Thursday, October 31, 2024–6:00 p.m.

-Staff reports-

The City of Rome’s Landmarking Committee has voted to designate the Lovejoy Baptist Church on Branham Avenue and the Rebecca Blaylock Nursery on Graham Street as local landmarks.

Esther Vaughn and Reverend Carey Ingram submitted an application on behalf of Lovejoy which outlined the 110-year history of this well-known South Rome institution. 

Meanwhile, the Rebecca Blaylock Nursery is the first site to be landmarked in West Rome.  

The nursery, named for former teacher and nursery founder Rebecca Blaylock, has had two homes during its 90-year history but has been housed at the former Graham Street School Building for many years. 

The Graham Street facility was an African American School before the integration of the Rome School System. 

Former City Commissioner Sue Hamler Lee is very active with the nursery and expressed their interest in consideration as a landmarking site.

The City of Rome will proceed with acquiring the official landmarking plaques for each of these locations.  

Each organization can determine specifically where the plaque will be displayed, as well as when and how it wishes to commemorate the recognition.