Where History Meets the Lens
Ben.Robertson Community Center, in Kennesaw, GA.
A funny thing happened during a visit to the Ben Robertson Community Center in Kennesaw. I ventured out, accompanied by my husband, to view the Serenity in the Summer photography exhibit at the center, where I was honored to have two of my photographs on view. I was eager to see how the photographs were displayed, especially since the exhibit's theme centered on cemeteries. I've always felt a sense of peace when visiting my loved one’s resting place, and being surrounded by tombstones brings an unexpected sense of existential calm.
I often enjoy photographing cemetery landscapes, sculptures, and monuments. Burial grounds provide me with a meditative way to envision those at rest there. Sometimes the engraved headstones tell stories (albeit imagined), such as the tragedy of an infant’s death, and others show entire families, marked by decades apart, reunited in death. Everyone is welcome to view the exhibit during the closing reception on Saturday, August 15, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Ben Robertson Community Center, located at 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw, GA.
These first two images below were selected for the exhibit with additional cemetery imagery.
That funny thing…….
It was especially hot, so we packed a picnic lunch and found a shaded spot outside the center to relax after exploring the exhibit. That’s when I spotted the small wooden structure, sitting in the corner of the parking lot. I could tell there was something unique about this building because it clearly looked out of place and much older than its nearby counterpart, the Kennesaw Recreation Center building adjacent to the Adams Park entrance.
The weathered wooden structure known as The Old Country Store was officially known as the Wade Green Store and has over 150 years of local community history. The structure was relocated from its original location on the Wade Green property. Built shortly after the American Civil War in the late 1800s, the structure was named after the farm and store owners Wade Hampton Green and Odessa Kuykendall Green. Later donated by descendants of the original owner, Old County Store now serves as a key focal point and staging area for the weekly Kennesaw Farmers Market.
Who knew I’d stumble upon a piece of the past? From exhibiting my own photography to discovering an unexpected chapter of local heritage, the day offered inspiration at every turn. Experiences like these remind me that photography is often about more than reaching a destination. Some of the most memorable images are found when we simply stay curious and open to what lies just beyond the path we planned to take.
The Old Country Store building still stands in a different location from its original spot on the Wade Green property. It is now near Adams Park in Kennesaw, GA.
It appears that the red front door to the Old Country Store building may be new, as well as the porch ceiling joists. I’d recognize those joist hangers from Home Depot anywhere!
The Old Country Store has a sign affixed to the facade declaring its own local Kennesaw history.
