GwinnettForum | Number 26.16 | Feb. 24, 2026
GEORGIA GWINNETT COLLEGE students will benefit from a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. It will be a five-year, $1.36 million grant to expand and enhance its student support initiatives. For more information, see Notable below. Photo provided.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Collier family active in reconstruction after Civil War
EEB PERSPECTIVE: The fall midterm elections could return us to sanity
SPOTLIGHT: Oconee State Bank
ANOTHER VIEW: Remembering driving his fast 289 Shelby Cobra
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
UPCOMING: $1.36M grant enhances GGC student support
NOTABLE: Jackson EMC recognized Right Choice homebuilders
GEORGIA TIDBIT: The soils of Georgia vary in four regional areas
MYSTERY PHOTO: Traditional structure is today’s Mystery Photo
LAGNIAPPE: One reader identified two missing governors
CALENDAR: GGC plans Unbuttoning the Declaration lecture Feb. 26
Collier family active in reconstruction after Civil War
By Michael Green
Fourth in a series
MILTON, Ga. | Preservation of historic landmarks in Atlanta has a reputation for meeting with mixed success. Having burned in 1865 during the Battle of Atlanta, the city was rebuilt in a hurry. In their quest for growth and progress, Atlanta’s developers have often chosen to tear buildings down and erect new ones rather than preserve the old. Few antebellum Civil War structures exist.
George Washington Collier’s Store and Post Office was one of the first pre-Civil War businesses established in Five Points at 23 Peachtree Street. During the Civil War destruction of Atlanta, the grocery and post office burned down. In 1866, Collier rebuilt the store on the same site and eventually constructed the Collier Building there.
Wash Collier built a very fine building in Atlanta, the Aragon Hotel, in 1896. Collier’s rebuilding and new construction efforts around the Five Points area transformed him into a newly-minted millionaire.
After the Civil War, Collier owned 700 acres of land including land lot 104, the 1820s Collier home place. The house had been partially burned during the Battle of Atlanta. Wash Collier rebuilt the house in 1866, and the property would be sold in the 1940s. Sherwood Forest developed into an upscale residential neighborhood on the former Collier land.
Interstate 85 was planned, surveyed, and constructed. It would separate the Collier homeplace from brother Andrew J. Collier’s land holdings on Tanyard Branch and the mill he operated on the west side of the roadway cuts. Andrew J. Collier’s mill was near the bloody Civil War Battle of Peachtree Creek. The family developed Collier Woods subdivision and the Anjaco Road neighborhood from sales of Andrew Collier’s property.
My great-great grandmother, Elizabeth Collier Liddell, was the sister of George Washington Collier. She grew up in her father, Meredith Collier’s, house. The land adjacent to it was developed into the Ansley Park neighborhood. Meredith Collier, who had become a member of the State Legislature, passed away in 1863 and was laid to rest on the grounds of land lot 104.
Meredith Collier designated land for the male heirs. Other property and assets were allocated to the female heirs. Elizabeth soon married and moved to the Thomas Haney Liddell farm, located near the present-day intersection of Steve Reynolds Boulevard and I-85.
Although Meredith Collier’s house was largely destroyed during the Battle of Atlanta, George Washington Collier rebuilt it in 1866. He lived in the house until his death in 1903. Originally buried on the property, Meredith and his wife were exhumed and reinterred at Westview Cemetery.
The house remained in the Collier family until the 1940s. Atlanta’s Sherwood Forest was developed on the property.
Noted architect R. Kennan Perry restored the house in the early 1950s. In 1958, Jimmy Bentley, former Comptroller General for the State of Georgia, purchased the home. The restored 1866 house is a noteworthy preservation success in Atlanta, standing on a knoll at 1649 Lady Marian Lane.
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
The fall midterm elections could return us to sanity
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
FEB. 24, 2026 | We are beginning to realize how big, no, how huge! the midterm elections later this year could be.
It could bring down this national madness that has developed in the second Trump Administration. It could turn our nation around.
What it’ll take is for enough people across the county to be outraged by the continued tearing down of our national heritage, and vote enough Trumpers in the Senate and House out of office. It must be so complete an outrage by the voters that they will take away control of both the Senate and the House from the do-nothing Republicans who have held our nation back in not opposing Donald Trump in the many ways he is harming our nation.
