Bob Meyers

Alpharetta

Columnist at Appen Media

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Articles

Opinion: A star athlete became a star in life - story of Hamp Phillips

4 days ago | appenmedia.com | Bob Meyers

In high school he was a star athlete despite his diminutive size. Baseball, football and track--he excelled in all. After a career at General Motors he followed in his father-in-law’s footsteps and became a successful businessman. In the process he developed a devoted following and when he passed away in 2015 at age 78, newspapers were overwhelmed with tributes and memories. His name was Hampton Allred Phillips, but everyone called him “Hamp.” This is his story.
Opinion: The rise and fall of trousers - Pants that helped build Roswell

1 week ago | appenmedia.com | Bob Meyers

This week’s column highlights the Oxbo Falls Manufacturing Company, also known as the Roswell Pants Factory or Oxbo Pants Factory, founded in 1894 by James Henry “Pony” Waller (1852-1913) who organized, built and operated the plant. It is thought that earlier he was superintendent of the Roswell Manufacturing Company, known as the Roswell Cotton Mill, founded by Roswell King, the namesake for the City of Roswell, and his son Barrington King.
Opinion: A historic stone house is reborn in Milton

2 weeks ago | appenmedia.com | Bob Meyers

When I wrote a column about local historic stone houses in March 2024, I purposely omitted one stone house located on Birmingham Road in Milton because it was undergoing major renovation by its new owners Carol Cookerly and her husband Robert Beal. Work has progressed, so now is the perfect time to highlight this important historic structure. When Carol and Robert purchased the property in 2023, the stone house was surrounded by a thick landscape of dense brush and trees.
Opinion: A historic stone house is reborn in Milton

2 weeks ago | northfulton.com | Bob Meyers

When I wrote a column about local historic stone houses in March 2024, I purposely omitted one stone house located on Birmingham Road in Milton because it was undergoing major renovation by its new owners Carol Cookerly and her husband Robert Beal. Work has progressed, so now is the perfect time to highlight this important historic structure. When Carol and Robert purchased the property in 2023, the stone house was surrounded by a thick landscape of dense brush and trees.
Opinion: A rare historic gem, Green Store at Autrey Mill

2 weeks ago | appenmedia.com | Bob Meyers

General stores, or country stores, were an integral part of our region’s history. Back in pioneer times most towns had at least one general store. They served as the chief supplier of necessities and as social centers. Here is a local sample of general stores:In downtown Alpharetta, Manning Mercantile general store burned down in 1902. It was rebuilt with brick circa 1910 and eventually had a second floor added. Today, the building houses Mercantile Social, a popular bar and restaurant.
Opinion: The story of Mike Lambert, U.S. Marine in Viet Nam

1 month ago | appenmedia.com | Bob Meyers

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, which brought an end to the Viet Nam War. It is fitting that this week’s column describes the service of one North Fulton veteran. Mike Lambert was raised in Buckhead. He and his wife Peggy grew up on the same street. Peggy had seven brothers and the first television in the neighborhood. Mike remembers that after school, the neighborhood kids would gather at Peggy’s house to watch the Mickey Mouse Club in black and white.
Opinion: A historic house comes out of the woods

1 month ago | appenmedia.com | Bob Meyers

For many years motorists traveling east on Mayfield Road in Alpharetta would pass a small densely wooded lot as they crossed Canton Street en route to Highway 9. Diagonally across the street is the Alpharetta Arts Center. Along Canton Street are many houses, some old, some new. Not very long ago the woods were stripped from the land and a boarded-up house was revealed. It is a house with a story worth telling. A two-headed calf is part of the story.
Opinion: Uniqueness of Johns Creek and influence of Andrew Jackson

1 month ago | appenmedia.com | Bob Meyers

Johns Creek, a city of more than 82,000 inhabitants (2020 census) residing in 31 square miles has a fascinating history. In the early 1800s Johns Creek was part of Cherokee territory. European settlers established trading posts along the Chattahoochee River, some of which gradually became crossroads communities where pioneer families gathered, families such as the Rogers, McGinnis, Findley, Medlock, Cowart, Bice, Nesbit, Spruill, Summerour and more.
Opinion: Hembree Farm historic renovation continues

1 month ago | appenmedia.com | Bob Meyers

In a June 2023 column, I described the history of one of the oldest houses in Fulton County and the efforts underway to restore and preserve it for future generations. This week, I will update that column to describe efforts undertaken by the Kirschner family over the past two years. The Hembree house is a true treasure of historic rural Georgia architecture. Built between 1833 and 1835, the original two-room house consisted of a bedroom, a living area, some storage space and a porch.
Opinion: Church bells ring, and people listen

2 months ago | appenmedia.com | Bob Meyers

One might say that I have a thing about bells. I have written a column about farm bells and another about cow bells. The subject this week is church bells. So, maybe I do have a thing about them. This week I will explore the history of church bells and illustrate the challenges of installing a bell weighing several hundred pounds in the top of a church tower using as an example the Birmingham United Methodist Church in Milton. In a recent column I described the history of that church.