Some of Georgia’s small towns have done an outstanding job turning crumbling buildings into attractive and interesting downtowns. Acworth is one of those. Many of its buildings were built from the late 1800s to the 1920s and they are now attractive antiques stores, wine purveyors, florists, boutiques and restaurants, among others.

Many people think of boating, fishing and swimming when they hear of Acworth – it is on the banks of both Lake Allatoona and Lake Acworth. For history buffs – Acworth has plenty of Civil War heritage. The Great Locomotive Chase went right through downtown. The railroad is still a prominent part of downtown. Its depot offers shady benches for downtown pedestrians.

Acworth also has a restored Rosenwald School. Funded in part by Julius Rosenwald, President of Sears Roebuck and Company, it is one of more than 5,000 schools built in Southern states for black children between 1912 and 1932. The funds were usually a Challenge grant, meaning the community had to come up with a portion of the funds themselves. This one was built in 1924, with 50 percent of its funds Rosenwald money, 25 percent from Tuskegee and Booker T. Washington and the remainder raised by the community.

The Cobb County Board of Education planned to demolish it in 1948-49 to make room for a new school but instead deeded to the Acworth Colored Community.  It was carefully taken apart, each board numbered and later rebuilt in its present location. In 2008, the Cobb Landmarks and Historic Society acquired a $50,000 grant from the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation to restore the old building.

The Old Dixie Highway (Old Highway 41) goes through Acworth as well, so it is one of the locations for The Old Dixie Yard Sale the first weekend of every June.  Spanning several states, this huge flea market runs from Ringgold to Marietta in Georgia.

There are some great restaurants in downtown Acwoth. ABC News designated Chef Henry of Henry’s Louisiana Grill as a Favorite Local Chef in the People’s Platelist Contest in 2010.  The menu has many temptations. Pictured is the Flash Fried Seafood, which is as delicious as it looks!