The City of Powder Springs was presented an award by Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society for its restoration efforts to save the 19th-century Bodiford House that now houses the Seven Springs Museum.
“This means a great deal to the Bottiford family,” said former Mayor Pat Vaughn who spearheaded the restoration. She thanked the museum board of their work, saying,”we’re proud that we could save this house.”
On hand for the presentation Jan. 28 in Marietta were Vaughn, Mayor Al Thurman, museum board members and city council members.
“About a year and a half ago, the city of Powder Springs took an important step toward preserving the area’s heritage,” said Becky Paden in making the presentation. “Not only did the city purchase the historic Bodiford House on Marietta Street for $175,000 from Superior Court Judge James Bodiford but it also relocated the Seven Springs Museum, now known as Seven Springs Museum at Bodiford House, there.”
After a restoration project totaling almost $600,000, the entire house exhibits artifacts and photographs chronicling the area’s history and even has a room designated as a research library. The museum is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays to visitors and researchers. Volunteers from the Seven Springs Historical Society operate the museum.
The Bodiford House is a two-story Queen Anne style house with its layout and stylistic application reflecting the Queen Anne designs of the late 19th century. Features include two cross gables, a corner tower and wraparound porch. It was built by the Marchman family and later acquired by John L. Butner who added a second story and additional rooms in 1900. Robert Bodiford, father of Cobb Superior Court Judge Jim Bodiford, purchased the house in 1954. After the city bought the property, extensive rehabilitation was completed in time for the museum’s opening in October last year.
“Tonight we honor the City of Powder Springs for its preservation and adaptive use of the Bodiford House,” she said.
From the February 2016 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.
