More than a Building with a Weird Metal Dog

I’m sitting here a little perplexed because I need a focus for this installment of ‘Every Now and then’, and I’m just not sure which way to go. My overall topic is the Cultural Arts Center, but there is so much to share!

I could write about the Roberts/Mozley House with its architectural elements and the history of ownership. I could write about the itself regarding the impact the center has on life here in Douglasville regarding so many aspects of the arts.   I could also write about the Cultural Arts Center’s current exhibition since it brings a little bit of Japanese culture to Douglasville.

Wait a minute….it’s MY column, isn’t it? So, I’m forging ahead with a three-pronged attack regarding the Cultural Arts Center.

First of all you can’t help but notice the home located on Campbellton Street with its graceful lines, large front porch and wide front windows. From a written history compiled by Judy Verg and published at the Cultural Arts Center website, seen here, the story of the home begins with the marriage of Colonel W.T. Roberts and Emma Quillian in 1886. Miss Emma’s father was Reverend J.B.C. Quillian, an original settler in the county and owner of the land where the Cultural Arts Center sits today.  Work on the home began in 1901 after Miss Emma’s father passed away and when Colonel Roberts purchased some land from his mother-in-law.  

The New South, the local paper in Douglasville during January, 1902 printed various events and developments in world, national, state, and local news during the previous year.   They mentioned the Aswan Dam opening along with the fact the Douglas County had hired a doctor for the new jail, the first typewriter had been purchased for Douglas County government use, and “W.R. Roberts, attorney, erected the beautiful nine-room residence on Campbellton Street in 1901.   An Atlanta architect designed and supervised the building of this late semi-colonial structure.”

Regarding the impressive home Verg advises, [The Roberts/Mozley Home is] “one of the few structures in Douglasville which embodies the characteristics of a period style…..with its air of classic Greek architecture, the low sweeping line of a grand front porch, and an entrance of mahogany doors enriched with the serenity of stained glass…” 

I visited the center a little over a week ago to meet Laura Lieberman, the CAC executive director. She gave me a gracious welcome and allowed me to explore the house at will.  I enjoyed discovering all the design elements from the courting bench in the entry hall, the beautiful staircase, the fireplaces inlaid with ceramic tiles, the lovely woodwork and beautiful pocket doors with brass fixtures.  The house is on the National Register not so much because of the design of the home itself, but due to Colonel Robert’s accomplishments, and I have to agree with Verg who states, “The house reflects the prominent social status of Colonel Roberts” [who was very active in politics and civic activities.]    

Per Fanny Mae Davis’ book regarding Douglas County history Colonel Roberts was a member of the committee to usher in the city’s first water system.  During the city’s “Glorious Fourth Celebration” of 1886, the very first public celebration in Douglasville, Roberts read the Declaration of Independence aloud to an estimated crowd of three to four thousand people creating “a precedent followed for years afterward on Independence Day.”   In 1900, The New South paper advised Douglas County citizens about the new telephone system and published the twenty-three numbers that had been assigned to date. The Roberts’ residence was assigned number 16.

During the seventeenth reunion of the Seventh Georgia Regiment held in Douglasville in 1901, Colonel Roberts gave “an address of welcome to the old veterans….on behalf of the people of the county.” Forty years before these men had been on the battlefield at Manassas.

This would be a good place to add even though Mr. Roberts was addressed as Colonel I haven’t found any reference to any military service, and there’s a very good reason for that.   W.R.Roberts grew up in Campbellton and at the age of 5 became fatherless when Melville Roberts was killed at Gettysburg. Roberts studied law and soon was a practicing attorney in Douglasville. It is very common for attorneys in the state of Georgia to be addressed as Colonel even when there is no military service evident. Many governors in southern states and in the states of New Mexico and North Dakota have the ability to confer the title of Colonel on certain people.  When you delve into the research there are several stories regarding why this practice exists, but most certainly it is covered in Georgia’s legal code under section 38-2-111. Roberts partnered with J.R. Hutcheson practicing law and also served as Solicitor General of the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit until 1914.

During the few years right before and right after the turn of the century Colonel Roberts served as Mayor of Douglasville and per Verg he was also elected to the State Senate in 1911.

In 1914, per Fanny Mae Davis, Roberts “accepted a government appointment to the Board of Trade, under the administration of President Woodrow Wilson.  He moved to Washington D.C. never to return to his former Douglasville business ties.” Verg advises the Washington appointment was with the Bureau of Markets, but either way he landed a job in Washington D.C. and off he went.

The home was sold to the Mozley family who owned it from 1927 to 1971. Look for a future column to focus on the prominence of the Mozley family including the fact they produced two Douglasville mayors in the 1930s and 40s. Walter Turner purchased the house in 1978, and in 1986 he sold it to the Douglasville/Douglas County Cultural Arts Council. 

Twenty five years later the Cultural Arts Center is still going strong.

The Culture Arts Center of Douglasville/Douglas County states their mission is to nurture, guide and stimulate the enjoyment of and participation in the arts among Douglas County residents by providing an atmosphere conducive to the arts in broadening the spectrum of quality exhibits and performances available to the community and fostering individual interactions with the arts through a wide range of satellite organizations.Fundraising is very important since the Center’s funding has been cut one-third in recent years.  The Cultural Arts Center hosts three major fundraising events each year including a Chili Cook-off the weekend before Halloween, the annual Elegant Evening for the Arts Gala and the which was a fantastic success just this past weekend!

The Center periodically provides workshops and classes, and the house can be rented for weddings and other reception-type events. Membership information for the Cultural Arts Center can be found here.

Regular exhibitions at the Cultural Arts Center include various items during Youth Art Month and the annual Holiday Cards display presenting work created by Douglas County students.   There are also exhibitions periodically by the Sweetwater Camera Club, the Douglas County Art Guild and other satellite organizations.   Black History month has proven to be so popular at the CAC the event has stretched into six weeks instead of four.  National Juried Shows also round out the calendar. 

Currently the Cultural Arts Center is exhibiting forty Nineteenth century woodblock prints on loan from the permanent collection of the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta. The prints include scenes from the Kabuki Theater, Geisha hostesses, and Samurai warriors.

Also on display are several netsuke or carved ivory belt weights from the private collection of Dot Padgett, local historian and former staffer of President Jimmy Carter. The netsukes are intricately carved and are a delight to view.

To round out the exhibition several fukusa or ceremonial gift coverings are on display. The fukusa are on loan from the private collection of John Riis, an Atlanta based master weaver.

You can visit the Cultural Arts Center now through June 24 to view the Japanese art.   A press release found here provides extensive information regarding the exhibit.

The Douglas County Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association will be hosting a reception on June 2, from 6-8 p.m. where you can view the art.  The event is free and the general public is invited to attend.

There are also Spring Concert events going on this month sponsored by the Cultural Arts Center at .   The next concert will be May 21, featuring The Randall Bramblett Band at 7 p.m.    The concert is free and is open to the public, but remember to bring your own seating.   More information can be found here.