August 10, 2020
CONTACT: Trevor Beemon
Executive Director
tbeemon@cobblandmarks.com
678.594.4994
MARIETTA - The William Root House was built circa 1845 for Hannah and William Root, early settlers of Marietta. William was one of Marietta’s first merchants. Born in Philadelphia in 1815, William moved to Marietta in August 1839 to open a drug/mercantile store. William married Hannah Rhemer Simpson in 1840, and in 1844 the couple purchased a lot for their house on the corner of Church and Lemon Streets. The house belonged to the Root family from 1845 to 1886.
By the late 1980s, the Root house had fallen into disrepair and was slated for demolition. After the house was formally documented as one of Marietta’s oldest buildings, preservation efforts began, and in 1989, Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society acquired the house from Margaret and William E. Bullard and moved it to its present location. After being moved, the exterior of the house was restored to its c. 1845 appearance through architectural analysis. Today the home is operated as a historic house museum and offers an in-depth look at daily life in antebellum Marietta. This year marks the 175th of this beloved Marietta landmark.
To celebrate the 175th of the William Root House, Cobb Landmarks has compiled a birthday wishlist for her. The gifts, including replacement shutters, security cameras, exhibit panels, and more, will give the Root House the upgrades and repairs she needs for a clean bill of health. Visit CobbLandmarks.com/RootHouse to purchase a gift. All donors will be recognized for their contribution on the Cobb Landmarks website, in the Cobb Landmarks newsletter, and during the Cobb Landmarks Annual Meeting in 2021.
ABOUT THE WILLIAM ROOT HOUSE MUSEUM & GARDEN: Owned and operated by Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society, the William Root House is one of the oldest homes in the Atlanta area. Museum guests can use interactive touchscreens to learn about life for this middle class family and their enslaved house workers. Home to the Root family from 1845 to 1886, the house and property have been meticulously restored to their c. 1860 appearance.