Everything so beautiful and peaceful I.read more

I would rate this 4 stars. Problems…read more *no signs to navigate you through the park. *it's not good for small children, babies toddlers,people that have disabilities. The path is very steep and there's only one place that has a beach type area. If you are Lucky and find the right path to go down then you can bring babies or toddlers. But I don't recommend it. * there are beer bottles and cigarettes scattered throughout the rocks. Not enough to not make you want to go, but they should have staff to clean. * no one is at the gate to take money or to guard. Pros *it is good for older children. I have a 7, 9, 12, 13, & 15 year old. We didn't have any issues going on the paths and finding our way. We are an adventurous family tho. * we brought tubes and the kids had a blast going down the rocks. * it didn't seem dangerous but I did stand near them just in case. My 7 & 13 year old went down. It was pretty cool. Tips * I recommend water shoes as there are rocks and it's easier to navigate with them on. * my kids are very strong swimmers,but I recommend life vests for smaller children *the *park at the horseshoe picnic area if you want the beach lake. (This is the easier way for small children) * if you want the top of the rapids continue to the dead end. We brought tubes and went down. It was a ton of fun. *bring a small cooler with drinks and lunch. Some people brought chairs and put them on the rocks and hung out.

FEBRUARY is a celebration of BLACK HISTORY, largely because much of it is not included in modern…read moreschoolbooks. So I wanted to feature some of my previous reviews with Black History in the narrative! IF you have never heard of her, let me introduce you to the story of Adeline Rose. Madison, Georgia was considered by Budget Traveler magazine as one of the 16 most beautiful towns in the world in 2012. Part of the reason is because of its historic charm and architecture. There are only a few historic structures you can tour for a small fee and the two I was most interested in were the Rogers House and Adeline Rose Cottage. *** ROSE COTTAGE - This small 3 room home was built in 1891 by Adeline Rose, a hard-working African-American woman who was once a slave. Legend has it that women could not take out loans at a bank and certainly not a black woman. But Adeline Rose was so respected for her arduous work ethic of washing and ironing linens for local homes and hotels that she was granted a $100 loan to help build her modest home. A home that only consisted of two bedrooms and a work area for her laundering business. None of the furnishing inside the home are Adeline's except two pieces, a portrait of her and a quilt she made with her own two hands. You will notice the quilt says, "Jesus Saved" with the second 'S' on Jesus turned backwards. This was to signify how a person's life turns toward Jesus when they become a follower. The brochure states: "She earned her living by taking in washing and ironing at 50 cents a load. Most of her early work was done for the boarders of the Hardy House, which was owned by the mother of the famous comedian Oliver Hardy (of Laurel and Hardy). Adeline Rose died in 1959 after living in the house for 68 years. In 1966, the City of Madison moved the Rose Cottage to its present location. It was felt that it was very important to save this little house built out of the labor of love of a woman who was born into slavery." Adeline is of French origin meaning NOBLE. She was a widow and the mother of two children. She is part of a legacy of men & women who fought against ALL odds to not only survive, but thrive. *** ROGER HOUSE - When Madison was first established, it created 48 original lots with the average lot being sold for around $155. Reuben Rogers purchased lot #6 for $111 and built the house in what was known as an 'I-House' or 'Piedmont' plan style, which was popular in its day. The house was completed around 1810 and stands on its original lot as the last remaining residence from the original 48. The tour begins on the front porch where you will notice the ceiling of the porch is painted a pale blue, a customary practice of its day which was meant to attract insects upwards. Inside is a long hallway with a parlor (or family room) on one side and another identical room on the other side. The home is filled with period furniture, including a sugar chest, where the lady of the house often kept raw sugar cubes under lock and key! It also contained several decorative pieces from China, which were popular decorating choices of the time. Towards the rear were additions most likely added around 1820 when census records showed that 18 people lived in the house (according to the informative brochure). It also states the house pre-dates the Morgan County Courthouse (located just next door) by almost 100 years and has had 17 owners. The rear room is currently set up as a dining room, but was likely once a rear porch. It sits about 4 inches lower than the original home and includes a relocated set of steps that are horribly uneven, but add tremendously to the old charm. Upstairs are two bedrooms. The master was the smaller of the two and had a second bed in a small corner nook which was required to house any soldier that knocked on your door seeking shelter. It was also used for housing a traveling pastor or judge and its placement inside the master bedroom was twofold. One, to keep an eye on this stranger and two to keep the visitor uncomfortable. The bed also looked uncomfortable, but the tour guide said that was by design to encourage the soldiers and other visitors not to overstay their welcome! The children all slept in the larger bedroom. *** * Hours of Operation Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00AM - 4:30PM Sunday: 1:30PM - 4:30PM FINAL THOUGHTS The fact that this community felt it important to save and preserve the story of Adeline Rose alone is worthy of 5 stars. This is, after all, the South! History has not often been kind to African American, but emerging from the wreckage of this disastrous period in human rights are stories like Adeline Rose, letting you know there were pockets of kindness that have not been shared. I for one feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn of the history here. 2021 / 34 #BlackHISTORYseries

