TODAY'S ISSUE
Historic old Lawrenceville hotel now sports new dress
By Alec Young
The Morsberger Group
Special to GwinnettForum.com

MARCH 21, 2006 -- On a blustery Sunday night, January 9, 1927, in Lawrenceville, flames became visible just before 10 p.m. on the top floor of Hotel Ewing. The Hotel Ewing stood three stories high and was situated right at the heart of Gwinnett, in downtown Lawrenceville. Lavish gingerbread balconies wrapped around the corner of the then unpaved Crogan and Perry Streets and marked the beginning of the square's business district. A local newspaper, the Gwinnett Journal, deemed the establishment, which was originally built by Miles E. Ewing in 1895, a "First Class hotel."

In a newspaper article from the Gwinnett Home Weekly, written 61 years after the fire, Lawrenceville City Mayor, Rhodes Jordan, told a different story. Jordan claimed the fire started because "they didn't have steam heating back then, so people used fireplaces," which, the Mayor says, was the cause of the fire.

As the top floor of the Hotel Ewing became a "veritable furnace," the Buford Fire Department responded to a phone message and brought to the fight extra manpower and a much needed fire engine. Together, the Lawrenceville and Buford firefighters battled the blaze until 3 a.m. on Monday morning. Their brave efforts kept the fire confined to the hotel. The first and second floor survived.

The distressed owner, A. E. Ewing, told the News-Herald that, "Another hostelry will not be put back on the lot." But after the community rallied, the remaining building was salvaged and turned back into an operational hotel less then seven months later.

Jones Drug Company bought the property and immediately began construction on a new hotel. Workers and contractors from the local community and surrounding areas of Georgia constructed the new hotel, which was named the Hotel Button Gwinnett by the local Kiwanis Club. The front page of the News-Herald highlighted the grand reopening of the hotel on July 8th, 1927, by advertisements congratulating the owners. An advertisement on the front page from the Jones Drug, which was located right across the street from the hotel, reads, "We will always be pleased to serve the guests of the Hotel Button Gwinnett with drinks, smokes, candies, and drugs."

Following in city's tradition of restoration, a local developer, William Carroll Jackson (1934-2004), purchased the old hotel in 1978 and ultimately saved the historic structure from demolition. Jackson's hard work and passion for the city helped preserve and establish the Button Gwinnett Building as a permanent fixture on the square for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. On March 8, 2006, the building was dedicated in honor of Jackson and the hotel's rich historical significance to city of Lawrenceville.

* * * * *

Today, Emory Morsberger continues the square's tradition of revitalization. He has transformed the old hotel into the home for the Paper Fairy, the Bistro Solterra, and various office spaces for lease.

The Gwinnett Historical Society awarded Morsberger the 2006 Preservation Award for his significant contributions to the preservation of historic buildings in Gwinnett County. The Morsberger Group restored and established its headquarters in the F. Q. Sammon funeral home, originally constructed in 1898, and dedicated the Rhodes Jordan Building in 2005 to honor its namesake, an eight time city mayor. Jordan maintained his law practice on the second floor of the building for over 40 years; today, it's home to the Lil' River Grill.

Morsberger's next project is to fully restore the square's century old drug store and dedicate it in honor of Dr. W. P. Ezzard, Lawrenceville's legendary doctor.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Naval historian writes of details of death of James Lawrence
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

MARCH 21, 2006 -- Though I am no naval historian, somehow someone sent me a copy of Sea History, the official magazine of the National Maritime Historical Society of Peekskill, N.Y. By pure happenstance, there's a story in there about the namesake of the county seat of Lawrenceville.

Brack

The article, by William H. White, a maritime historian specializing in events during the Age of Fighting Sail, gives more light on the saying that made Capt. James Lawrence famous. The quote: "Don't give up the ship, lads" as we know it is incomplete. It includes another part, which goes Fight her as long as she swims."

The words became famous after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, fighting on Lake Erie, shortened the words and flew them from his ship in fighting the British in 1813.

Lawrence was born in Burlington, N.J. in 1781 to Tory parents, who elected to remain in America after the war. His parents sent him to school to study law at age 13. By age 17, they allowed him to go to sea, which he wanted all along.

By age 21, he won a commission as a lieutenant, and served in the war with the Barbary pirates. Later, he was on the USS Constitution as a first lieutenant, and in 1810, took command of the brig USS Argus, eventually becoming what equals to a lieutenant commander. After hostilities broke out between the U.S. and Britain, in February, 1813, sailing the USS Hornet off the Brazilian coast, he won several battles, including defeating the HMS Peacock, and became a Naval hero. In less than six months, he had captured one ship, two brigs, a schooner and man-of-war, and was feted as a hero in New York.

Lawrence

Lawrence's victories won him command of the USS Chesapeake, a many-sailed frigate in May, 1813, in Boston. However, its crew was, as White says, "unpaid, untrained, short-handed and un-disciplined." Lawrence set out to upgrade her crew, and get the ship fit for sail. Little change was seen in the crew.

