Close Menu
On Common Ground News – 24/7 local newsOn Common Ground News – 24/7 local news
  • Home
  • Local News
    • Atlanta
    • DeKalb
    • Rockdale
    • Gwinnett
    • City of Stonecrest
  • Legal Notices
  • HelpLines
  • Crime
  • Coming Up
  • Business
  • Education
  • Life
    • People
    • Restaurants
    • Travel
    • Explore
    • Special Events
    • Community Calendar
    • 2021 Graduates
    • COVID-19
  • Op/Ed
  • Obituaries
What's Hot

DeKalb County CEO Cochran-Johnson announces crackdown on crime after back-to-back weekend shootings

June 24, 2025

30 small businesses pitch their ‘Made-in-USA’ products to Walmart at Atlanta event

June 24, 2025

DeKalb CEO Cochran-Johnson: EHOST credit to provide $206.3 million in residential property tax relief

June 24, 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
[Valid RSS]
On Common Ground News – 24/7 local newsOn Common Ground News – 24/7 local news
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • Home
  • Local News
    • Atlanta
    • DeKalb
    • Rockdale
    • Gwinnett
    • City of Stonecrest
  • Legal Notices
  • HelpLines
  • Crime
  • Coming Up
  • Business
  • Education
  • Life
    • People
    • Restaurants
    • Travel
    • Explore
    • Special Events
    • Community Calendar
    • 2021 Graduates
    • COVID-19
  • Op/Ed
  • Obituaries
On Common Ground News – 24/7 local newsOn Common Ground News – 24/7 local news
Home»Local News»DeKalb officials dedicate historic Lyon farmhouse

DeKalb officials dedicate historic Lyon farmhouse

0
By On Common Ground News on June 7, 2019 Local News, DeKalb
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

This Old House

Community stakeholders, elected officials and members of the Lyon family pose for a picture commemorating the dedication of the historic Lyon farmhouse on Friday, May 31, 2019.

By Sarita Mason

OCG News Intern

 

Denise Williams instantly recalled the rich wood scent that filled the Lyon home where she grew up.

“The house still smells just like it did when I was a little girl,” said Williams.

Williams, the niece of George and Betty Lyon, the couple who lived in the house for over 20 years, traveled back in time as she walked through the house for the first time in years. Williams was among several descendants of the Lyon family who visited on May 31 to witness the dedication of the 150-year-old home located in what is now the city of Stonecrest. The historic home is one of DeKalb’s oldest homesteads.

Williams said she was pleased to be a part of the celebration. The dedication marked the culmination of the first phase of preservation efforts of the property, a collaboration between various partners including the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance and Flat Rock Archives, among others.

In 2003, DeKalb County’s Department of Watershed Management (DWM) purchased the Lyon Farm, over 100 acres,as greenspace to buffer the Pole Bridge Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant and Sprayfields in the area. In 2016, the house was placed on the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Places in Peril” list due to advanced structural damage, potential for imminent loss, and its historic significance, officials said. Last fall, DWM kicked off work on the historic structure, spending a total of $225,000 to start the preservation.

Now, after months of careful repairs, the home has been stabilized by contractor F.H. Paschen. The work included jacking and leveling the entire structure, stabilizing the foundation, rebuilding part of one of the chimneys and replacing the roof and siding.

“We reused most of the same structure that was already on the house,” said Wayne Thompson of F.H. Paschen.  “All the material had to match the historic blend we still needed to have. We used modern versions of the old material to do that.”

Kelly Jordan, co-founder of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Alliance, praised the project, saying it would be a treasure for local residents and tourists to explore.

“The Alliance has been working with DeKalb County and other partners for nearly two decades now to preserve numerous historic structures, including the Lyon home, which is one of our most special projects,” said Jordan.

According to the Alliance, a log cabin was likely the first structure built on the property in the 1820s. The footprint was expanded in 1853 and again in 1893, creating the house that stands today.

Congressman Hank Johnson, who attended the dedication with his wife, DeKalb’s District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, said the preservation is an important aspect of DeKalb’s history. The congressman noted that the black community of Flat Rock was birthed from the Lyon farm after slavery in the U.S. ended in 1865.

“This is our history and I’m so happy that a history of black people is in the Lyon family history and property,” said Congressman Johnson, who, as a commissioner in 2002 approved the allocation of funds to preserve the property as greenspace.

Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson considers the homestead a jewel.

“I’m from a freed slave town in Tennessee, so I have great appreciation for the preservation of this home,” said Johnson.

DeKalb’s District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson attended the dedication ceremony with her husband Congressman Hank Johnson.

According to historians, about 17 slaves lived and worked on the farm in 1860. Some were field hands while others worked as house servants and lived in the basement of thehome with only a small window and a hand built fireplace.

Even after slavery, the farm was used by many generations of the Lyon family all the way up until 2007, according to historians.

Caleb and Christina Cook, also descendants of the Lyon family,were dating when they last lived in the house around 2007. The now married couple said they couldn’t believe how much has been done on the home.

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary, who attended the dedication, said he believes the preservation project will be a big draw for anyone interested in Georgia history. The city of Stonecrest, he said, made history when residents in the area voted to incorporate in 2016, making Stonecrest the largest city in DeKalb with a current population of about 54,000.

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary speaks at the historic Lyon Farmhouse dedication on Friday, May 31, 2019.

“It (the Lyon homestead) adds to our history. Even though we’re only 2 years old, we’re adding history that is now 150 years old,” said Lary.

Johnny Waites, a black descendant of the Flat Rock community, has been sharing the history of Flat Rock and the Lyon family farm for years.

“My family bought many agricultural goods, like syrup from the Lyon family farm many years ago,” said Waits, who is president and co-founder of the Flat Rock Archives. Waites leads toursof the Flat Rock Archives and the Lyon family farm, which are in close proxmity to one another.

Executive Director of Arabia Mountain Heritage Alliance Mera Cardenas said the Arabia Mountain Heritage Alliance plans to continue working with DeKalb County and others to continue improving the Lyon property.

“I feel a sense of relief and gratification to have this tremendous project that has been advocated for so long, finally executed,” said Cardenas. “With all of this, we are at the beginning of this project, not the end.”

Plans are under way for guided tours and interpretive signage detailing the stories of the Lyon family, the community of Flat Rock and rural life in Georgia. Sign installation is planned for this summer.

 

 

 

Post Views: 3,896
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
On Common Ground News

Related Posts

DeKalb County CEO Cochran-Johnson announces crackdown on crime after back-to-back weekend shootings

June 24, 2025

30 small businesses pitch their ‘Made-in-USA’ products to Walmart at Atlanta event

June 24, 2025

DeKalb CEO Cochran-Johnson: EHOST credit to provide $206.3 million in residential property tax relief

June 24, 2025
Add A Comment
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest Post

DeKalb County CEO Cochran-Johnson announces crackdown on crime after back-to-back weekend shootings

June 24, 2025

30 small businesses pitch their ‘Made-in-USA’ products to Walmart at Atlanta event

June 24, 2025

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news updates from OCGNews.

RSS On Common Ground News – 24/7 local news
  • DeKalb County CEO Cochran-Johnson announces crackdown on crime after back-to-back weekend shootings June 25, 2025
    DEKALB COUNTY, GA— DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson is reaffirming the County’s commitment to both immediate and long-term public safety solutions following a spate of violence this month in South DeKalb that claimed the lives of three people including 7-year-old Dior Scott, and her 29-year-old aunt, Tomeka Pullins, who were gunned down by the woman’s estranged husband […]
Recent Comments
  • Isaac McNeill on Here’s a look at the aftermath of the tornado that hit Rockdale County.
  • G on DeKalb County: Mother convicted after confronting man who molested her daughter
  • Jo Handy-Sewell on Southwest DeKalb High’s tennis team wins off the court with community service to help feed those in need
About Us
About Us

On Common Ground News is published 24/7 by On Common Ground, Inc (OCGNEWS.COM).
The news outlet was founded in April, 1995.

Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Latest Posts
  • DeKalb County CEO Cochran-Johnson announces crackdown on crime after back-to-back weekend shootings
  • 30 small businesses pitch their ‘Made-in-USA’ products to Walmart at Atlanta event
  • DeKalb CEO Cochran-Johnson: EHOST credit to provide $206.3 million in residential property tax relief
  • Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner Mitchell announces third DMV 24-hour kiosk

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news updates from OCGNews.

© 2025 On Common Ground News.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}