Meet Jake

Jake Gooch, owner of Gooch and Fifty, is a former Union County Historical Society board member who served nearly a 3-year term on the UCHS board from March 2021-December 2023. During his time on the UCHS board, Jake won the UCHS 2023 Preservationist of the Year award, which is the highest honor you can receive from the organization. This honor was earned due mostly in part to Jake’s efforts to finish the project that he had worked on throughout his entire term as UCHS board member that brought Gooch and Fifty and this very website to life. Using his love for his hometown history and heritage, as well as his experiences of traveling throughout all 50 United States of America, Jake used the method of having modern day murals created that reflected the history of Union County. These murals are not only pieces of art to give a boost aesthetically, but they are intended to be historical interactive exhibits through the use of QR codes to make for an experience that locals and tourists alike can use to learn about the rich Union County history and heritage. Jake hopes to see a growing interest from Union County locals and residents who wish to see their hometown history preserved as Union County continues to see vast growth annually. Aside from Gooch and Fifty, Jake currently resides in Midtown Atlanta and just began his career in real estate in the Metro Atlanta area. Clearly, he enjoys traveling, sports, and the outdoors.  

Gooch and Fifty’s Mission:

While the Union County Historical Society takes on the mission to preserve the rich history and heritage of Union County, Gooch and Fifty’s mission is to take part in helping that very same mission through promoting tourism through historic preservation and renovation throughout the town. This is intended to be done by using any profits made from tours sold on the Gooch and Fifty website to put towards preservation and renovation projects. Below are some of the projects in mind for Gooch and Fifty that were thought of by Jake himself(See Potential Projects below).

Potential Projects:

Preservation/Restoration of the Charles Simpson Reid Home:

What many Union Countians may not know is that Blairsville is home to a former Georgia State Supreme Court Chief Justice. Charles Simpson Reid was once the youngest ever appointed Chief Justice in the United States upon his installation as Georgia’s Chief Justice in 1938. The very home in which he was born and raised sits right on Rogers Street across from the Butt-Mock home/annex where monthly Union County Historical Society meetings are held. Recently, the home became the victim of a fire that luckily did not destroy it. However, the fire did leave behind fire damage that still has not been completely repaired.  The goal here would be to raise enough money to contribute to the home’s restoration so that another historical Union County home can be preserved.

Save and preserve the former Union County Recreation Gymnasium(AKA the “Old Red Barn Gym”):

Unlike many surrounding counties, Union County has so far failed to implement a “Union County Sports Hall of Fame”. However, Union County has one of the oldest gyms remaining in the entire area. The only display of Union County sports history remains in the Union County Historical Society Museum and it currently needs more space. With an ever-growing population and a growing number of new sports being added to the athletic program as the growth continues, every basketball gym in the county seems to be occupied for team practices and other purposes which takes away from local kids and teenagers looking for an indoor gym to play in without having to travel to another county to do so. If enough money could be raised, it may very well be possible to renovate the oldest gym the county has for the purpose of a Union County Sports Hall of Fame Museum and combine the use of the museum with a place for local kids and teenagers to come play games of pick-up basketball. Preserve the history, but modernize the use.

M.D.(Mauney Douglas) Collins Spelling Bee Contest:

The idea for this project is to help raise money for educational purposes by promoting the legacy of M.D. Collins, former native Union Countian and Georgia’s longest ever serving State Superintendent of Public Schools. Once upon a time, there was a state-wide spelling bee that took place at the Southeastern Fair in Atlanta known as the “M.D. Collins Spelling Bee”. This was a spelling bee that was implemented by M.D. Collins himself. Children from all over the State of Georgia would compete and receive prizes. Today, out of pride and respect for the legacy of M.D. Collins, Union County could host this very same event as a throwback event and invite school children from across the state to compete. Entry and attendance fees could be used to not only reward the winner, but also to put towards specific educational purposes. To host an event such as this and as large as this, however, would require the money to do so.

“Signs Of The Past” Museum/Display:

With this idea, the intent is to bring back old, historic signs that have been saved from the past to put on display either in a museum concept or in some other neat, unique way in order to tell stories of businesses of the past and their impacts on the county. Sign examples could include: Video Unlimited, Hill-Lance Drugs, Kings 5 & 10, etc..

The Battle for Brasstown Bald Festival and Event Series:

As the home to Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest peak, Union County has the opportunity to host an event or events for friendly competition purposes for individuals looking to claim “the top spots”. More detail could be implemented in the near future with more planning from group discussions.