Cultural & Historical Sites
Established in 1818, Habersham County was the county from which several other northeast Georgia counties were formed.  It remains a regional leader.  Following are some sites of cultural and historical interest within the Soque River watershed.

  • Batesville General Store:  Established in 1907, the Batesville General Store served the residents of northwestern Habersham County.  Now it is a landmark and a popular restaurant and gathering place.  www.scenic197.com/dining/

  • Big Red Apple, Depot & Caboose:  Located in downtown Cornelia, the Big Red Apple, the old Cornelia Depot and a Tallulah Falls Railroad Caboose reflect the city’s history.  Learn more about their significance at this site.  www.miss-sweetie.com/train%20depot/train_depot.html

  • Clarkesville square:  Clarkesville is the county seat of Habersham County.  It remains a business center, home to a lively array of restaurants, shops and galleries.  www.clarkesvillega.com/index.html

  • Community House:  A handsome stone and log structure built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  http://corneliageorgia.org/PlacesOfInterest.aspx

  • Habersham Mills:  The 1,200 acres known as Habersham Mills has been the site of important mills and industrial activity since the early 1800s.  Located on the Soque River, the mill site grew in stages until it was officially closed in 1999, with lots being auctioned to the public.  www.habershamga.com/history_mills.cfm

  • Historic Habersham Theatre:  Built in 1937, the Historic Habersham Theatre houses the Habersham Community Theatre, an active community theatre providing programming for all ages.  It is located off the square in downtown Clarkesville.  www.habershamtheater.org/index.html

  • Joseph Habersham Home:  The summer home of Joseph Habersham, Georgia patriot, Revolutionary War hero, and political leader is a few miles outside of downtown Clarkesville.  www.habershamga.com/history_habersham.cfm

  • Mark of the Potter:  Specializing in functional and artistic handmade pottery, Mark of the Potter has been a working pottery for over 30 years.  It sits on the banks of the Soque River and is housed in the old Watts Mill.  www.markofthepotter.com

  • Mauldin House, Millinery Shop & Big Holly Cabin:  Serving as the Habersham Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center, the grounds of the Mauldin House are some of the prettiest gardens in the county.  It is just off the square in Clarkesville. www.clarkesvillega.com/pages/citysvcsmauldin.html

  • North Georgia Technical College:  Founded in 1944 as Georgia’s first vocational school, North Georgia Trade and Vocational School is now North Georgia Technical College serving a seven county area with three campuses and eight learning centers.  Located outside of Clarkesville.  www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-3648

  • Old Clarkesville Mill:  Built in 1951 by United Merchants and Manufactures, Inc. the mill shut down in 2001.  Sitting on the banks of the Soque River, it now houses 275,000 square feet of shopping, dining and recreational opportunities.  www.oldclarkesvillemill.com/

  • Piedmont College:  Founded in 1897, Piedmont College has grown from a small rural college serving the mountain community to a multi-unit institution providing a quality education to students from across the state, the nation and from around the world.  It is located in Demorest.   www.piedmont.edu

  • Scenic Highway 197:  Highway 197 winds from the southeast corner of Habersham County north into Rabun County.  In the south, it rives the Hazel Creek sub-basin, then it follows the main stem of the Soque, exiting the county through the Raper Creek sub-basin.  Scenic Highway 197 is a coalition of businesses along the highway that work to promote the corridor.  Learn more at:  http://scenic197.com/.

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Soque River Watershed Association
PO Box 1901 - Clarkesville, GA 30523
(706) 754-7872
srwa@soque.org