Meanwhile, two British frigates were sailing off Boston Harbor, watching the USS Constitution and hoping to delay her return to sea. Hearing that "Old Ironsides" would be undergoing repair, one of the ships left for other waters.

Lawrence thought this meant an opportunity, and "Could not resist the temptation to get underway,' so he set sail on June 1, 1813 to capture HMS Shannon. Boston citizens could witness the battle, which was to be just off shore.

As the Chesapeake came near Shannon, Lawrence maneuvered within musket range, started around the stern of the frigate, sending several rounds into the enemy ship. It was about then that Lawrence realized he was going faster than anticipated, and could not fire broadside into the enemy. But Lawrence brought his ship around, clearly intending to fire his broadside. But the British ship fired first, directly into the Chesapeake, inflicting mighty damage, with the sail unmanageable and wallowing.

Shortly afterward, Lawrence was wounded in the shoulder from British grapeshot. Then a British marksman shot Lawrence squarely in the stomach, and he collapsed, seriously wounded. Lawrence was carried below to a surgeon, where he issued his famous cry. The Chesapeake was captured. All this happened in just 13 minutes.

Lawrence and his lieutenant, Augustus Ludlow, both died en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the British ship sailed. Both were buried there, but later re-interred in Salem, Mass. Later their bodies were both moved to Trinity Church in New York City, where they remain today.

(To be continued March 24.)

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

Today we welcome our newest sponsor, Cartridge World of Duluth and Lawrenceville. Gwinnett businesses and consumers can have their laser printers, inkjet, photocopy and fax cartridges refilled with knowledgeable and fast customer service. This quick and easy cartridge refill service allows customers to refill their printer cartridges with as much ease as they refill the gas in their cars and save up to 50 percent off the cost of new. Cartridge World of Duluth and Lawrenceville estimates that it will keep tens of thousands of empty cartridges out of Gwinnett County's landfills this year which can take up to 450 years to decompose. The refill service is 100 percent guaranteed, with all of the work is performed on-site. It is environmentally friendly, and cartridge World offers free pickup and delivery for orders over $50. For a free quote, contact the Duluth Cartridge World, 2628 Pleasant Hill directly across from the Super Walmart (770) 497-4910 or the Lawrenceville location, 911 Highway 120 in the Publix center, (770) 995-4465. Or e-mail Nancy McGill, owner: at: nancy@cartridgeworldlawrenceville.com. More: http://cartridgeworldlawrenceville.com

For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm

FEEDBACK
3/21: Worried about environmental concerns of Lake Oconee

Editor, the Forum:

The information below (regarding Senate Bill 510) is not my creation, but is a statement by the Sierra Club.

All of Georgia's streams are important to me as a Georgia resident and a conservationist. I live in Greene County, on Lake Oconee and I am witnessing first hand the detrimental actions of irresponsible developers. Erosion from building sites, sea wall construction and inadequate silt fencing is increasing silt deposits into Lake Oconee.

Reports of violations largely fall on deaf ears in Georgia Power Company's land management department. Many Gwinnett County residents are also property owners in Greene, Morgan, or Putnam Counties. Unfortunately, when (some) people don't feel individually threatened, they don't see the need for action. Note the deadline (today) for action.

Sierra Club notice follows:

"Senator Chip Pearson's Senate Bill 510, which weakens stream buffer protections, passed the GEORGIA Senate last week. We now need to defeat it in the House.

Problem: Although Senate Bill 510 was weakened from its original writing, it still allows for development to occur in areas close to streams in North Georgia. These streams provide drinking water and habitat for trout. This bill will make it impossible for local governments to protect stream buffers in their jurisdiction. Many local governments have wider buffers that protect their drinking water and their citizens' property values. Solution: Our streams need good buffers and this bill would roll back water quality protections.

Action Needed: Please contact your State Representative and ask him or her to vote NO on Senate Bill 510 which weakens Georgia's stream buffer protections. Please take action by Tuesday, March 21, 2006."

-- Linda Hammock, Lake Oconee

3/21: Ah, the return of thoughts from Allan Hytowitz

Editor, the Forum:

The solution to cleaning up the corruption in Congress is NOT to trust the Republican Party NOR the Democratic Party, but to create a new party called the Bus Ticket and use that to send the corrupt politicians home.

-- Allan Hytowitz, Alpharetta

3/21: Finds agreement with developer on commuter rail service

Editor, the Forum:

Regarding the proposed commuter rail service between Atlanta and Athens, Emory Morsberger, a Gwinnett developer, was quoted in the AJC as saying, "You cannot build enough roads to support the number of people who will be living in the metro area. It's fiscally and physically impossible."

This is one of the few times I've agreed with a developer on anything, but he's got this issue nailed. I've been saying a variation of that message for years to anyone who would listen. Metro Atlanta should grab onto the idea of commuter rail service like a drowning sailor grabs a live preserver.

As to the feedback "applauding the Georgia legislature's actions, it seems that they are leaving no stone unturned in seeking opportunities to insert the government into the most personal decisions. As someone once said, "No one's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session."