There is some hope that has been seen in almost every vote in special elections for Congress since the last national election. Most of these elections have seen Republicans in hot water. Voters in state after state in special elections surprisingly voted much heavier for Democrats in areas where Trump won by big margins in the presidential election. Will this be a tell-tale sign for the midterms?
If so, as Congress convenes in 2027, what will be the first order of business should Democrats control both houses of Congress? After such a victory, the Democrats in the House of Representatives should bring an impeachment bill immediately to the congressional floor, and quickly pass it. Then it would be the Senate’s time to hold a trial, vote Donald Trump out of office and bring our nation back to sanity.
If that happens, by mid-summer 2027, our nation might be done with Donald Trump and all his many ways he is harming our country. It could go quickly.
Of course, can’t you see the huffing and puffing that Donald Trump would make of it, perhaps even saying “You can’t throw me out! I am king.” The Constitution doesn’t work that way.
Or perhaps it could end faster. Seeing the writing on the wall, perhaps Donald Trump would take the Richard Nixon route, and resign.
Either way, he would probably still be filled with braggadocio and rant and rave from the sidelines. And the vast MAGA followers would be a thorn in our nation’s side, decrying that we have hurt our nation by eliminating Trump from office. We need to be kind to these red caps, but not let them hold our nation back.
Then the hard work will begin, returning our nation to sanity and reasonableness, re-writing our nation’s laws and regulations to what they were before Trump, instilling confidence in our nation, and seeking to restore normal relations with the other nations of the world. These will be big jobs. It will also cost an enormous amount just to remove the Trump name where it is emblazoned.
Hopefully, one of the first changes will be to return to sending out weather balloons to make climate predictions more useful.
It will take diligence and years to return our nation to normal.
These upcoming midterm elections may be far more important in our history than ever before! We wait anxiously for our nation to find a way to right itself.
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
Oconee State Bank
The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. With more than 65 years of service, Oconee State Bank has established itself as a trusted financial partner and community cornerstone. Headquartered in Watkinsville, Ga., the bank operates full-service branches in Gwinnett, Watkinsville, Bogart, Athens, Macon, and Elberton—with a new location coming soon to Statesboro. Expanding beyond Georgia, Oconee State Bank recently launched Trio South Bank, a new division based in Johnson City, Tennessee, further extending its commitment to delivering exceptional service to new communities. Oconee State Bank offers more than traditional banking. Its mortgage division, Remarkable Mortgage, serves clients in Athens, Oconee, Macon, and Gwinnett—providing personalized guidance and support through every step of the homebuying journey. The bank’s giving arm, The Remarkable Foundation, actively reinvests in local communities through charitable partnerships and meaningful outreach. Guided by its mission to create remarkable experiences that significantly impact the lives of others and its vision to be essential to the lives, businesses, and communities it serves, Oconee State Bank is on a bold journey to become Georgia’s Most Remarkable Bank—and beyond. Member, FDIC.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
Remembering driving his fast 289 Shelby Cobra
By Mike Eberlein
PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. | It was back when I was young and selling tools for Chicago Pneumatic and the wife and I had just purchased our first home for of $11,800. Our monthly mortgage was $69. This was 1966.
The party was to introduce friends to the new 427 Shelby Cobra in Dick Smith’s garage in Fresno, Calif. The car was silver with black upholstery and was stark with few if any attempts at body adornment. The wide aluminum fenders bent over Halibrand magnesium wheels and huge tires and the exhaust pipes, in black, were big enough to hold whole potatoes. When Dick started the car…the power could be felt, not simply heard.
We met the Smiths, Dick and his wife, Laura, at a Porsche Club meeting and shared our interest in auto racing. Dick began racing the 427 Shelby Cobra in racing events. The 427, with Dick at the wheel, won the National SCCA Runoffs at Daytona Beach, Fla., topping 198 MPH on the straight away. It was a memorable event for me, cementing my desire for such a car.
in 1968, I saw an advertisement for a 1965, 289 Cobra on sale for $3,500. It had a number of rock chips and scratches, but I thought it was beautiful. After taking it for a spin, I made an offer: “Take my rather raggedy newly acquired 1957 Porsche speedster with dings, dents, no top, etc…and $1,500 for the Cobra.” The seller accepted and my loan was for $79 per month. That was just $10 more per month than the house!
Why the wife was not as excited about the new car, I could not understand. A few problems had gone un-noticed: the insulation, floor mats, etc. had been removed for racing, making the car loud and hot! It became nearly impossible to drive in Fresno’s summer. The aluminum floor boards were directly above the exhaust pipes. It got so hot it would burn feet.
