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The Crescent Farm's Rock Barn, a treasured landmark of Cherokee County was constructed in 1906 by Augustus Lee Coggins. It is believed to be the only existing rock barn in Georgia. Together with the Georgian Revival style main house (designed by noted architect Francis Smith), the Rock Barn constitutes the core of the original 400-acre Crescent Farm.

The Rock Barn occupies a unique place in the history of our county and state. Originally a race horse stable, it was one of three barns on Coggins' cotton and horse farm. It was built to replace a wooden barn destroyed in a fire which killed valuable race horses. Coggins raised and brokered mules, many of which were sold to the Allied Forces for transportation of troops and weapons in Europe during World War I.

In the first quarter of the 20th century, Coggins bred and raised horses for harness racing, particularly trotters and pacers. Crescent Farm was widely known in the racing circle because of "Abbedale", its world-class pacer. Abbedale, born and raised in the Rock Barn, brought fame to Crescent Farm and is listed in the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, NY. Abbedale also earned recognition in Harness Racing, a book by Phillip Pines.

The Rock Barn is constructed of stone quarried on the farm from the banks of the Etowah River. It was built to be fire-resistant because it housed valuable race horses. The Rock Barn survived the terrorist acts of the 'Night Riders' who burned another of Coggins's large barns in 1912, killing more than 150 horses and mules.

Crescent Farm Historical Center Capital Campaign

In 1985, the Cherokee County Board of Education donated the Coggins Rock Barn to the Historical Society. In 1989, the Rock Barn along with the historic main house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the name of Crescent Farm. A Georgia Historical Marker was also placed that year at the Crescent Farm Rock Barn by the Georgia Department of Parks & Recreation. A capital campaign ensued and approximately $220,000 was raised to preserve the deteriorated landmark and applied to structural stabilization, installation of a floor, new roof, windows, doors, plumbing and restrooms, a fire suppression system and interim heating. Though initial improvements were essential in preserving the Rock Barn, it could only be used weather permitting.

In December, 1999, the Board engaged noted preservation architect, Jack Pyburn, to revise plans and oversee work to complete the rehabilitation of the Rock Barn as a meeting hall, exhibition center and special events facility. Interior improvements including a climate control system, interior finishes, a catering kitchen, appropriate lighting and replication of the original barn door. Plans were submitted to and approved by the Historic Preservation Division in accordance with guidelines for structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Through a successful Capital Campaign, the Historical Society raised the remaining $243,500 to fund these improvements. Liz Punch of PunchCo, Inc. was contracted to complete the work. The Crescent Farm Historical Center was officially opened on May 21, 2001 and was a focal point of the Chamber of Commerce's Discover Cherokee tourism event.

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