Archibald Smith Plantation Home: hidden history
Published: Jul 14, 2009
The perfectly preserved Archibald Smith Plantation Home, located in historic Roswell, coyly hides from plain view. This magnificent 19th century structure takes visitors back to the time when it was built in 1845.
Before there were streetlights, boutiques and restaurants along Main Street, Roswell was just a small settlement not far from bustling Atlanta. Yet even then, Roswell was well on its way to becoming prime real estate. The lure of rich farmland and comfortable living lured one of the town’s founders, Archibald Smith, to move his family north from the Georgia coastline. The Smith family carved out their own piece of the Atlanta suburbs with a beautifully secluded plantation home and 300 acres of cotton fields just north of the town square.
Today, the fields are gone, replaced by a booming Atlanta suburb, but the plantation still stands. The Archibald Smith Plantation Home remains in surprisingly good shape, thanks to some updates in 1940 by Arthur Smith and his wife, Mary — the last of three generations to live in the impressive home. After Mary died in the early 1980s, the property was sold to the city of Roswell so that the home could become a preserved part of Southern history.
Situated next to the unmistakable Roswell City Hall, the plantation remains hidden from prying eyes by thick foliage but continues to offer a peek into the past. Visitors to the estate are treated to an unprecedented look back at the lives of a Southern family before the Civil War introduced a more modern lifestyle.
On display is the two-story traditional Georgian-style farmhouse, former slave quarters and many outbuildings. Visitors touring the buildings will see all of the original furnishings and décor, clothing, personal belongings and other items the family left behind.
The Archibald Smith Plantation Home's preservationists have done an excellent job identifying and showcasing specific areas of the plantation. Antique photos of the property are posted next to each informational plaque addressing the home's history.
A variety of special exhibits and events take place at the estate each year; however, because of the plantation's historic nature, it's not available for private functions. For more information on upcoming events, visit the estate's website.
www.southerntrilogy.com
- by Christine Foster, Atlanta Reporter for HelloMetro
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