Lesson number two involved street racing. I could not simply drive the car without having at least one other driver choosing to race me on the streets of Fresno. I admit, I fell for the challenge a few times, with success. I mean, the car was fast!
Coming home from my wife’s softball tournament, the big crowd of observers all hit the two lane road at once. I tired of driving behind the string of slow cars and started driving very fast—passing individual cars, then two and three at a time. Soon I was passing lots of cars. This was the perhaps the biggest driving mistake I ever made. I should have known when the wife started shrieking “Stop…stop it now.” Our short talk at home convinced me that my marriage was more important than a Cobra. It went on the market the next day.
I’m not certain I cried when I sold the car but I was moved to tears when I learned the new owner had wrecked it the first night he owned it. That crash was an omen—the new owner, a young guy, still in his 20’s died in the car after running off the road and hitting a tree, near Oakhurst, Calif. Speed was blamed for the accident.
Today 289 Cobras have wildly appreciated and today are selling in the $600,000 to $1 million range. I have had many other cars, but I still remember that car and the thrill of jumping on the gas pedal. I still wish I would have kept that Cobra.
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
Send us your thoughts
We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum. Please limit comments to 300 words, and include your hometown. The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: ebrack2@gmail.com.
$1.36M grant enhances GGC student support
Just about any student or alumnus of Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) will tell you how supported they felt during their academic journey. Now, that commitment to student success is being strengthened even further.
The U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO Student Support Services program has awarded GGC a five-year, $1.36 million grant to expand and enhance its student support initiatives.
Dr. Justin Jernigan, interim associate provost for academic programs and associate professor of linguistics, says, “This grant recognizes GGC’s commitment to the success of our students. We’ve taken the first steps to hire a director and support staff who will be dedicated to recruiting students for the program.”
In addition to funding staff positions, the TRIO grant will support students who are financially disadvantaged, are served by Disability Services or are the first in their family to attend college.
Jernigan adds: “We will have the extra support and systems in place so that these students succeed academically despite challenges they may face. Our goal is for them to be successful throughout their studies and ultimately graduate.”
One initiative designed to help students persist and thrive is Grizzly Peers for Success, a peer mentorship program that connects successful upper-level students with first-year students. This program connects students who have already navigated college successfully with those who are just beginning their journey.
For the students served by TRIO, the grant represents more than funding.
Jernigan feels: “It means guidance, encouragement and a community that believes in their potential. Through expanded support services and peer connections, GGC is creating pathways for students to overcome barriers, stay on track and reach graduation with confidence.”
Peachtree Corners releases 2025 State of City video
The City of Peachtree Corners has released its 2025 State of the City video, providing residents, businesses, and community partners with a comprehensive update on the City’s accomplishments, services, and priorities for the future. Presented by Mayor Mike Mason, the annual video highlights how strategic planning, technology, and community engagement continue to shape one of metro Atlanta’s most innovative cities.
- Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE3nTpj1yjw
Jackson EMC recognized Right Choice homebuilders
Jackson EMC recently recognized local builders and industry partners who are raising the standard for energy-efficient homes built through the cooperative’s Right Choice homes program. For more than 20 years, Right Choice homes built in Jackson EMC’s service area have been delivering comfort and energy savings to benefit members.
New homes built through the Right Choice program meet higher construction and energy efficiency performance standards. Each home undergoes inspections and testing to verify that heating and cooling systems, insulation levels and overall air sealing in the home meets program requirements. Right Choice homes also receive Jackson EMC’s lowest residential electric rate, which provides long-term energy savings for members.
The following list of winners includes the location where they are currently building Right Choice homes.
The Contractor of the Year awards honors contractors in their industry who have played a vital role to support Right Choice homebuilders:
- Keith Porter Insulation and Fireplace, insulation contractor of the year (Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties);
- Stuart Pro Heating and Air, HVAC contractor of the year (Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties).
The Community Spotlight Award honors Right Choice builders whose dedication to energy efficient construction has a tremendous impact on the Jackson EMC community. The Community Spotlight Awards went to:
- Century Communities (Hall, Gwinnett and Jackson counties)
- Chafin Builders (Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties)
- DRB Homes (Gwinnett County)
- D.R. Horton West (Hall and Jackson counties)
- O’Dwyer Properties (Gwinnett County)
- Pulte Group (Gwinnett and Hall counties)
- Richardson Housing Group (Gwinnett County)
For more information about Jackson EMC’s Right Choice homes program, visit jacksonemc.com/rightchoice.