Georgia was once full of covered bridges, most built between the late 1700 - 1800's. Sadly decay,…read morefloods and even purposeful mutilation have done away with most of these treasures. There are less than 20 remaining in the state, but in 1997 the County of Rockdale boldly decided to add another to the numbers. Probably more popularly known as the Rockdale County Covered Bridge, it spans a full 150 feet over a historic ford where Mill Rock Creek is located. Jack Turner Dam was to be completed in 1998 to form a reservoir by impound the water from neighboring creeks and rivers. Engineers calculated the creek would swell from just a few inches deep to several feet, thus a bridge would be required. Nearby is also an old historic mill house, a general store, the old mill site and a blacksmith shop according to the Rockdale County website. However, the only visible buildings I saw south of the bridge were clearly marked with no trespassing signs. There is a trail on the north side of the bridge that allows for better side view pictures, but vegetation has grown enough to block most of the view except the very center of the span. FINAL THOUGHTS The County spent almost $900,000 completing the wooden bridge and designed it to look similar to other Town & Lattice styled bridges from the 1800's. It took 248 cubic yards of concrete and 31,000 lbs of steel to form the base columns for the bridge. It utilized Georgia wood and labor in hopes of promoting new timber bridge technology. But after 17 short years, I could see some obvious wear on the bridge floor and need of repairs. Still, it's a marvelous structure, even if it's not exactly historic.

Hiding in plain sight, this marker stands on what was once the public square. The obelisk was…read moreunveiled in 1856 and is one of the oldest public memorials in the city and commemorates Benjamin Braswell, a local figure of significance. Benjamin Braswell (ca. 1749-1817) was an early settler, farmer, and philanthropist in Morgan County. He was part of a widespread family network that settled across upper Georgia after the American Revolution. Though little is known about his early life, records show he participated in the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery and was living in Franklin County at the time. By 1808, he had purchased land in the newly formed Morgan County, where he established a modest plantation focused on corn, wheat, cattle, and hogs as cotton had not yet taken hold in the region. At his death in 1817, Braswell owned more than a dozen enslaved individuals and was remembered as a quiet, generous neighbor. His most enduring contribution came through his will, which left his estate to Morgan County for the care and education of orphans. This act of generosity led to the creation of the Braswell Fund, a public trust that continues to operate today. His reconstructed grave, along with that of his wife Emily, is located in Braswell Park near the Morgan-Walton county line, protected by a wrought iron fence. Located in the heart of Madison's original 1809 town plan, the monument stands on what was once the public square. It predates many of the square's later features and has remained a constant presence through the town's evolution. [Review 1282 of 2025 - 844 in Georgia - 24834 overall]

If you haven't been to a library for a while, and live in Gwinnett close to Snellville, check it…read moreout. The Snellville Library checks out books - that's a given. Go to check out all of the other services they provide. Especially if you have children, find out the schedule of events for kids and their parents. Need to use a computer and/or print something out? Need to reserve a room for a meeting? Very friendly and helpful staff are always available to answer your questions. And need to go before it opens or stay later after they close on most nights? Not a problem. You just need a library card and it's easy to get at the library. Kathy helped me out today. As a business owner, their services have been very time-saving for me. You can check out what's happening on https://www.gwinnettpl.org/ Need a temp office? Thrive, the co-working spot is on the floor above. Check out workatthrive.com for Snellville. See you there!

Had a great time first time here . Me and my baby had a blast kinda crazy right a blast lol but no…read morereally we had fun this was my first time at this location just as well as the first time my four year old been to a library. The service was pretty fast we signed up for a card at home then went to go pick it up and browsed around for a while. The guy at the entrance was really nice who was actually checking us in and helping us get our actual card. he provided a lot of information and provided us with a couple of pamphlet that was very helpful. they look like they have a few events that take place there from time to time it is currently still summer. They have different summer programs going on , plus you can tend to register to vote here as well. Anywho my daughter enjoyed herself playing on the computers they had set up for kids in like the kids zone she was able to play games that were already set up on there just as well as they had lots of books to pick from. We would definitely be back. They made a great first impression only downfall that I could say is none of the books that I really wanted to check out was available somewhere on Libby available to be audio read but I actually want the physical book so right now I'm currently in line waiting to get the book that I want.

