At the Corner of Cumming

Stories of Then, Now, and What We’re Building Together

Cumming has always been more than a place.
It is a rhythm. A gathering. A story still being written.

Cumming Connections is where we share the people, businesses, memories, and moments that make this town what it is and what it is becoming.

From longtime locals who remember how it used to be,
to new families planting roots,
to entrepreneurs shaping what comes next,
this is where those stories meet.

Why We’re Sharing These Stories

FreeBird was built on the belief that community happens at the corner where paths cross, conversations start, and relationships grow.

Coffee is simply the invitation.

Through this space, we highlight:
• Local business owners and builders
• Old Cumming stories and new beginnings
• Agrihood life and shared traditions
• Creators, connectors, and quiet leaders
• Moments that bring us together around a table

This is not about nostalgia or promotion.
It is about belonging.

What You’ll Find Here

Connector Stories

Short features and interviews with people shaping Cumming, past and present.

Agrihood Life

Snapshots of daily life, events, and rhythms emerging in and around Middlebrook.

Old and New Cumming

Reflections on where we have been and where we are headed, honoring both.

Community Spotlights

Businesses, nonprofits, and neighbors doing meaningful work.

Personal Reflections

Thoughts from Finch and Marechen on building, parenting, leading, and living here.

Why It Matters

In a fast-growing town, it is easy to lose the thread.

Cumming Connections exists to:
• Slow us down
• Help us see one another
• Keep the soul of the community intact as it grows

We believe strong towns are built the same way as strong lives and organizations, with attention, intention, and shared experience.

Join the Conversation

Have a story to share?
Know someone we should meet?
Want to tell us what Cumming means to you?

We would love to hear from you.

Pull up a chair. The coffee is on.

Contact Us

We See the Bridge Forming

We see old Cumming and new Cumming not as opposites, but as layers.

Middlebrook, new housing, Wilson’s Orchard, town center, new businesses — these are additions.
The wave on the street. The post office pickup. The taproom conversations. The distillery. The gravel road stories. Those are foundations.

We believe growth does not have to erase what made a place worth growing into.

Growing Without Losing Who We Are

Pastor Thomas came to Cumming in 2014, expecting it to be temporary, but he stayed and built roots. The Agrihood and new development have reshaped landscape.

His son walking the dog, stopping to wave, greeting City Hall, making his loop through town. Those are foundations. He believes growth should never erase identity and character that made Cumming worth loving.

Finding Home in Cumming

Jawna Harris came to Cumming more than 12 years ago looking for space, connection, and a slower pace of life. Prairie neighborhoods, backyard gatherings, evening walks, and friends nearby became part of daily life.

New homes, trails, and businesses have added energy. Still, the friendliness of neighbors and simple conversations remain foundations. Her advice is simple. Get out, meet people, and join the community.

Why Small-Town Feel Still Matters

Mike Duffy’s connection to Cumming began at birth and through the church. He attended third grade at the Merc and built friendships that still last today. As new families arrive and the town expands he hopes Cumming keeps its small town feel. He believes strong relationships and honest conversation are what make a community worth joining.