LAVONIA CARNEGIE LIBRARY

In March 1909, the Woman’s Club petitioned Mr. Andrew Carnegie and the town council for the erection of a building to house what would eventually become known as a library. Mr. Carnegie granted $5,000 for erection of a building with the council providing $500 a year for ten years for books and upkeep. Thereafter, the city was to have complete control. The present Carnegie Library was completed in 1911. Mr. R.T. Poole donated the lot for the construction site and the first Library was started. On October 1, 1974, the Lavonia Carnegie Library became a branch of the Athens Regional Library for operating purposes.

The Library is located on Highway 77, south – just down the road from the Post Office. Visitors are encouraged to stop by and visit this historic landmark. Although the facility is of a historic nature, operations of the library have kept time with changes in today’s technology oriented society.

LAVONIA DEPOT

The coming of the railroad was the beginning of the town of Lavonia. The depot was the center of the town at that time, being located in front of Weldon Park which houses the Gazebo. Around 1909 the women of the town decided the depot was spoiling the beauty of their little city so they petitioned to have it moved to its current location on East Main Street. However, rather than move the old depot it was torn down and moved to Vanna, Georgia for their use and a new facility was constructed for Lavonia. In October 1912, the current facility was ready for use and the first freight unloaded in the new freight office was a crate of cabbage shipped to W.S. Haley.

Currently the Depot houses the Lavonia Welcome Center, is home to the Lavonia Downtown Development Authority and Better Hometown Program. The Lavonia Depot has been completely renovated to his 1912 beginnings. Thanks to local citizens the depot is housing some artifacts from the period as well as artifacts from Lavonia’s past.

The Lavonia Depot is open everyday Monday thru Friday from 9:00 to 5:00 at 1269 East Main Street, Lavonia, Georgia 30553. Contact numbers are (706) 356-1926 or (706) 356-5725.

BURGESS CEMETERY

Burgess Cemetery, also referred to as Lavonia City Cemetery, was named for Mr. Abner Burgess. Mr. Burgess, one of the founders of Lavonia, donated a little over an acre of land to create Lavonia’s cemetery. Today the cemetery contains over 29 acres and continues to be maintained by the City of Lavonia.

In summer 2009 the first Burgess Cemetery Tour was conducted by the Lavonia Historic Preservation Commission. Later in 2009, the HPC was awarded a Cemetery Grant for the purpose of producing a Burgess Cemetery Brochure. The brochures are available at the Lavonia Welcome Center. Maps, with identified grave sites, may be seen at the Lavonia Welcome Center located at the Depot or at the Lavonia City Hall.

In June 2010, the Burgess Cemetery Committee received a Grant from the Watson-Brown Foundation, TRR Cobb House in Athens, Georgia for the repair and restoration of monuments in the historical section of the cemetery. This project was completed in October of 2010.

We encourage you to visit the cemetery during your visit to Lavonia, it is a wealth of Victorian art and design.

Unusual Happenings from Lavonia Gem of the Piedmont, compiled by the late Marie Haley Williams in 1977, reports this incident:

A Gypsy died in a gypsy camp near Knox Bridge on August 17, 1908, and was buried in Burgess Cemetery. She was born in England almost a hundred years ago. . .and had been in USA almost 50 years. For many years thereafter when a number of her clan died, the remains were brought to Lavonia for burial to be near their Gypsy Queen. Many times the clan would take a week in arriving for the burial of one of their members. The last group to gather was in town for almost a week, arriving in limousines with leopard skin upholstery and diamonds galore. Apparently, the last of the Queen’s Clan was laid to rest as there have been no more pilgrimages since the 1930’s.

Information on future Cemetery Tours may be obtained from Vivian Young at 706-356-1932. Those interested in purchasing cemetery lots at Burgess Cemetery may contact Angie Greer at 706-356-8781.

OLD LAVONIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The Old Lavonia Elementary School, located on Highway 77, south and directly behind the Carnegie Library, was constructed in 1940. Later, in 1970, an annex to the elementary school and lunchroom were built on the site of the old high school building and in 1956 an annex was built on a corner of the athletic field as a part of the Elementary School building. Today the facility houses the Boyd Outz Learning Center which works also with the After School Outreach Program.

A new addition to the Elementary School this year is the Lavonia Elementary School Sidewalk Brick Project –

Thanks to the leadership and dedication of Mayor Ralph Owens and Russell Gillespie the sidewalk project will create a lasting memorial to the history of Lavonia and to the students who attended the old Lavonia High School which was in existence from 1920 to 1964. Representatives from each class have joined together to notify their classmates and to make this successful. The bricks are laid in the sidewalk in front of the old High School location.

VOCATIONAL FREEZER LOCKER

AND CANNING PLANT

The Old Lavonia Elementary School, located on Highway 77, south and directly behind the Carnegie Library, was constructed in 1940. Later, in 1970, an annex to the elementary school and lunchroom were built on the site of the old high school building and in 1956 an annex was built on a corner of the athletic field as a part of the Elementary School building. Today the facility houses the Boyd Outz Learning Center which works also with the After School Outreach Program.

BANK OF LAVONIA BUILDINGS

In 1895, the Bank of Lavonia was organized. In 1898, they built a new structure on the corner of Grogan Street and East Main Street. It had a beautiful marble front with intricate design around the door and windows. The building still stands as a tribute to the fine workmanship during that era. Currently the facility houses Sassa-Frass Beauty Salon at 1174 East Main Street.

In 1920 a new facility was erected on the corner of Grogan and West Main Street and the Bank moved into new quarters. The bank remained in Lavonia until 1926. Currently, the 1920 facility is unoccupied after having served the community with several restaurant businesses. This facility was used extensively in the filming of the movie Cobb.

VANDIVER HOME

Located on Highway 77 south, toward Hartwell, is the home of the late Samuel Ernest Vandiver, Jr., former Governor of the State of Georgia. His wife, Betty Russell Vandiver still resides in this historic home originally built by the Yow family. Governor Vandiver served the State of Georgia as: Adjutant General; Civil Defense Director; Lieutenant-Governor; and, in 1958 was elected as Governor.

Upon completion of his term as Governor, the Vandiver family returned to their home, Twin Hollies, on Hartwell Road where Governor Vandiver lived until his death in 2005.