Roswell, Georgia history

Roswell, GA is so named for Roswell King, an entrepreneur who discovered and invested in a plot of land along Cherokee Creek (whose name changed from Cherokee, to Vickery, to present-day name Big Creek) in the mid-1830’s.

The Hembrees grew cotton for the old Roswell Manufacturing Company, and, along with other early settlers, organized the Lebanon Baptist Church at their farmhouse in 1835.

In 1838 all of the Cherokee who remained were forced out of the state.

In 1840 Georgia ranked 3rd in the nation in cotton cloth production.

Barrington King assumed the company presidency upon his father’s death, and under his direction, the company expanded the original mill and built a second cotton mill in 1850.

Mittie Bulloch, mother to former United States President Theodore Roosevelt, was married at Bulloch Hall in 1853.

The original mill was destroyed during the Civil War in 1864.

Proudfood rebuilt and remained with Roswell Mills, and in this home, until his death in 1871.

The bandstand was added in 1905 on the occasion of President Theodore Roosevelt’s visit, and today showcases many forms of entertainment during Roswell’s various All About: Roswell 4 festivals.

Visiting ministers were allowed to stay free of charge and in 1919 they donated land for expansion of Roswell United Methodist Church.

They rebuilt, but the mill was destroyed again in a fire in 1926.

After the war, the cotton mill was rebuilt and refurbished to continue providing wool until 1975, when it finally gave in due to a over-competitive foreign market.

Built in 2005, it is the newest covered bridge in Georgia, spanning 161 feet and built from Douglas Fir trees.

© 2020 Roswell Historical Society