COUNTY / CITIES
Photo by Jeffrey Leo
An example of antique farm power, this Allis-Chalmers rolls through Turin in the town's annual tractor parade held each August. An all-day tractor pull tests the abilities of tractors of all vintages.
Coweta small towns offer rural charm
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Away from Interstate 85 and Coweta County’s busy business centers are several smaller towns — hidden out in the quiet country and offering their special rural charm. Sharpsburg is located between Newnan and Peachtree City at Georgia Highways 16, 54 and 154. The town has a population of about 350 and covers 320 acres. The business district has been featured in television productions from “A Christmas Memory,” based on the short story by Truman Capote and starring Patty Duke, to the current hit AMC network show “The Walking Dead.” According to Mayor Wendell Staley, planning is under way for a new city park to be built next to their recently renovated city hall and Bridges Community Center at 150 Main St. Construction for a new town parking area is also being planned. Turin is located immediately south of Sharpsburg and has a population of about 279 spread over 1.3 square miles. In late summer, Turin holds its annual 98 Coweta Living 2013-14
By WES MAYER
Tractor Pull Parade and Street Dance, and plans on having a Family Fun Day in the fall. For the Friday night Street Dance, Turin Road is blocked off in downtown, music performances and food vendors come together and people are welcome to dance in the street. The following Saturday morning the local Tractor Pull Association holds their antique tractor parade and tractor pull. The 2013 Turin Tractor Pull event is Aug. 17 from 9 a.m. to about 6 p.m. Haralson is actually Coweta County’s oldest town, according to Mayor Ted Bateman. Haralson is located directly south of Senoia along Georgia Highway 85. A population of 169 lives in the area of 448 acres. Haralson is one of the more popular filming locales for the television show, “The Walking Dead,” and has been a backdrop for other movies over the years. Haralson holds its own annual fireworks in July. An annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and parade is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Haralson, like the other small towns in Coweta is
one of those “content with staying in the country,” Bateman said. A small piece of Palmetto is also a part of Coweta County. Palmetto is located at the north edge of Coweta County along U.S. Highway 29 and near Interstate 85. A population of more than 4,600 is spread across 5.3 square miles. Palmetto reopened their historic train depot as a museum in October 2012. It is open Tuesdays and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to the public. Palmetto also holds an annual spring festival parade on the third Saturday of May and an annual Christmas festival on the Monday after Thanksgiving. Last but not least is the tiny, unincorporated community of Raymond. Located between Newnan and Sharpsburg off Highway 16 East, Raymond is best known for its renovation of the Mary Ray Schoolhouse. The school was originally built in 1909 and was falling into disrepair until a group of former students came together in 2007 to renovate the building. The schoolhouse was added to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s Places in Peril list in 2009, and renovation was completed in 2012. Mary Ray Schoolhouse supporters and volunteers gather on the porch of the building. From left are, front, Allen Robertson, Thomas M. Lee; middle, Carl Smith; back, Ned Chambless, Paula Stanford, Emily McKeown and Carlton Floyd. Photo by W. Winston Skinner