Death as a Living, by Doyle Burke
From Miriam Machida, Watkinsville: You can’t tell a book by its cover, but this cover tells a lot. Investigating Murder in the American Heartland was added to the cover to prepare the reader for what comes. This book is part Doyle Burke’s memoir, part police procedural, and part true crime anthology. It is gripping. Not for readers of cozy mysteries. Doyle Burke tells us of his 22-year career as a homicide detective solving murders in Dayton, Ohio. He explains how DNA, blood spatter patterns, interrogation techniques, searching for bullet casings, obtaining warrants, following a serial killer, and using stomach contents to determine the time of death are used to solve cases. Burke’s experiences are NOT what you see on ‘CSI’ or ‘Midsomer Murders.’ The reader may never be able to watch those shows again without saying, ‘Yes, but what about . . .’ This book presents the real stuff–blood, gore and all.
- An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. Click here to send an email.
The soils of Georgia vary in four regional areas
Soils, which are composed of minerals, organic material, water, and air, serve as the foundation for terrestrial ecosystems. The rates at which nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients are released into the soil and transported to plants drive several major processes within an ecosystem, including respiration, nutrient recycling, and the production of plants, animals, and microbes.
Soils are relatively thin zones (less than one meter or one yard in depth) formed by the physical-chemical and biological weathering of the earth’s land surface. Soil types are influenced by many factors, including climate, parent material, the extent of the topography’s slope and aspect (or relief), and the presence of organisms. Such major ecosystem processes as plant growth, decomposition, and nutrient recycling further contribute to the development of unique soil types in each of the state’s geographic regions.
The soils of the Appalachian Plateau are generally thin and acidic, making them unsuited for farming. Separated from the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Piedmont regions by the Cartersville Fault, this region’s “valleys and ridges” are the product of alternating hard and soft rock. The lowland soils, coupled with the streams that run along the valleys, are more supportive of agricultural activity.
The soils of the Blue Ridge Mountains support a rich ecosystem of diverse plants and animals. The soil is loamy, a mixture of clay, silt, and sand. It is acidic, well drained, and brown in color. The region is primarily composed of low- to high-grade metamorphic rock.
Clays and sometimes granite are prominent features across the Piedmont. Georgia’s famous “red clay” is the result of long-term weathering processes that leave behind iron oxides, which give the soil its distinctive color. The red clay’s mixture of silicon, aluminum, and other elements, including iron oxides, is called saprolite, which erodes easily when trees and other vegetation are removed.
Separated from the Piedmont by the fall line, an ancient coastline of the Mesozoic Era, the Coastal Plain includes a wide variety of soil types, including red clay, sands, and gravels deposited at various points in its marine geologic history. The Coastal Plain’s porous limestone soils are a part of the Floridian Aquifer, which holds rainwater underground that can be used for drinking and agriculture.
Living entities in the soil, including microbes, microbe-feeding fauna, and vegetation, are influenced by soil processes, and these organisms in turn have an impact on the soil system. Maintaining a good soil cover in forests and croplands facilitates the retention of organic matter and the cycling of nutrients within the ecosystem.
The breakdown of organic litter begins with the chewing action of both large and small animals, which derive nutrients from the plant material, and continues as the organic compounds within these smaller pieces are broken down by the activities of bacteria, fungi, and other fauna.
Soils provide a wide range and variety of microhabitats accommodating diverse flora and fauna. An enormous amount of surface area exists on the soil particles, which range in size, from small to large in diameter, as sands (0.05-2 micrometer), clays (0.1-2 micrometer), and silts (2-50 micrometer)
Much of the early history of Georgia and other eastern states consists of the successive clearing and conversion of forests to croplands, followed by continual agricultural use of the land. Many of the streams in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain were clear before Europeans settled there but were steadily eroded when settlers began cultivating crops in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Traditional structure is today’s puzzler
It’s a traditional structure and might be seen along areas throughout our country. Your job is to pinpoint its location, and telling us something about its history. Send your idea to ebrack2@gmail.com and include your hometown.
Jay Altman of Columbia, S.C. recognized the last mystery as “The George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge (known locally as the Coleman Bridge) is a double swing bridge that spans the York River between Yorktown and Gloucester Point, Va.” The photo came from Bruce Johnson of Lawrenceville.