The Newton County Confederate statue in Covington Square is a war memorial erected in 1906 to honor…read moreConfederate soldiers and women who supported the Confederate cause. It remains in place amid ongoing legal and public debate over its removal. The monument features a uniformed Civil War soldier standing atop a square column. He holds the muzzle of his rifle at chest level with the stock resting by his right foot. The soldier has a beard and wears a field hat, with pouches strapped to his hips. The statue is notable for facing west, a detail said to reference General Sherman's approach from the west during his March to the Sea. On the west side, the inscription reads, "Their gallant and heroic deeds - like monumental shafts arise - from out the graveyard - of the past, - and mark the tombs - where valor lies." There is more on other sides. In recent years, the statue has been the subject of legal challenges and public debate. So while it is still standing in October 2025, I suspect that it might get disappeared quietly one night to avoid further controversy. Appreciate it or send your derision while you can. [Review 1262 of 2025 - 832 in Georgia - 24814 overall]

This marker is not far from the town square and points out a time when Georgia was the frontier…read more That's hard to believe, but yes. Here we are at this historic home. The marker reads, "Establishment of Madison was part of a larger movement to settle the Georgia frontier and the westward population shift. The first division of town land created 48 original lots, each measuring 100 by 200 feet. Lots were sold on February 23, 1809, with the average lot sale being $155. Early dwellings and enterprises were modest, frame structures. Lot No. 6 sold for $111 to Reuben Rogers who built a dwelling. Known as an I-House or Piedmont Plain, this type of structure was particularly popular in the Upland South and often built by well established farmers and townsfolk. The Rogers House (c.1810) is significant as the last remaining residence from the period of the town's original founding on its original lot. "Opened for tourism in 1992 and later joined by the Rose Cottage (1893), the house serves as an excellent example of community cooperation: property ownership by Morgan County; leadership and funding for restoration, furnishings, and operation by the City; and management of the museum complex provided by the Morgan County Historical Society." This partnership reflects Madison's enduring commitment to honoring its past--not just through plaques and records, but through the careful stewardship of the very buildings that shaped its identity. The Rogers House stands not only as a historical artifact but as a symbol of civic pride, architectural heritage, and the power of local cooperation. The marker was erected in 2011 by the City of Madison. Unfortunately, I was here well past the time for tours and was unable to see the inside. [Review 1303 of 2025 - 850 in Georgia - 24855 overall]

Unexpected to find this name in this place but here it is. It is in the center of Madison, on the…read moresquare with the county courthouse. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Oliver Norvell Hardy, of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy, lived in the Turnell-Butler Hotel which once stood on this corner. He was born in Harlem, Georgia, on January 18, 1892. The family was in Madison by that February, and may have moved here earlier. Mrs. Hardy later opened a hotel in Madison named The Hardy House. Oliver began his education at age six at the Madison Grammar School. Mrs. Hardy and her children left Madison in October 1898. Oliver Hardy died in 1957 and is buried in California where a plaque reads: "His Talent Brought Joy and Laughter To All the World."" Hardy was born Norvell Hardy, taking the name Oliver later to honor his father, a Confederate veteran who died less than a year after Hardy's birth. Though he began formal education in Madison, Hardy was restless and drawn to performance. He attended Georgia Military College and later Young Harris College, but his real passion was music. He studied voice in Atlanta and sang in theaters for modest pay, sometimes skipping lessons to perform. Hardy's entry into film began in Jacksonville, Florida, where he worked as a cabaret singer and at the Lubin Manufacturing Company. He was often cast as a villain in silent shorts, and before teaming with Stan Laurel, he had a prolific solo career, appearing in dozens of films under the name Babe Hardy. Hardy married three times: first to Madelyn Saloshin, then Myrtle Reeves, and finally Virginia Lucille Jones, who remained with him until his death in 1957. He is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California This is marker number 104-1. It was erected in 2002 by The Georgia Historical Society and the City of Madison. There is plenty of parking in the area as well as some restaurants and shops. [Review 1311 of 2025 - 851 in Georgia - 24863 overall]