GWINNETT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

COVID-19 Phased Reopening Plan

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the Gwinnett Historical Society (GHS) and the community that we serve. Understandably, everyone desires to get back to providing services without jeopardizing the health of the public or volunteer staff. Since we are a tenant of the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, our Phased Reopening Plan is predicated on the reopening of that facility. However, most of our volunteer staff are higher risk individuals in that they are over 65 years of age and may have pre-existing morbidities. Therefore, we may take a more conservative approach on the reopening of our office. Currently, our Society is operating at Level 2 of our re-opening plan.

LEVEL 2: Limited Public Access. The GHS work hours are still unscheduled. The GHS office will be open to the public only one designated day a week for research purposes and by appointment only. Appointments may be requested via email to ghs@gwinnetths.org or via our Facebook page. Visitors along with staff will wear masks and follow social distancing procedures posted in the office. Executive council meetings will be held via ZOOM. General membership meetings may be held in the courtroom if allowed by COVID policy of the Gwinnett County Historic Courthouse.

Criteria:
• Will be at a minimum meet the requirements set forth in Gwinnett Parks and Recreation, Historical Courthouse, Reopening Plan.
• There is adequate hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and protective gloves on hand.
• There are volunteers available to fill staffing requirements. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

March 15th Membership meeting will be held in the Ballroom at Gwinnett Historic Courthouse. This event will be limited to 50 people. Social distancing and mask wearing is required due to COVID-19.

The History of E. R. Snell Contractor, Inc.

The history of E. R. Snell Contractor, Inc. (ERS) is the quintessential American success story. A young boy, Gladstone F. Snell, comes to the US with his parents in 1882 from England and within two years loses his father. His mother and his family are taken under the wing of her brother and Snellville co-founder Joseph T. Snell. G.F. Snell becomes a rock mason in his uncle’s rock quarry and in 1923 starts his own business building rubble culverts and bridges in north Georgia. His son, E. R. Snell, (Edwin) takes over the reins of the business in 1939 upon the death of G. F. Snell in 1939. E. R. Snell would put in place several fundamental principles that guide and govern the direction of the company as three more generations of the family would grow the company into one of the largest and successful private highway construction companies in Georgia.

David Snell is a lifelong resident of Gwinnett County and Snellville, Georgia. He graduated from South Georgia Junior College and the University of Georgia in 1976 with a Batchelor of Business Administration degree. David played baseball at SGC and UGA. He received his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia in 1977.

He began his business career as a Purchasing Agent with Peachtree Doors, Inc. He was vice-president of Manufacturing with American Charms Furniture and Progress Container Corp. before joining the family construction firm, E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc. in 1989. One of several fourth generation owners of the Snellville based firm, David serves as the Vice-President and Corporate Secretary, is on the company’s Board of Directors, and oversees several of the day to day administrative functions of the firm. E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc. is one of the largest highway construction firms in the state of Georgia, with twelve asphalt plants and an asphalt terminal located strategically in the North Georgia area.