34-36 Madison Street, which now houses Steppin’ Out Performing Arts, has been a long-standing building throughout the history of Newnan’s historic downtown district. The first documentation for use of the land was in 1895, with the land being used as a stable yard for the livery next door. Liveries were businesses where people could rent out horses for use. 34-36 Madison Street continued to be a livery yard for the next two decades. While the land was being used for the livery, a building was erected in 1900. In 1927, the building was used as a fill-up station and garage. Passed down for owner to owner, there were old rumors that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt would store his car in this garage while resting in Newnan during his trips down to Warm Springs, Georgia. Although no specific documentation verifies the rumors of this happening, the rumors are part of the building’s legacy and part of Newnan’s history. In 1955, the building continued being a fill-up station, as well as housing an automobile store and grocery storage in the building. In the early 2000s, the building was the meeting place for the Coweta Democrats, and after ten years of vacancy, 34-36 Madison Street housed Steppin’ Out Performing Arts.
Historical information courtesy of Newnan Times Herald