Also correct were George Graf, Palmyra, Va,; Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill; Stewart Ogilvie, Reheboth, Ala.; and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, who wrote: “It is a double-swing-span bridge that was built to honor George P. Coleman (1870–1948), who served as the head of the Virginia Department of Highways from 1913 to 1922. The bridge carries U.S. Route 17 traffic across the York River between Yorktown and Gloucester Point, approximately 30 miles northwest of Norfolk.
“The Coleman Bridge is 3,750 feet long, making it the largest double-swing-span bridge in the United States. When operational, it has a clearance height of 60 feet, so it does not normally need to be opened for most commercial and recreational boats, except for tall-masted vessels such as large sailboats and historical replica ships, and some tugboats with high-clearance barges or research vessels.”
- Share a Mystery Photo: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Click here to send an email and please mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
One reader identified two missing governors
George Graf of Palmyra, Va. was the only reader who named the two missing governors from the previous forum. They were Marvin Griffin and Lester Maddox.
GGC plans Unbuttoning the Declaration lecture Feb. 26
Award-winning author Denny S. Bryce will discuss her newest historical fiction novel, Where the False Gods Dwell, inspired by choreographer Katherine Dunham’s dance expedition, and the search for destiny that turns into a struggle for survival. This will be at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on February 25 at 6:30 p.m.
“Unbuttoning the Declaration@250” series is an interdisciplinary roundtable at Georgia Gwinnett College on Thursday, February 26 at 12:30 p.m. The event will be in W Building, Room 1210. Speaking will be professors from history, political science, and African American Studies coming together to explore the legacies of the Declaration of Independence for Black History studies. Included will be comment on Button Gwinnett and the Declaration signers, part of Gwinnett’s shared history.
Be part of the conversation and stop by the Community Resource Center at Bethany Church Road on Saturday, February 28 for our next Maguire-Livsey Family Big House community event. Join neighbors and community stakeholders between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. for lively small-group conversations and interactive stations that invite your voice and vision into the future of the Big House. People of all backgrounds and experiences are welcome. Can’t make it in person? Join us virtually on Tuesday, March 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit GwinnettCounty.com/MaguireLivsey to learn more and register.
Coca-Cola Preseason Party returns to Gwinnett Field on Sunday, March 1. Enjoy hot dogs and drinks, plus self-guided tours during free event at Gwinnett Field in Lawrenceville, where the Gwinnett Stripers play. The rain-or-shine event runs from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free, but fans will need to reserve tickets online in advance.
Property Tax Information Session will be on March 3 at 6 p.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Join the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner’s Office to learn about property taxes and how to apply for exemptions to save money.
Gwinnett will have a chalk fest festival in March. Gas South District, in partnership with Sugarloaf Community Improvement District and the Hudgens Center for Art and Learning, will host Draw the District: A Chalk Arts Festival on Saturday, March 7. It will bring a free, community-wide celebration of art, culture, and creativity to the area.
Irish Fest will take place in downtown Norcross March 7, from noon to 5 p.m. Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style, with lively music, spirited Irish dancing, good food, balloon typing and other events. This is a partnership between the Norcross Business Association and the Drake School of Dancing.
Author Terri Parlato discusses her newest psychological suspense novel, She Thought She Was Safe, where a young woman is reunited with the famous father she never knew. This will take place on March 11 at 6;30 p.m. at the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
A Night at the Hunnicutt Inn will be at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church. This is an original play sharing the history of Mt. Carmel and the Pinckneyville community! Performances are Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 14 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the church at 5100 S. Old Peachtree Road, Norcross. Tickets are $15 and include dessert! Purchase tickets here. * * * * *
GwinnettForum, which has been published online since 2001, is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday. The publication offers an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA. Learn more:
- Editor and publisher: Elliott Brack, 770-840-1003
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 1365, Norcross, Ga. 30091
- Work with us: If you would like to learn about how to be an underwriter to support the publication of GwinnettForum as a community resource for news and commentary, please contact us today.
Subscriptions to GwinnettForum are free.
- Click to subscribe.
- Unsubscribe. We hope you’ll keep receiving our great news and information from GwinnettForum, but if you need to unsubscribe, go to this page and unsubscribe in the appropriate box.
- © 2026, Gwinnett Forum.com.
