The Etowah Valley Historical Society 2001 Tour of Historic Homes Come Harvest Our History Continues...

Simms-Dillen House 307 West Avenue Circa 1930

Bob and Alison Dillen purchased their home in 1990 and have extensively renovated and restored the front gable bungalow. During the remodeling process, done primarily by Bob Dillen personally, original features were uncovered and restored including the bead board ceilings and hardwood floors. Over the years, the Dillens have updated the home with architectural additions such as the beveled leaded glass windows over the front porch, custom columns and a distinctive mantel. In the dining room, the Dillens turned two walls into a work of art by texturing them with plaster. This creative approach has added a unique character to the room. With both of the Dillens involved in the creative arts -- he is a photographer and she is a graphic designer -- they have added color and creativity to make their home unique and distinctive. They have also worked diligently to landscape their yard to create a peaceful and comfortable environment that includes an inviting garden area with a trellis in the rear. Mr. Dillen is also renovating an out building at the rear of the property to be used as a studio by his wife.

Connor-Cline House 117 Etowah Drive Circa 1913
The one-story frame clapboard-sided home, now owned by dentists, Dr. Tinsley Cline and Dr. Jimmy Cline, was built by Georgia's first commissioner of agriculture James J. Connor circa 1913. Connor Hall on the University of Georgia campus in Athens is named in his honor. Connor, who lived in the house until his death in 1930, represented Bartow County in the Georgia Legislature from 1902 until 1906. During this time, he sponsored the Connor Bill, which provided for the establishment of the Georgia State College of Agriculture in Athens. The facade of this home is asymmetrical and features glazed entry door. The small entry porch and side sunroom addition replace the original wraparound porch. The house features one exterior chimney on the side gabled projection and two interior chimneys. Also present are boxed eaves, continuous frieze board and bed molding forming pedimented gables on the side projections. Tinsley Cline's cousin Vandy White and her husband Harry purchased the home in 1984 from the Connor heirs. While they were in the house, they remodeled it extensively, adding a bath and screened porch on the rear. Beth Tilley, who bought the home in 1990, enclosed the screened porch. The light, airy room now contains numerous family treasures including a plaque from the old Tinsley Park, named for Mrs. Cline's great, great grandfather, T. Warren Tinsley. Throughout the house are beautifully restored hardwood floors and woodwork and numerous antiques from both sides of the Cline family. One particularly interesting piece is the breakfront in the hall, which contains pieces of heirloom family china. The kitchen in this home is quite modern and opens into the dining room that also features a number of family pieces.
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