns about noise disturbances, security, traffic and the definition of a special event.

OPINION

County approves proposal for lease of Polo Fields horse park

► PAGE 3

Project attorney Sean Courtney said the owner intends to use the venue for events such as birthday parties and weddings.

Courtney said he and the applicant had worked to be considerate of nearby residents’ concerns, and the site will employ two law enforcement officers at events with 100 or more guests and allow a maximum of 72 events each year.

See PROJECTS, Page 4

Preserving the Past: A one-man barber shop that made history

► PAGE 13

The Big Creek Greenway will also extend for one mile through the development and connect the Halcyon and Union Hill Park trailheads, marking a 27-mile connection from Roswell to the Sawnee Mountain Preserve.

“This is a big economic driver, not only to the county, but to the region and even to the Southeast,” McKee said. “We're looking forward to working with the developers, working through the traffic issues that would arise with a development like this and coming together for a good community solution, both from the regional level, but all the way down to the local level.”

While the Georgia Department of Transportation plans to extend express lanes on Ga. 400 from the North Springs MARTA Station to Forsyth County near McFarland Parkway, McKee said there are no plans as yet to

See GATHERING, Page 4

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

to the project, citing traffic and disturbance concerns.

Officials advance plans amid residents’ protest

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POLICE BLOTTER

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Cumming man charged following alleged assault

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Sheriff’s deputies arrested David Rheault, 39, of Cumming April 22 on assault, drug and false imprisonment charges after a domestic dispute in the driveway of his home.

Neighbors had informed deputies they witnessed Rheault on top of a woman, who was screaming. The report states neighbors had come to the scene when the woman called for help, and they separated the two until authorities arrived.

The woman reportedly told deputies Rheault had been drinking throughout the night and returned home around noon intoxicated. She said she told him she was taking her 1-year-old daughter and leaving to get away from him.

Rheault allegedly damaged the back of the woman’s car, yelled at her and grabbed her neck with both hands. The woman said she could not breathe, the report states, and Rheault allegedly threw her to the floor, got on top of her and attempted to choke her again.

Deputies reported speaking with Rheault, who had heavily slurred speech, dilated pupils, a bump on his forehead and scratches. He was also unsteady, swaying and smelled strongly of alcohol.

He reportedly told deputies his injuries had come from his hat, and he denied being outside the house during the argument. Rheault then said they were arguing in the garage, but he did not know how the woman’s car was damaged.

Deputies also reported finding five unprescribed diazepam pills in

Rheault’s pocket.

Rheault was arrested on charges of felony false imprisonment, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property in the second degree, possession of a schedule four controlled substance and misdemeanor cruelty to children in the third degree.

Gainesville man charged with armed carjacking

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a Gainesville man April 20 who allegedly hijacked his roommate’s car and threatened to shoot him.

A man told deputies April 19 his roommate Cody Wilkie, 25, had appeared to be under the influence of drugs and asked him if he could use his car. When he refused, Wilkie allegedly struck him on the top right side of his head.

The report states the alleged victim sat in his car, and Wilkie then pointed a gun at him, stood in front of the vehicle and said he would shoot him.

The man said he exited the vehicle in fear and ran to the entrance of the property. While running, he said he had heard “loud bangs,” and he called his brother. The man and his brother reported later seeing two of his vehicles with extensive damage blocking the driveway.

Deputies reported observing a Dodge Durango with a flat tire and broken windows that appeared to have been reversed and was resting against a power pole.

Deputies found Wilkie hiding in a bedroom closet, the report states, and he provided a different account of the incident.

Wilkie told deputies he had been given permission to use one of the man’s vehicles and drove it to play slot machines at a store.

He said his roommate had seemed intoxicated, and they argued when he returned from the store. Wilkie

said the man had left and crashed his pickup truck in the driveway, the report states. After the man threatened to call the police, Wilkie ran into the wood line.

Wilkie was charged with felony hijacking of a motor vehicle, aggravated assault with a gun, theft by taking and two counts of second-degree criminal damage to property.

Wendy’s employee cited for fraudulent purchases

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a Wendy’s employee April 19 who allegedly used a customer’s debit card for fraudulent purposes.

