The Cowan House's exterior will be restored to its original appearance. (Cobb Landmark and Historic Society)

Where Sherman failed, the city of Acworth, Ga., almost succeeded. Last month, a local preservation group donated an 1855 plantation farmhouse in Acworth to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation to save it from condemnation by the city. The Acworth Preservation Society saved the Cowan House from developers in 1998 but lacked the resources to fully rehabilitate the house.

"I would have liked for the property to remain in public hands, but it's too valuable to risk losing," says Abbie Parks, president of the Acworth Preservation Society. "It was a perfect fit once it became apparent the project was beyond our scope."

The two-story house was once part of a 500-acre farm owned by Stephen Cowan and was one of only a handful of houses in the area that survived "Sherman's March to the Sea."

About 10 years ago, a developer acquired part of the farm, including the house, planning to tear it down. Parks convinced the developer to redesign his project to save the house and its trees and to donate it to the society. At the time, the structure didn't look historic and had even been overlooked on several historic surveys.

"Historic features were covered. Only a true preservationist saw the house form when they had been wiped out," Parks says.

Over several years the society removed a covering of "insulbrick" and other 20th-century additions while conducting research that helped place the house on national and local historic registers.

In the end, though, the job of renovating the house to historic standards was too big for the small society, and after sitting empty for nearly 10 years, the city was ready to condemn the property. With help from a grant from the National Trust's Southern Office, the Georgia Trust established a network that helps it work with local preservation groups to identify endangered properties.

The Cobb Landmark and Historic Society, which was working with the Acworth society on the project, approached the Georgia Trust for help. The house was donated to the Georgia Trust's Endangered Properties/Revolving Fund Program.

Working with the Cobb Society to raise money for the $250,000 project, the Georgia Trust is restoring the exterior of the house and stabilizing the structure. After restoring the exterior, it will sell the house to a preservation-minded owner, probably for use as office space.

Want Today's News headlines delivered to your e-mail box? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter >>