This elegant European style home was built in 1911 by Bona Allen Sr. and family. Bona Allen founded the booming tannery business in Buford in the late 1800’s and was responsible for employing two-thirds of the town’s population. Mr. Allen Sr. became one of the wealthiest men in the Southeast with his company, Bona Allen, Inc. which manufactured everything from horse saddles to shoes & boots. They were best known for their superior saddles and bridles. Their clientele included such noted celebrities as William Cody and Roy Rogers’ horse, Trigger.
Bona Allen, Inc. also had a pennant winning semi-pro baseball team. The Shoemakers won the National Semi-Pro Championship in 1938. In 1944, 3 of its players were named to the Semi-Pro Hall of Fame.
Continue...
