Mack Turner
President, Save Acworth History Foundation (SAHF)
What are your main responsibilities?
My position with SAHF involves conducting board meetings, chairing the fundraising committee, assisting with our video history program, coordinating with the city of Acworth and speaking at a lot of our plaque and monument dedications and other functions around town. I also am the promoter for the group of our big car show fundraiser, Cars on the Lake, in the fall at Dallas Landing Beach.
Why did you want to be a member?
I am actually one of the founding members of SAHF, formed in 2016, which morphed from the original group Save the Acworth Depot that began in 2013. Our original mission was to try to save the old train depot building, circa 1893. When that effort fell short in 2015, we worked closely with the city to build the new Acworth Depot, and at that time, SAHF was formed.
What are some exciting things you’ve discovered?
Gee, that’s a tough one. There have been so many. I would have to say just the many unique historical items that have been donated to us is incredible, to say the least — everything from the original freight scales from the old depot from 1893, many old documents, photos, minutes from the Carrie Dyar Women’s Club from the early 1900s on and literally hundreds more unique artifacts. It has been amazing, and we are so appreciative.
What is the most unusual request you’ve had?
I’d have to say one of the most unusual projects I’ve been involved in as president of SAHF is the group’s involvement with the Acworth Christian Church project. We started out having a couple of meetings with them to possibly get them some help for a leaking roof. Some 18 months later, we were involved in the total restoration of the old church, proving you never know where involvement in some of these projects will lead.
Why is it important to preserve the city’s history?
It is very important to preserve our great city’s history, from a railroad town in the 1840s to the thriving city it is today and everything in between. I once heard a statement that said, “It’s hard to know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.” From our awesome Depot History Center to our huge collection of artifacts, photos, documents, our video history series, etc., we feel good about our group’s success.
What are some future projects?
One future project is to continue our Video Oral History program; we’ve done about 75 at this time. We’ve also started teaming with the city of Acworth for a historic business plaque celebration downtown. We’ve done eight of those so far to memorialize our great old historic businesses. And to put up more monuments downtown, like the one last summer for the old historic Acworth Hotel, circa 1868. These are just some of the projects going forward.
What goals do you have?
My personal goal as president of SAHF is to give it 110% as long as I am president. Most of my goals would include our great SAHF group and everything we do to support each other to save Acworth’s incredible and storied history. Our board members are Betsy Brown, Becca Kienel, Yvonne Leander, Kurt Johnson and Lewis Bramlett. Also, one of our goals is to grow our general membership going forward. Thanks to everyone who supports SAHF, and if you’d like to join our group or support us, go to saveacworthhistory.org.
Tell us about your job, family and hobbies.
I retired 17 years ago, in 2006, from the rental-property business. My wife, Libby, and I have enjoyed our retirement and have tried to stay busy with some of our hobbies and family. We will be married 57 years this year. We have two children who have had good careers in their own right, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. My wife loves gardening. We both have a passion for old cars and have both owned some incredible muscle cars over the years. Another of my hobbies is playing pool, a game I have played since 1961, and I still play a couple of times a week with friends.
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