The Patch Works Preserves Cabbagetown History

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See How the Patch Works Uses ETChster

An Atlanta neighbor, The Patch Works Art & History Center seeks to preserve the rich history of Cabbagetown through its artifacts and educational opportunities.

Curators Jacob “Jake” and Nina Elsas have created something special at 593 Gaskill Street.  ETChster had the pleasure of helping the organization create Etchings for their collection of local history and getting to know the curators, whose story is intimately intertwined with the area itself.

As we imported their collection, we learned more about the history of Cabbagetown, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Despite this positive recognition, the area saw drastic changes when its largest employer, The Fulton Bag & Cotton Mills, closed their doors three years later.

The ensuing waves of demographic shifts within and major developments nearby have given life-long residents a growing sense of uncertainty about the future of their neighborhood.

For Jake and Nina, whose roots in Cabbagetown span generations, these concerns are poignant.  As we were importing their collection into ETChster, the name Elsas appeared over and over, with item after item.

It was Jake’s Great-Great-Grandfather, Jacob Elsas, who built the original mill back in 1881. Fast forward to the 1970s-80s, Jake’s father worked in a non-profit called The Patch, Inc. that supported the residents while they transitioned to other types of work as the mills shut down.

When Jake returned to Atlanta in 2013 from his travels far and wide, Nina had already been living at the mill’s converted condominiums since 2011.

The two met at the mill and–with its rich history and uncertain future–realized something had to be done to preserve this little patch in the heart of Atlanta.

Luckily, Nina’s training in Art History gave them a framework for growing a beautiful collection of history: The Patch Works, which you can now go visit next time you are in the area.


You can visit The Patch Works at:

593 Gaskill St. SE

Atlanta, GA 30316

Their schedule is:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 12:00pm-6:00pm

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 12:00pm-6:00pm

Friday & Saturday: 1:00pm-7:00pm

Sunday: 9:00am-3:00pm

You can support The Patch Works by:

Making a donation next time you visit.

Donating at their Go Fund Me

Making a donation next time you eat at Agave Restaurant, where $1 per margarita goes to the center.

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