Old Marietta (O.M.)

06/19/2026

Old Marietta has hit 33k followers! Thank you ALL for being here. I know Davis McCollum would be proud of this milestone ☺️

06/17/2026

Did you know that when Shillings on the Square opened in 1978, it became the first establishment on the Marietta Square to hold a liquor license in 120 years?

The restaurant sat in the same spot once occupied by Schilling’s Hardware, which operated there for roughly fifty years. When the building was purchased by the Goldstein family in 1976 and transformed into a restaurant by Dave Reardon (Owner & Operator), the Schilling family asked that their name not be associated with a bar — so the “c” was dropped. That’s how Shillings got its spelling.

What is your favorite memory from Shillings? Also pictured is Dunaway Drug Store.

Picture circa 1984

06/10/2026

There’s been a lot of chatter online about the property at 𝟏𝟕𝟓𝟏 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝, so I’m sharing the City’s latest update below for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.

While there 𝘪𝘴 a City Council meeting tonight, this property — and the proposed data center — 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚. However, as always, public comment may occur.

If the failed RaceTrac rezoning on Bells Ferry taught us anything, it’s that:
1️⃣ Citizens have a constitutional right to voice their concerns.
2️⃣ We have to stay vigilant about what happens at city and county meetings.
3️⃣ Protecting the character, beauty, and livability of Marietta and Cobb County is a shared responsibility.

The zoning for this property was approved last year, and that part is already in place. But I also understand why people have strong feelings about a potential data center and what it could mean for the surrounding neighborhoods.

Sharing this so our community stays informed, engaged, and aware.

📅 Date: June 10, 2026
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: City Hall — City Council Chambers (Lobby Level), 205 Lawrence St, Marietta GA 30060

𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.

Facts Regarding Property at 1751 Bells Ferry Road
The City of Marietta and Marietta Power are providing the following information to help residents better understand the facts regarding recent online claims about the property located at 1751 Bells Ferry Road.

What Was Approved:
Last year, the City of Marietta approved a zoning change request for the property located at 1751 Bells Ferry Road. The request was submitted by the property owner and a developer to change the zoning from CRC (Community Retail Commercial) to LI (Light Industrial). Under the approved plan, a data center is an allowable use at this location.

When the City Considered the Request:
The City approved the zoning change on June 11, 2025, during an open public meeting with an advertised public hearing.

Public Process:
The zoning change request followed the City’s established legal zoning process, including public notice and public comment from several individuals.
Additionally, a two and half hour public Town Hall regarding data centers was also advertised and held at City Hall on February 5, 2026, to provide information and allow the public to ask questions. This included presentations from the Atlanta Regional Commission, Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, Marietta Power, and the City of Marietta.
As with all public meetings, the information related to this matter has been available to the public throughout the process. Recordings of public meetings may be viewed at mariettaga.gov/838/Council-Videos.

Current Project Status and Project Requirements:
Construction is not underway nor have there been site development or building permits obtained. The current construction in the area is the Greenhouse subdivision.
Since the rezoning approval there has been no forward movement on the project, and there is no power purchase agreement with Marietta Power. The original proposal, which would have called for over 100MW, is not going forward. The most recent discussions have included much smaller power purchase amounts of 60MW or less; however, even those conversations have stalled.
If plans are submitted to the City in the future, they must adhere to all regulations and requirements. Marietta Power would require all generation and development costs, including those related to power infrastructure, to be paid by the developer or end-user should a data center move forward. Due to the careful structure of any potential agreement, a data center at this property would not place strain on the electrical grid or negatively impact current customers.
Marietta Power would also require a closed-loop water cooling system that utilizes drastically less water resources than alternatives as part of an agreement.

No item related to this site or data centers is scheduled for discussion at the June 10, 2026 City Council meeting. Agendas are posted online prior to meetings: https://www.mariettaga.gov/AgendaCenter

06/08/2026

Page founder Davis “Davey” McCollum’s sister, Angie, and her husband, Alan, recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. I know Davey — as so many knew him — would be so proud of his sister. He cared deeply about his family’s heritage and shared their stories often, and it feels right to honor this milestone here on the page he created.