Or as someone else once wrote, "It is completely redundant to bring Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey to Atlanta while legislature is in session."

-- Bob Hanson, Loganville

UPCOMING
Kingston Trio plans concert to benefit Monroe High band

The Kingston Trio is coming to Loganville. The Gwinnett-Walton Music Society is hosting the venerable and popular trio on April 21 at 8 p.m. at the Monroe Area High School Theatre.

The Kingston Trio

Betty Camp, executive director of the Society, notes: "The Monroe Area High School Band is co-sponsoring the appearance. More than half our tickets are already sold." General admission tickets are $45.

The Kingston Trio is one of the few groups today that has survived the many changes in the world of music. They have remained consistent in their sound, which probably explains their resurgence in popularity over the last few years.

The trio was originally formed in 1957. Using only acoustic guitars and banjos, and singing simple yet memorable melodies, they revolutionized popular music, re-awakening America to its own rich folk music heritage.

Tickets for the appearance may be purchased by calling 770 267 7375.

NOTABLE
Thompson eyes next phase for Gwinnett Village CID

State Sen. Curt Thompson (D-Norcross), who serves as president of the Southwest Gwinnett Village Community Improvement Association, said this week the organizational groundwork has been successfully laid for certification of the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (CID).

"The preliminary phase of establishing the Gwinnett Village CID has reached a most successful conclusion," Thompson said. "Having well over 200 commercial property owners, representing more than half a billion dollars worth of property, demonstrate their desire to invest in this venture is the first step toward reshaping the future of this part of Gwinnett County."

The senator added, "We will have the largest number of parcels and distinct property owners of any CID in Georgia. Not having a mall or a skyscraper to provide half of our value as many other districts do makes this truly a community-based effort for revitalization."

The purpose of establishing a CID is to generate funding for transportation, safety and revitalization and beautification programs within a community. After commercial property owners agree to a self-tax that provides initial revenue, that revenue has to be used in the CID area and can then be leveraged to obtain additional state and federal funding for projects ranging from additional police protection to sidewalk, road and sewer improvements.

"Our next step is obtaining approval from the governing bodies of Gwinnett County and the city of Norcross," Thompson said. "We are excited about having the opportunity to share with these local elected officials our vision for improving the quality of life in the communities involved."

The Gwinnett County Commission will consider the CID board's request to begin property assessments at its meeting today (March 21). The Norcross City Council has the issue on its March 27 agenda. If approved, the district will be able to raise approximately $1.3 million this year in direct tax revenue and grants.

"We want the I-85 corridor to be an international showplace for metropolitan Atlanta," Thompson said. "Five years from now, you won't recognize the communities along Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Beaver Ruin Road and Buford Highway. This begins the process of reducing traffic congestion, enhancing pedestrian safety, preventing crime and generally improving the look of the whole area."

Thompson represents Georgia's 5th Senate District.

RECOMMENDATION

• An invitation: What Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus what book you plan to read next. --eeb
  
  

GEORGIA TIDBIT
Story-telling distinguished part of culture of Georgia

One of the distinguishing features of southern culture is an "oratorical aesthetic." Speech artistry, expressed through delivery as well as content, can still be heard in Georgians' political and legal oratory, preaching, and conversation. Central to the region's love affair with the spoken word is a strong narrative impulse, channeled in the telling of elaborately embroidered personal experiences as well as traditional tales.

This thirst for a well-told story may be rooted in two influential Old World source areas for the South's population, Ireland and Africa, where the institution of community storyteller commanded great respect. The insularity of the region's farming population also put a premium on storytelling as entertainment. For many Georgians, oral literature in the form of folktales and legends took the place of novels and history books until the 20th century brought greater access to literacy through public schools and libraries.

Traditional storytelling took----and still takes---place wherever small groups have gathered to work and socialize. In rural Georgia such physical settings included general stores (with their "liars' bench" out front), hunting camps, and the shaded porch and fireside of homes; social occasions involving storytelling included community "workings" such as corn shucking and syrup making, and, for southwest Georgians, annual family treks by covered wagon to the Florida coast to buy salted fish. Today, jokes are exchanged during office breaks and after work at bars; scary stories are told at slumber, or spend-the-night, parties and around Scout campfires; and urban legends circulate in beauty parlors, school cafeterias, and college fraternity and sorority suites.

Folklorists divide folk narratives into two main categories, based on the storytelling community's attitudes. Folktales are those orally transmitted stories that are understood as fictitious; they function mainly as entertainment but also convey values. Myths and legends, on the other hand, are belief tales, regarded as true accounts of past events; they can be entertaining but principally serve to support the belief system and as folk history

• To access the Georgia Encyclopedia, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
  
  

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Mr. Franklin and another difficulty why decorum is tempting

"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."

-- Benjamin Franklin, via David Earl Tyre, Jesup.

• Another invitation: What's your favorite saying? Share with others through GwinnettForum. Send to elliott@gwinnettforum.com.
  

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