A man informed deputies he had visited the Wendy’s on Freedom Parkway around 7 p.m. April 18. When he returned home, he said his bank notified him of two unauthorized charges at Publix, a declined charge at Publix and another charge at RaceTrac.

The man said the restaurant had confirmed his card was at the store, the report states, but an employee said neither the card nor employees had left the restaurant.

Deputies reported speaking to Publix employees, who provided security footage of a woman wearing a Wendy’s T-shirt making purchases that matched the amounts the man had reported.

When provided with the suspect’s description, Wendy’s employees identified the woman as Peggy Diarrassouba, 61, of Alpharetta.

An employee at the RaceTrac on Browns Bridge Road also confirmed a woman with the same description had purchased gas for the same amount the man provided, the report states. Diarrassouba was arrested on four counts of felony fraudulent use of a transaction card and one count of transaction card theft.

She is being held at the Forsyth County Jail with a bond amount of $8,900.

Forsyth County approves proposal for lease of Polo Fields horse park

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County commissioners approved a proposed lease agreement at the Polo Fields Equestrian Center after a year of uncertainty and resident calls for preservation.

At its April 25 work session the County Commission approved a seven-year contract with Iconic Stables to renew and operate the center. The company will now negotiate a formal lease agreement with county staff.

Interim Parks and Recreation Director Laura Pate said the company agreed to use its own finances to repair and make the facility compliant with code, as well as pay the $36,000 annual lease.

Pate said the company intends to provide equine therapy; riding lessons; horse shows; sporting, public and private events; and a potential horse rescue program at the equestrian center.

Iconic Stables owner and operator Jennifer VanderVeur had asked commissioners to reopen the lease bidding process on the project at a February meeting. The following week, the County Commission voted to extend bidding on the decaying stables through April.

In her letter of interest for the project, VanderVeur said her family had operated stables when she was young, and the equestrian center marks a passion for her.

“The Polo Fields Equestrian Center is unique from any other property in all of Forsyth County,” VanderVeur said in the letter. “This property has a rich history and was the defining feature of the Polo Fields Golf and Country Club subdivision before the neighborhood was even fully developed.”

In 2022, commissioners voted to demolish the stables after assessments showed the facility had extensive water damage and black mold issues. Former County Parks and Recreation Director Jim Pryor had said it would cost between $600,000 and $800,000 to renovate the facility.

There were parties interested in the lease, county officials said, but none had agreed to finance the repairs.

VanderVeur said the renewed project will provide the county with enriched community activities, increased interest in local businesses, greater visibility of real estate in the Polo Fields area and incremental tax revenues.

Commissioners will finalize their approval of the lease agreement at an upcoming public hearing.

The Gathering concept

Also at the April 25 work session, project staff from The Gathering at South

Forsyth County Interim Parks and Recreation Director Laura Pate presents a request for a lease agreement on the Polo Fields Equestrian Center at an April 25 Board of Commissioners work session. Commissioners approved the agreement to be negotiated and formalized at a later meeting.

Forsyth presented commissioners conceptual site plans and the potential economic benefits from the project.

North Georgia businessman Vernon Krause announced his vision for the 100acre site April 17. If finalized, the development would act as an entertainment hub with dining, retail, business and residential opportunities.

The development is slated to feature over 1 million square feet of commercial and retail space; an arena for community and entertainment events; hotel rooms; a community center; and a fire station.

The project site, dubbed the gateway of South Forsyth County, is to be located at Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Union Hill Road along Ga. 400.

County Commissioner Laura Semanson said transportation projects on the nearby McGinnis Ferry Road and Ronald Reagan Boulevard will mitigate traffic concerns associated with the site.

The County Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce have been in discussion on the project for roughly a year, Commission Chairman Alfred John said. A formal cost estimate or financial commitment from the county has not been proposed.

Even so, Commissioner Todd Levent requested project staff return with transparent estimates on what the county should expect to pay for the project if it moves forward.

“The Board of Commissioners, we’re all elected officials, and our job is to look out for the best interests of our citizens,” Levent said. “This project, should it happen, will change the trajectory of Forsyth County forever, and I just want to make sure we get this right if we’re going to do it.”

The County Commission will consider more detailed project plans and zoning condition amendments at a May 9 work session.