Happy 50th Anniversary, Angie and Alan. What an admirable milestone.

Their story began at Marietta High School, where they met in 10th grade. They graduated together in 1974 and were married in 1976. Over the years they built a beautiful life — three children (Allison, Stephanie, and James), six grandchildren, and even the joy of living next door to their best friends from high school, Kenny and Jane Haywood. Alan’s 97‑year‑young aunt was also able to attend the celebration, making the day even more special.

Fifty years of love, family, and Marietta roots. ❤️❤️❤️

📸: Johnny Walker

06/06/2026

𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟒…

Lt. Jimmie Monteith, a Virginia native, fought — and fell — during the D‑Day invasion of Normandy.

Why is this Virginia hero appearing on the Old Marietta page? Because on January 23, 1950, he was formally nominated for consideration in the renaming of Marietta Air Force Base. His nomination came from 1LT W. T. Rich and Sgt. Aaron Jones, two Metro‑Atlanta servicemen who had served alongside him. Among all the nominees, Monteith was the only one awarded the Medal of Honor. He rests in the Normandy American Cemetery.

The amphitheater at Fort McClellan is named after him.

On February 7, 1950, Marietta native CPT Charles Dobbins was selected — giving us the name Dobbins ARB that we know today.

𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐭. 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer, France. First Lt. Monteith landed with the initial assault waves on the coast of France under heavy enemy fire. Without regard to his own personal safety he continually moved up and down the beach reorganizing men for further assault. He then led the assault over a narrow protective ledge and across the flat, exposed terrain to the comparative safety of a cliff. Retracing his steps across the field to the beach, he moved over to where two tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machine-gun fire. Completely exposed to the intense fire, 1st Lt. Monteith led the tanks on foot through a minefield and into firing positions. Under his direction several enemy positions were destroyed. He then rejoined his company and under his leadership his men captured an advantageous position on the hill. Supervising the defense of his newly won position against repeated vicious counterattacks, he continued to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the 200 or 300 yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen links in his defensive chain. When the enemy succeeded in completely surrounding 1st Lt. Monteith and his unit and while leading the fight out of the situation, 1st Lt. Monteith was killed by enemy fire. The courage, gallantry, and intrepid leadership displayed by 1st Lt. Monteith is worthy of emulation.

God Bless this brave young man, and all the brave young men who stormed the beaches in France on this day 82 years ago.

06/03/2026

In honor of 🚴🏻‍♂️🌎 some Old Marietta bicycle history.

𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐬

By Ben Townsend, MDJ April 13, 1958

Seventy-eight-year old Jim Richardson and his son, Bill, can answer any question about bicycles except one. When you ask them how many bikes they have worked on in their bicycle repair shops since 1918, the elder Richardson exclaims, “Good gosh – that’s almost impossible to answer!”

Bill, however, with pencil and paper, did some figuring and came up with an estimate. “I’d say there have been at least 500,000 bicycles in and out of our shops in the past 40 years,” he said. “They’ve been brought in for all kind of repairs, some were to be made over” and some were just brought in for tire changes.
The father, known to hundreds of Marietta kids as ‘Mister Jim’, recalls vividly the early bicycles. He notes they “were just bicycles,” with none of the modern improvements found on every bicycle today. “Right after the war half of the people who rode bicycles were adults,” he says, adding, “It wasn’t too uncommon to see a businessman pedaling to and from work.”

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬⁣

The early bicycles weighed about 60 pounds, has glued-on high pressure tires, no brakes – except when you stopped pedaling – and the only lights were carbide lights. “Those lights were big lantern-like things,” explains “Mister Jim.” He said in the bottom was a compartment containing carbide, while in a top compartment was water “that dripped down.” When it mixed with the chemical it formed a gas, which when lighted with a match or flint produced a light.

Bill noted some modern-day bicycles. “They have just about everything,” he says, and listed a few gadgets, such as: headlights and taillights operated by a generator; gearshifts with three speeds, kickstands and wheel forks that operate “in a shock absorber fashion.”

