Georgia Trust Sells Threatened Norcross Woman’s Club Old Library Building to City of Norcross
City of Norcross agrees to preserve Gwinnett County’s First Library Building
NORCROSS, Ga., Dec. 17, 2024 — The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation announced today they have reached an agreement with the City of Norcross after the city attempted to condemn and take the historic building through eminent domain back in August. On Dec. 17, the Georgia Trust sold the property to the City of Norcross, with local historic district protections, for $450,000. The property was previously donated to the Trust by the Norcross Woman’s Club, making it the most valuable property ever donated to the Trust’s Revolving Fund program, which works to save historic buildings across the state.
Georgia Trust President and CEO Wright Mitchell said, “From our initial involvement with the Norcross Woman’s Club, our primary goal has been to ensure the legal protection and necessary investment in the property to preserve the history of the building for another 100 years. The Georgia Trust is pleased that the City Council agreed to incorporate the property into the local historic zoning district. That the council has committed to spending $230,000 in 2025 towards appropriate rehabilitation is another step toward our desired outcome.”
Mitchell continued, “To be clear, the Georgia Trust’s desire was to sell the building to the city subject to a preservation easement to be monitored in perpetuity by The Georgia Trust. Unfortunately, the city would not agree to such an easement, but we are pleased that the building will be placed under the purview of the Norcross Historic Preservation Commission, which has responsibility for making sure that the building is properly rehabilitated and maintained. It is now up to the citizens of Norcross to hold the Mayor, City Council and Historic Preservation Commission accountable for the long-term preservation of this important landmark. We are grateful to the Norcross Woman’s Club for donating this building to the Georgia Trust so that it may be protected for future generations to visit and enjoy.”
Located in downtown Norcross, the Norcross Woman’s Club building is a Carnegie-style Greek Revival structure constructed in 1921 by the Woman’s Club as the first library in Gwinnett County. The Norcross Woman’s Club was founded in 1905 by civic-minded women involved with the National Library Movement. In 1907, the women approached various businessmen and philanthropists, including Andrew Carnegie, for donations to support the construction of a library building. The Club had a set of architectural plans drawn by Oliver Duke Wheeler of Charlotte, N.C., and approved by Carnegie, to fit the lot offered by the city in Dodsen (now Thrasher) Park. Carnegie approved a $5,000 grant, but the city found stipulations requiring their support too onerous.
By 1921, with help from Wall Street businessman and Norcross favorite son Edward Buchanan, the women had raised enough funds to construct the first library in Gwinnett County. After growing to 24,000 books in circulation and 1,400 registered members by 1966, the library was relocated to a new building and the original building became the permanent home of the Norcross Woman’s Club.
The property includes a one-story building with a partially exposed basement. Although the building was not funded by the Andrew Carnegie Library funding program, preservation architects confirm the Norcross Woman’s Club old library building has all the characteristics of a Type-B Carnegie Library Plan. Of the approximately 24 public and five academic library plans initially approved in Georgia by the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1898 to 1914, only one is located in Gwinnett County. Overall, the building is in relatively good condition but will need rehabilitation to the exterior and interior, including the replacement of the roof.
About the Georgia Trust’s Revolving Fund Program
The Georgia Trust’s Revolving Fund Program was established in 1990 to provide effective alternatives to demolition or neglect of architecturally and historically significant properties by promoting their rehabilitation and enabling owners of endangered historic properties to connect with buyers who will rehabilitate their properties.
The Georgia Trust accomplishes this goal by either accepting property donations or by purchasing options on endangered historic properties. The properties are then marketed nationally to locate buyers who agree to preserve and maintain the structures. Protective covenants are attached to the deeds to ensure that the historic integrity of each property is retained, and purchasers are required to sign rehabilitation agreements based on the work to be performed on the structure.
About the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Founded in 1973, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation works for the preservation and revitalization of Georgia’s diverse historic resources and advocates their appreciation, protection and use.
As one of the country’s leading statewide, nonprofit preservation organizations, the Trust generates community revitalization by finding buyers for endangered properties acquired by its Revolving Fund and raises awareness of other endangered historic resources through an annual listing of Georgia’s “Places in Peril.” The Trust honors preservation projects and individuals with its annual Preservation Awards and recognizes students and professionals with the Neel Reid Prize and Liz Lyon Fellowship. The Trust offers a variety of educational programs for adults and children, provides technical assistance to property owners and historic communities, advocates for funding, tax incentives and other laws aiding preservation efforts, and manages two house museums in Atlanta (Rhodes Hall) and Macon (Hay House). To learn more, visit www.georgiatrust.org.
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