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Sawnee EMC part of group drawing from solar project

CUMMING, Ga. — Sawnee EMC and 29 other Georgia electric cooperatives are now sharing the renewable energy generated by a new 106-megawatt solar project constructed in Clay County.

Sawnee EMC will receive around 10 percent of the project’s energy.

Green Power EMC, the renewable energy supplier for 38 of Georgia’s electric membership corporations, including Sawnee EMC, is purchasing all of the energy and environmental attributes generated by the Clay Solar Project. As a clean and renewable energy source, the solar site’s environmental benefit is equivalent to eliminating approximately 193,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

The Clay Solar Project has more than

Projects:

Continued from Page 1

Resident pushback

337,000 solar modules that track the sun on its daily path across the sky, resulting in increased energy production when compared to a solar project that utilizes a fixed-tilt installation.

Sawnee EMC offers a virtual solar energy program where members can receive the benefits of alternative energy without the challenges of owning and operating a system at their home or business.

Also, Sawnee EMC has a “new” solar renewable energy credit program that allows members to purchase the environmental attributes of Sawnee’s solar assets. To learn more about both programs, call Sawnee’s Call Center at 770-887-2363, chat online, text 678999-8124 or email customerservice@ sawnee.com.

Roswell athletes commit to attend military academy

ROSWELL, Ga. — In June 2023, two Roswell High School students will start their gymnastics journey at the United States Air Force Academy. Aiden Esval and William Pyle committed to compete in Division I gymnastics for the service academy.

The pair have trained in gymnastics since they were about five years old, according to Esval’s mother, and now compete for Roswell Gymnastics. Both athletes will graduate from Roswell High School in 2023. They will commit to serving in the United States Air Force during their second year at the academy.

To get into the academy each student must receive a nomination. Esval was nominated by Georgia State District 6 Representative Rich McCormick, while Pyle received a “presidential nomination” from his mother. Presidential nominees

are selected by their “career” military member parents.

Aiden Esval’s older brother Ethan Esval also attended the Air Force Academy and served as the gymnastics team captain in 2021.

On April 25, the two athletes had a “signing party” to celebrate their commitment to the Air Force Academy. Adorned in Air Force Academy clothing the pair cut a cake with the rest of the Roswell men’s gymnastics team, Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson and the Roswell City Council.

Aiden Esval’s mother, Stacy said her son turned to her at the end of the event and said “I’ve never felt this special in my life.”

Esval and Pyle will start at the academy on June 28.

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Despite those reassurances, residents said they remain concerned with conditions on the request that allow a maximum of 228 guests, 76 parking spaces and events Monday-Thursday until 9 p.m.

Speaker Leaha Murphy said the permit would increase noise, air and light pollution in the community and decrease the level of service on the highway.

“Approval of this permit will cause a detrimental change to the quality of life of all surrounding properties, as the approval will allow for these increases to be year-round,” Murphy said.

Other residents raised the same concerns.

Speaker Andrew Nelson said he had purchased his home because he wanted to settle down in a quiet area, which does not align with the site plans.

Under the property’s current zoning, Courtney and Planning Commissioner Adrian Flack, whose district includes the property, said the landowner is allowed to host an unlimited number of events with no limitations on the number of guests.

“My effort on this has been to try to make it a better product for you all than what you currently have,” Flack said.

The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be considered for final approval at an upcoming public hearing before the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.

Mixed-use plan approved

In other action at the meeting, the Planning Commission approved a request to rezone 140 acres on Fowler Hill, Union Hill and Mullinax roads to a master planned district.

Project attorney Christopher Light said the plan will create a hybrid living and shopping center similar to Vickery Village.

"The biggest difference I would say, though, is that this product has learned from Vickery’s mistakes,” Light

Gathering:

Continued from Page 1

extend MARTA rail or bus service to the county.

Proposed by North Georgia businessman Vernon Krause, The Gathering at South Forsyth is billed to serve as an entertainment, business and residential hub at the southern border of the county.

Project developers presented concep-

Forsyth County resident David Blevins speaks in opposition to a proposed mixed-use development at an April 25 Planning Commission meeting. Planning commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the project.

said. “We’re going to have better roads, better pedestrian connectivity, better usable park space and stormwater management as amenities.”

Area residents said the development could negatively affect the character of the area.