The two bicycle repairmen said in 1918 bicycles were ridden by both adults and children. “It was about 50-50,” says Bill. Now the two note only one out of 50 adult Mariettans ride them. “I quit riding when I was in my 40s or 50s,” says “Mister Jim.” Bill, who says he quit quite a few years ago, adds, “I’m thinking of starting to ride more, though.” He notes that “it’s one of the most healthful form of exercise – it works every muscle in your body.”

𝐁𝐢𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐨⁣

Included among their many bicycles is a two-seater. “We made it ourselves,” says Bill. “Then we sold it for $40 but finally succeeded in buying it back for about the same price.” Bill says it isn’t for sale. “We just want to keep it, for parades, things like that.” The bicycle was made so it could be steered by either party.

What was the strangest bike they had seen? Recall the father and son, “There is one man who rode a bicycle even though he had only one leg.” They said he has a clamp to fasten his foot to the pedal, and would use it to do all the pedaling.

“Mister Jim” began the shop on Powder springs after World War I, then moved to Mills Street for 33 years. Last year they moved back to 227 Powder Springs, “a few doors down from the original location of the shop.”

Picture and article courtesy of Tim Richardson. Thank you Sir!

06/01/2026

Phyllis Ann Boatner Kandul passed away peacefully on March 31, 2026 in Marietta, Georgia.

Phyllis lived a life that was anything but ordinary. A proud 1959 graduate of Marietta High School, Phyllis was a Girl Scout, a cheerleader, and a majorette — throughout her life, that spirit never left her. She went on to attend Wesleyan Women’s College in Georgia, and years later, while working multiple jobs and raising three children, she went back to finish what she started, graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Evansville with a degree in Psychology. That was Phyllis, always rising to the challenge.

Her career path was as colorful as her personality. She worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital, juggling three or four jobs at once while attending night and weekend classes. In doing so, she became the first graduate of the Southeastern Conference for Photographic Arts in Atlanta — a distinction that launched a remarkable second chapter. With her camera always within reach and a story in every frame, she built a freelance photography career that eventually led her to one of her proudest achievements: becoming Governor Joe Frank Harris’s personal photographer, with her own office and darkroom right inside the Capitol Building. If you ever had your photo taken with Governor Harris and you happen to be reading this, there’s a very good chance it was Phyllis behind the lens.

She later opened her own photography studio in Vinings Jubilee, where she was beloved for her candid-style wedding photography. Phyllis had a gift for capturing the moments that mattered most, the special moments people didn’t even know were happening.

But photography was only one thread in a very rich life. Phyllis was an avid walker, and ran the Peachtree Road Race approximately 25 times consecutively. She was a sailor, a hiker, a scuba diver in Aruba, and she once danced her way through a cruise in Alaska. She was a great dancer — Ballroom, Tango, Cajun, Zydeco, Salsa, West Coast Swing, and Disco. She shone on every dance floor she ever stepped onto. She loved the ocean, the outdoors, different cultures, and learning new languages. She loved people, and she was genuinely curious about every single one of them.

Her dogs, Sam and Eloise, two goldendoodles she was among the first in Marietta to own, were her constant companions. On any given weekend you could find her out on a group walk, her dogs hanging out the window of her convertible, Phyllis grinning behind the wheel.

She was a woman who loved adventures and loved showing up. She did both, until the very end. Phyllis is survived by her sisters, Gail and Connie; her three beloved children, Thomas, Leslie, and Charlie; her eight grandchildren; and her great-grandson. She will be laid to rest beside her parents in the cemetery off Polk Street, at a celebration of life to be held on June 6th, 2026.

“Loved adventures. Loved showing up.”

05/27/2026

Last night was such a meaningful evening in Marietta. Thank you to everyone who braved the rain—or tuned in on Zoom—to learn about how Dobbins ARB received its name in 1950. CPT Charles “Charlie” Dobbins and the other nominees deserve our deepest respect.

At the end of the presentation, I announced that I nominated CPT Dobbins last fall for the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame. Ed Ettel then stepped forward and presented a Certificate of Honor recognizing Charlie’s eligibility for induction. It was a beautiful moment I’ll never forget.

I pray he will be selected within the next three years and that his legacy will be honored in our State Capitol for generations to come. Thank you all for your support.

God bless CPT Charles Dobbins.