The Bartow History Center Facility
We are located in downtown Cartersville, in
the historic, two-story Sewell Building, which at various
times, housed a dance hall, a chenille
spread factory, a bowling alley, and a
Chevrolet dealership.
The first floor, which is handicap
accessible from Wall Street, features
permanent and temporary exhibits and the
museum store.
The second floor provides access to the
archives, education classroom and staff
offices. Handicap entrance to second floor
may be reached from Gilmer Street, behind
the History Center.
During warm weather, picnic tables are
located nearby for groups that choose to
bring sack lunches for programs at the
Bartow History Center.
The History of the Sewell Building
Written by Michele Rogers, Director of The
Bartow History Center.
In May 1930, Dr. C. M. Sewell began
construction on a building on Wall Street in
downtown Cartersville. Roy Eaves was in
charge of the brickwork and J. R.
Satterfield oversaw the remainder of the
work.
The two-story building featured large
plate glass windows on the front of the
first floor. The second floor featured one
large area that Dr. Sewell considered using
for a ballroom. The entire building featured
air-cooling and heating, an uncommon feature
in commercial building at the time.
Over the next few years, a variety of
businesses occupied the Sewell building,
including a bowling alley and dance hall. In
1939, the Piedmont Spread Company moved into
the structure, installing 100 chenille
machines on the ground floor. The company
manufactured chenille bedspreads and robes
sold through an agent in New York.
In 1945, the Warlick-Jones Company
purchased the structure, using the second
floor as a Chevrolet automobile showroom. A
large ramp leading from Gilmer Street to the
rear entrance of the Sewell building, once
used for moving cars into the showroom,
still exists from the Warlick-Jones days.
Home to The Bartow History Center since
1995, The Sewell Building has seen a variety
of tenants, from frame shop to college to
ballet studio, in the years since
automobiles once filled the second floor.
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