Speaker Rafael Pargas said he was concerned about the project’s impact on classroom capacity at nearby schools, additional traffic and the commercial spaces on the lot being left vacant.

"This development, high-density development, doesn’t belong in the middle of all these neighborhoods that are 1.5-2 density,” speaker David Blevins said in opposition to the plans.

Craig Barnaby, who spoke in favor of the project, said Kennemore Wholesale Nursery, which formerly sat on the lot, is deteriorating, and the development would add value and something to be proud of in the neighborhood.

The rezoning request was recommended for approval 3-2, with commissioners Stacy Guy and Tim Dineen opposed.

Final approval will be considered by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners at an upcoming meeting.

tual plans for the 100-acre site at an April 25 Board of Commissioners work session and estimated The Gathering could produce over 12,000 long-term employment opportunities, as well as 20,000 construction jobs during its 10-year development. While finalized plans for the future of the development have not been presented, discussions and further details are slated for the May 9 County Commission work session.

Updates and information on the project can be found at thegatheringatsouthforsyth.com.

SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

ON THE LIGHT SIDE

Eclipse Over Roswell offers spiritual healing for the open-minded

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Some people have called Eclipse Over Roswell looking for manipulative spells, like one that could return a lost love. But co-owner Michael Jerome said staff stays “on the light side.”

“We have people that will call in … and we’re like, ‘Yeah, we can’t do that,’” Jerome said.

Eclipse Over Roswell, on South Atlanta Street, is a metaphysical shop. Visitors are hit with a smell of incense as they enter and an inventory of items intended for spiritual growth and healing.

Even if the spell did work, Jerome said it would create a conflict in the brain.

“They’re gonna go crazy,” he said. “It’s never gonna work out.”

Rather than playing with someone else’s free will, co-owner Azalea Johns said staff is focused on internal light and connecting it to source energy.

Metaphysical tools

Crystals are a big portion of the store’s stock, their meanings and purpose printed on cards next to each container. There’s also a collection of tarot decks, colored candles, herbs and jewelry.

Through a door behind the retail space, Jerome and Johns were situated in the “living room.” This is where meditations are held, like ones for the New Moon. To the right of the living room, Psychic Fairs are held on the second and fourth Saturday. Several tables were lined up.

Johns, also a house practitioner, regularly leads the meditative sessions where visitors gather round and encourage one another.

“Our New Moon Meditation is all about setting new intentions. It’s new beginnings. The moon is at its darkest point then,” Johns said. “It’s just going to grow. Light is just going to start to shine all the way up to the full moon.”

She also hosts tarot classes on most Sundays, referred to as “Sunday school.”

The business has a few house practitioners, including Mahogany Rose, the self-described “herb lady” who was in-store April 25. But there’s also about a dozen guest practitioners who come in from time to time with other specialties, like TJ Lecroy, a longtime intuitive reader, also at the front counter.

Farther back, there’s a smaller room for energy healing, featuring a bed and a poster outlining the chakras. Tarot, numerology and astrology readings are also performed there.

See SPIRITUAL, Page 7

Opened

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

in 2018, Eclipse Over Roswell is owned by Michael Jerome and Azalea Johns. The business offers a stock of metaphysical items, like crystals, candles and tarot cards, as well as energy healing, card, astrology and numerology readings and reflexology work.

Eclipse Over Roswell owner Azalea Johns regularly hosts meditation groups in the business’ “living room,” furnished with comfy couches and covered in tapestries. Tables to the right of the same room, not pictured, are used for the bi-monthly Psychic Fair.

“If someone is skeptical, I would just say — be open and receptive to all good, and then see what happens.”

AZALEA JOHNS, co-owner, Eclipse Over Roswell

Spiritual:

Continued from Page 6

Jerome and Johns plan to expand the business into a studio in the same shopping center, which will be dedicated to events and classes. Current back rooms would become a place for more retail. They had spoken to an architect earlier that day.

New territory

Jerome was more of a skeptic before he took ownership of the business six months after it opened in May 2018. A veteran of the restaurant business, he would sometimes watch videos from a medium named John Edward, but that was his only experience.

When he first entered the venture, Jerome dove into the crystals and minerals for their geological aspects.

“As far as metaphysical properties, I kind of passed that off,” Jerome said.

