Hidden History of Roswell: Georgia's Antebellum Past and Civil War Heritage

Roswell's historic district centers around three magnificent antebellum homes—Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall, and Smith Plantation—each offering distinct perspectives on pre-Civil War Southern society. These aren't simply old houses; they're portals into a complex era.

Barrington Hall, with its perfect Greek Revival symmetry, was home to Barrington King, co-founder of Roswell. Walking through its meticulously preserved rooms and formal boxwood gardens, I found myself mentally cataloging the astronomical knowledge of the 1840s that would have informed the educated class of that period. The docent-led tour revealed fascinating details about daily life that no history guidebook could fully capture.

At Bulloch Hall, I discovered an unexpected connection to presidential history—this is where Mittie Bulloch, mother of President Theodore Roosevelt, was married. The docents share compelling stories about how this young woman's Southern upbringing influenced her famous son's perspectives.

Smith Plantation offered the most complete picture of plantation operations, with numerous outbuildings including slave quarters that don't shy away from addressing the brutal institution that underpinned the region's economy. Before visiting these sites, I'd recommend reading up on Georgia's antebellum period with a comprehensive Civil War history book to appreciate the full historical context of what you're seeing.

The ruins of Roswell Manufacturing Company along Vickery Creek (now part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area) tell a fascinating story of Southern industrialization that contradicts simplified narratives about the antebellum economy. As someone who studies how ancient civilizations harnessed natural forces to track celestial movements, I was particularly struck by how the mill's founders engineered an impressive system of dams and spillways to power their textile operations.

The mill's history took a dramatic turn during the Civil War when Union forces discovered it was producing cloth for Confederate uniforms. What happened next reveals the often-overlooked human cost of war: General Sherman ordered the arrest of 400 mill workers—mostly women and children—who were charged with treason and deported north, many never to return. This event, known as the 'Roswell Mill Workers Deportation,' stands as one of the war's most troubling civilian incidents.

Today, hiking the trails around the mill ruins provides both natural beauty and historical perspective. I spent hours photographing the remaining structures with my travel camera, trying to capture how nature is slowly reclaiming these industrial remains. The covered pedestrian bridge offers excellent vantage points, while interpretive signs help visitors understand the significance of what they're seeing.

My fascination with fermentation processes led me to discover one of Roswell's least-known historical threads—its once-thriving distilling industry. Before prohibition, the Southern Distilling Company operated one of the largest distilleries in the Southeast right here in Roswell. Though the original buildings are long gone, the legacy lives on in the recently established Gate City Brewing Company, which has revived the local craft beverage tradition in the historic district.

What particularly interested me was learning how closely intertwined the distilling operations were with the agricultural rhythms of the surrounding plantations. The same families who owned the grand homes often had financial interests in these industrial ventures, creating an economic ecosystem that supported the town's growth.

During my visit, I joined a local food historian for a specialized tour focused on historic Southern foodways. We explored how fermentation played a crucial role in food preservation before refrigeration, from the pickling traditions in plantation kitchens to the beer cellars that kept beverages cool. I documented the experience in my travel journal, which has become an invaluable companion for recording these intersections of science and culture I encounter during my travels.

For those interested in this aspect of Roswell's history, I recommend visiting during one of the periodic 'Taste of Roswell History' events when local establishments serve historically-inspired dishes and drinks.

As an astronomer accustomed to reading the stories of ancient peoples through their celestial monuments, I found the Roswell Confederate Cemetery to be a similarly profound text—albeit one written in stone rather than stars. This small burial ground contains approximately 300 Confederate soldiers, most in unmarked graves, their individual identities lost but their collective sacrifice preserved.

What struck me most was learning about how the cemetery came to be. Following the Civil War, it was the women of Roswell who formed the Roswell Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy to ensure these soldiers—many of whom died in a makeshift hospital nearby—would have a proper resting place. Their efforts represent a poignant example of how communities process trauma and preserve memory.

Visiting at dusk with my headlamp (which proved invaluable as darkness fell faster than I expected), I was able to carefully examine the weathered inscriptions that remain. The cemetery is particularly moving in spring when dogwoods bloom among the gravestones, creating a scene of surprising beauty amid somber reflection.

It's important to approach this site with historical perspective—these monuments exist within the complex legacy of how the Civil War has been remembered and memorialized across different eras. The cemetery offers a chance to contemplate not just the war itself, but how subsequent generations have chosen to commemorate it.

For history enthusiasts seeking to understand the Civil War's impact on the South, following General Sherman's path through Roswell offers powerful insights that go beyond what most tourists experience. Armed with my historical atlas and a locally-published walking guide, I spent a day tracing the route Union forces took as they entered Roswell in July 1864.

The experience was illuminating. While Sherman famously burned much of Atlanta, his forces largely spared Roswell's buildings—not out of mercy, but because many were claimed by northern sympathizers or foreign nationals. The Roswell Presbyterian Church, for instance, was saved when a quick-thinking congregant raised a French flag, falsely claiming foreign ownership.

What wasn't spared was the economic foundation of the town. Beyond the mill workers' deportation I mentioned earlier, Union troops systematically dismantled industrial equipment, seized foodstuffs and livestock, and effectively ended Roswell's prosperity for decades to come. Standing at the river crossing where Union troops first arrived, I couldn't help but reflect on how quickly a community's fortunes can change during conflict.

For those interested in this aspect of Roswell's history, the local historical society offers occasional guided tours focused specifically on the Civil War period. These are worth timing your visit around, as the guides often share primary source accounts that bring the events vividly to life.