A new exhibition of never-before-seen photographs shines a light on the history of Cabbagetown.
Why it matters:Cabbagetown ’76, an exhibition of Barbara McKenzie photographs at the Cabbagetown Community Center, captures the everyday life of the close-knit, hardscrabble community during a time of economic uncertainty.
Catch up quick: For nearly a century, the neighborhood was a mill town for workers at the nearby Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill, one of the South’s pioneering textile-processing facilities.
- The mill’s closure in the late 1970s prompted many longtime residents to leave. Artists and musicians began moving in during the 1980s, laying the groundwork for Cabbagetown’s transition into a popular and pricey intown neighborhood.
Zoom in: Organized by the Chunklet Music Preservation Project and Patch Works Arts and History Center, the photos show the characters, church services, celebrations and hardships of the families who lived there…