Now, every day when gets home, he brushes himself with a rod of Selenite, a crystal known for its ability to cleanse energy.

“I get a chill just every time,” Jerome said. “That first time, I was like, ‘Wow, this is real.’”

He also regularly uses diffusing oils for different intentions, some for prosperity.

Meanwhile, Johns, who joined the business in July 2019, has had a longtime

fascination with astrology and crystals. Tarot came later. But it wasn’t until after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 that she began to listen to the messages she had been receiving.

Johns has her own daily practice, like quiet time in the morning. She puts on her “protection” for the day by setting an intention and sometimes uses cards as a guide. Johns might pull an Oracle card, which often has a word, something to focus on. Then, she asks herself about that intention at night with the aid of tarot.

Crystals have a daily use for Johns, in her pockets and covering her wrists. Her favorites rotate, but right now, they’re lepidolite for stress and anxiety, angelite, pink calcite and strawberry quartz.

Jerome reminded Johns that she also loves Blue Goldstone, a man-made stone of glass and cobalt infused with copper particles. Online articles ascribe a variety of meanings to Blue Goldstone, like confidence and ambition, good luck.

A ‘spiritual team’

An anatomy and physiology college instructor for nearly 20 years, Johns uses her scientific knowledge of the body to connect it to the spiritual. Chakras aren’t just “ethereal” concepts, she said.

“There are real structures in your body. There’s nerve plexuses, there’s endocrine glands that are coordinated or associated with those different energy centers,” Johns said.

She’s a certified Reiki instructor, but she most often practices tarot.

“It’s interesting to see the energy that comes through when you’re in session with someone,” Johns said.

To begin a session, Johns connects what she calls a “spiritual team” — all beings of love and light, or guardian angels.

Eclipse Over Roswell

Address: 408 South Atlanta Street #150, Roswell Phone: 678-682-8624

Website: eclipseoverroswell.com

The team could be ancestors, she said, or loved ones who have passed over.

“It’s about tapping into that center of love and hope and faith, and the energy that brings you peace and comfort,” Johns said.

Religion can be part of the session, Johns said, though some have come into the store under the impression that offerings are antithetical to religion.

“People come in here and tell us straight out, ‘You guys are demons,’” Jerome said.

But Jerome shared that metaphysical practices often incorporate religion. He named Judaism and Qabalah, a variety of Jewish mysticism, as well as Christianity as examples.

Johns has her own approach.

“If someone is skeptical, I would just say — be open and receptive to all good, and then see what happens. Listen to the messages that you may be getting, and trust that,” Johns said. “Follow that, and see how that feels. See how it feels in your physical body.”

Hours: Monday-Saturday, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Top features that increase your home’s selling price

Brought to you by – Bill Rawlings and Sherri Conrad, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty

According to Zillow, certain features and corresponding keywords have been shown to stand out in listings to help a home sell for a higher price. In spite of the uptick in mortgage rates and the trend toward homes appraising at higher values, serious buyers are still attracted to specific features that help them visualize their best life.

Traditionally, homeowners have been advised to renovate or update for mass appeal and avoid assuming potential buyers’ tastes. However, data from Zillow shows that the same features that turn off one type of buyer will attract others who are willing to pay more for them, especially if those elements improve lifestyle quality and add to the fun factor. Knowing which features to emphasize before you list your home can help boost its profile

(both online and in person), attract serious attention and ultimately sell at a higher price point.

1. High-end cooking amenities.

Discerning foodies and gourmets appreciate deluxe cooking facilities such as steam ovens, pizza ovens and professional-grade appliances, and these features earn sellers an average of between three and five percent more.

2. Retreat spaces. The concept of home as a retreat space has grown exponentially in popularity following the pandemic as more people work and play from home. Although the home may sit on the market slightly longer, features such as she-sheds and wine cellars are prime assets, earning sellers around two percent more.

3. Upmarket materials. If your home build or renovation includes materials such as terrazzo, soapstone and quartz, make sure to

include this in your listing description. Data from Zillow shows that they are worth at least a two percent price increase.

4. Modern Farmhouse elements. From natural wood accents and apron sinks to stainless steel and polished stone, the ‘modern farmhouse’ aesthetic popularized by Joanna Gaines is the perfect blend of sophistication and comfort. Homes that fit within this category have been shown to sell for approximately two percent more.

