Find out what happened to the tiny town of Cassville

CASSVILLE, Ga. – Driving around the North Georgia community of Cassville, it’s hard to imagine this was once a bustling community.

In the years leading up to the Civil War, the city had wooden sidewalks, a newspaper and two colleges – the Cherokee Baptist College and the Cassville Female College.

Established in 1832 or 1833 and named for Lewis Cass, a former Secretary of War, the city was also the seat of Cass County. Interestingly, the town’s name was changed to Manassas following the First Battle of Manassas; however, it appears the name didn’t stick.

The city’s history changed on Nov. 5, 1864, when Union soldiers burned the town to the ground. Only three churches and three houses survived the town’s destruction.

By the end of the war, the seat of newly-renamed Bartow County was relocated to Cartersville. Cassville never regained the prominence it once had leading up to the war.

But, the story of Cassville lives on, thanks to the Cassville Museum.

Located in the old Cassville Post Office, the museum is home to dozens of Civil War-era artifacts, pictures and postal memorabilia.

Until its operations moved elsewhere in the 1990s, the old Cassville Post Office was the country’s oldest operating Post Office. It remains one of the country’s oldest post office buildings.

In addition to its near-total destruction, the city is today remembered for the so-called Cassville Affair. During the Civil War, Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston intended to launch and major counter-offensive here, but the attack never materialized, and he eventually retreated south.

IF YOU GO: The Cassville Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday. From Atlanta, take Interstate 75 north to Exit 290. Take Ga. Highway 20 west to U.S. Highway 41 north. Turn right onto Cassville Road. The museum is located in downtown Cassville across from Cassville Grocery.