There were many changes occurring as Powder Springs and the Country entered the 1940’s. Many of these changes were considered as “Modern Conveniences” and life changing.

1940 the First Funeral Home Facility was opened on Marietta Street in the Lindley Calloway House as the Lindley Funeral Home. T. N. Lindley was the Director and Undertaker. The Mimosa Garden Club organized, disbanding in 2013.

1941 America entered World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, by Japan. Many men and boys from Powder Springs enlisted in the Military Service along with the rest of the nation.

1943 Bell Bomber Plant (Bell Aircraft) opened in Marietta and operated until after the end of the war in 1945.

1945 Powder Springs Volunteer Fire Department organized with Tommy Ray as the Fire Chief.

1950 the population was 619. Powder Springs Hospital was opened on Atlanta Street by Dr. Griffin as Director and Physician. City Hall was built with two jail cells on the corner of Marietta Street and Pineview Drive. This included the Police Department. Frank Furr was Mayor.

1951 Lockheed – Georgia opened in Marietta. Many opportunities and jobs were now available.

1952 South Cobb High School opened in Austell. Students from Powder Springs High School finished high school at South Cobb. Powder Springs High School then became an elementary school with grades one through eight. Eighth grade students graduated and went to South Cobb High School for their high school education.

1953 South Cobb High School held it’s first class graduation with only thirteen students. These were students held over from the Austell School so they could play football. Lindley Funeral Home moved into the Walter Florence House on Marietta Street, next door to the original funeral home. Frank Pickens “Pick” Lindley as the Director and Undertaker.

1954 the Church of God in Christ was established on Long Street in the Black Community. South Cobb High School graduated its first full Senior Class.

1956 Push Rods Auto Club organized. The original club disband in 1965.

1959 The Powder Springs Woman’s Club organized, disbanding in 2014. The Church of God of Prophecy built a new brick building on Austell Road (4050 Austell-Powder Springs Road).

1963 saw the last graduating Eighth Grade Class at Powder Springs Elementary School. The sixth, seventh and eighth grades went to McEachern High Schools, leaving one through six at Powder Springs.

1964 Powder Springs Library opened on Marietta Street with Catherine Mellichamp as Head Librarian.

1967 Push Rods Auto Club was reorganized and is still active.

1969 Compton Elementary School opened, in honor of T. N. Compton. Mr. Compton was a lifelong resident, business and Mayor of Powder Springs, as well as a Cobb County Businessman. The Powder Springs Bank organized and opened on Austell Road (3286 Austell Rd.) After several mergers, it is now Wells Fargo Bank.

1970 the population was 2,554.

1970’s a Sewage System was established and installed in 1972.

1971 Powder Springs Memorial Gardens opened on Atlanta Street backing up to the City Cemetery. Powder Springs Volunteer Fire Department was consolidated into the new Cobb County Fire Department with David Helton as the first Fire Chief. He had been the acting Fire Chief for the PSVFD and was an Atlanta Fireman.

1971 the Dairy Queen opened in Powder Springs. It is the longest continuously operating business in Powder Springs.

1973 Johnny Eidson became Police Chief. Under his leadership the Police Department grew from three to thirteen officers.

1974 Youth Christian School opened on Brownville Road.

1975 Tapp Middle School opened on Macedonia Road. W. R. Tapp was a lifelong resident of Powder Springs, a civic leader, a teacher, local businessman and realtor.

1979 an Industrial Area (Park) was established on Florence Road.

Still Elementary School opened on Casteel Road. Mrs. Viola W. Still was a lifelong resident of Powder Springs, a teacher of 45 years in the Powder Springs aera and a graduate of the Seventh District A & M School on New Macland Road (McEachern).

1980 the population was 3,381.

1981 The Powder Springs Downtown Development Authority was organized.

1982 The Seven Springs Historical Society was organized.

1984 The George Landers house was moved from Atlanta Street to the Powder Springs Park on Brownsville Road and rebuilt to house the Seven Springs Museum.

1985 Southern Bell Telephone built a telephone exchange on Atlanta Street at Marchman on the original site of George Landers’ house.

The Seven Springs Museum was established and officially opened with Sarah Frances Miller as Curator. She was also one of the town’s Historians and President of the Seven Springs Historical Society.

1988 the new Powder Springs Elementary School was opened on Grady Grier Drive. Mr. Grier was a school crossing guard at Tapp Middle School and had driven a school bus for many years.

1988 the old Powder Springs School building was closed. This left the Primary Building which became the home of the Powder Springs Senior Center. Later, when the old high school and lunchroom buildings were torn down, new buildings were built to house the George Ford Community Center and the Powder Springs Branch of the Cobb County Library.

1990 the population was about 6,000.

1992 the Police Department moved into a new building.

1993 Varner Elementary School opened on Gaydon Road behind McEachern. Mr. Ty Cobb Varner was a store keeper for many years whose store was located on the corner of New Macland Road and Macland Road. He was also very active in the community.

2000 the population was 12,481. 2010 the population was 13,940

2004 Patricia Vaughn was elected Mayor

2015 the population was 14,826. The Seven Springs Museum moved into the Bodiford House on Marietta Street. The City had purchased the property and renovated the house for the purpose of moving the Museum from the Park into the beautiful home preserving one of the oldest homes in Powder Springs as well as the history of Powder Springs for future generations.

2017 Al Thurman was elected Mayor

There are many ‘firsts’ that were made through the years and into the 2000’s that have not been covered here. But these should provide a good picture and understanding of when and how Powder Springs grew to be the town it is today. “Firsts” will always be ongoing.

Plan your visit to the Museum to see the exhibits of Military Uniforms, Powder Springs Volunteer Fire Department Uniform, Push Rods Auto Club, School annuals, history of the Dairy Queen and many more artifacts of the history of Powder Springs and her people.

The Museum strives to keep our history here in Powder Springs alive for all to learn and enjoy.