While this information can help you prep and list your home, be sure to approach the selling process from a well-rounded point of view, understanding that regional variations always impact how a home sells in a particular area. If you need assistance staging your home or have any other real estate needs, please contact Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty at 770.442.7300. We would be happy to assist you!

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by Angela Valente, Marketing Copywriter/Copyeditor

Bill Rawlings and Sherri Conrad

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Soleil Belmont Park - An extraordinary resort-level 55+ Community

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PRESERVING THE PAST

A one-man barber shop that made history

Q: Why is a barber shop like an Irish pub?

A: Because, historically, both were places where neighbors gathered to socialize, where friends congregated, and new friendships were made. Some of these shops were hardly known outside their neighborhoods, others achieved near cult status. The Alpharetta Barbershop was an example of the latter.

Hoke Wallace (1906-1990) was born in Gainesville, the son of a farmer. He started working in a local barber shop at age 12 shining shoes and sweeping floors. One day, a half-sober gentleman asked the youth to cut his hair. The result was pretty good, and Hoke gave a few more haircuts, he recalled later. Two years later he opened a barbershop in his parents’ home and charged 10 cents a haircut. He attended school through the seventh grade in Gainesville.

In 1932, at age 26 he moved to the Brandywine Community in Forsyth County and cut hair in his home. He was a barber in Roswell for two years, then worked for three years at the Bell Bomber Plant, now Lockheed Corporation, during World War ll. Then, he worked for five years in the Sims Barber shop near Georgia Tech. Later, he moved to a small brick house on North Main Street in Alpharetta where he continued to cut hair. He opened his one-man barbershop in downtown Alpharetta in 1953 and charged a quarter for a haircut. He also ran the Old Milton County Jail and helped the local undertaker.

His shop was in a small wood building on Main Street. It had a barber pole mounted on one side and the name of the shop on a large Coca Cola sign above the door. (After World War I, Coca Cola Company printed the name of businesses on metal Coca Cola signs called “privilege panels”). It had room for one barber chair and about four chairs for waiting customers. He had a loyal clientele, some of whom traveled 30 miles for one of his haircuts.

Hoke was a talented musician. He

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played the guitar and drums. When business was slow, he picked up his guitar, often joined by his brother Clyde who played the fiddle. Hoke, Clyde and a few other musicians could usually be found entertaining folks at the Saturday night street dances in downtown Alpharetta. Several nights each week, Hoke played guitar at square dances with his own Hoke Wallace Band throughout North Georgia and South Carolina. He became known as “the pioneer of country music.”

Hoke was a little eccentric. He refused to have a telephone in his shop because it cost too much and because clients might get phone calls in the middle of their haircuts. Whenever a customer wanted a fancy hair style, Hoke sent him to one of the two other barbers in town.

A few people have memories of Hoke. Jim Spruell, who as youth accompanied his father to Hoke’s barber shop, remembers that Hoke was always joking and “usually had a dominos game going in the back of the room where farmers and retired men would spend hours.”

Ben Hollingsworth says that clients

arriving while Hoke was playing his guitar would have to wait until his song was finished to get their haircuts.

Connie Mashburn recalls that Hoke liked to fish and would close the shop on a moment’s notice if someone came in and suggested they go fishing together. Jim, Ben and Connie are board members of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society.

Hoke retired in 1986. The barbershop stood vacant for about four years, and then rather than knock it down Hoke gave it to Carlos Bagwell who owned the adjacent property. Carlos and his three sons placed telephone poles under the building and moved it to his property where he used it as a storehouse. The building was torn down when Carlos converted the property into a parking lot in 2017.

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

Full benefits, base salary and an aggressive uncapped commission package and fun team environment!

Qualified candidates send resume to: mike@appenmedia.com

Robert Henson, 60, of Roswell, passed away on April 24, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Linda Jane Kelly, 70, of Milton, passed away on April 20, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Tommy Partin, 85, of Alpharetta, passed away on April 25, 2023. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

Hoke Williams talks with a customer in his cramped barber shop on Main Street in downtown Alpharetta. Photo, circa 1960s, is in the Alpharetta History Museum

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