Preservation posts: the online journal of the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Mar. 2010

In this issue:
-Don't Forget the Wife and Kids! -National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week -The Cabretta Inlet shipwreck -Celebrating National Historic Preservation Month in Georgia -Lead-Paint and Asbestos - Don't Panic! Part 2 of 2 -Georgia State Historic Preservation Office timeline, Part 7 -Staff Profiles: Denise Messick -Upcoming HPD staff appearances
Don't Forget the Wife and Kids!
by Gretchen Brock, National Register & Survey Program Manager
Documenting all the residents of your historic house Celebrating Women's History month in March is a fairly recent phenomenon. Just a little over

30 years ago, the National Women's History Project (NWHP) was created to bring attention to the absence of women's history in the country's K-12 curriculum and in the public's general knowledge. President Jimmy Carter signed the first National Women's History Week proclamation on March 8, 1980, and in 1987, March was designated as National Women's History Month.
In honoring this year's theme, "Writing Women Back into History," it is appropriate to explore the importance of documenting the women and children of a household when researching the history of your historic house.
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 established the National Register of Historic Places, our nation's list of historic properties worthy of preservation. Georgia's National Register program began in 1969. As was common in the discipline of history in general during that time period, very few early nominations to the National Register in Georgia included any mention of women or children associated with historic houses. Exceptions to this, of course, are the houses of famous Georgians such as Juliette Gordon Low, Margaret Mitchell, Flannery O'Connor, and Gertrude "Ma" Rainey.
Georgia's Women's History Initiative In 1995, the Historic Preservation Division established the Georgia Women's History Initiative to address the topic of women's history in the identification, documentation, evaluation, and preservation of historic places in Georgia. As a result of the initiative, the history of everyday women in Georgia became an integral part of our nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, and we request full names, birth and death dates, occupations, and other basic biographical information about people associated with a historic property. For historic houses, this means the wife and kids! By capturing this basic information, we now have a broader view of the people who lived and shaped the built environment in Georgia and how historic houses were used, adapted, and changed over time.
It's all in a name Since 1995, HPD has made a point of including the wife's name in the National Register name of a house where appropriate and following the National Register convention. Some examples include the Boyd and Sallie Gilleland House in Dawson County; Carson and Virginia Callaway House in Harris County; Alfred and Jane Ables House in Marion County; Martin and Lucretia

Stamper House in Talbot County; and Robert and Missouri Garbutt House in Toombs County. The simple act of including women's names in National Register nominations documents the fact that women had as much or possibly more influence on the design, use, and alterations of historic houses as the (typically male) property owner.
Behind every great house is a great woman For some historic houses, further research and documentation about women associated with the house proved that women played a much greater role in the house's history than their husbands. For example, the Jane Donalson Harrell House near Jakin in Early County was listed in the National Register on June 17, 1982. The Greek Revival-style Plantation Plain house was built c.1855 on four acres of land given to Mrs. Harrell by her brother Reuben Donalson. It is significant that Mrs. Harrell alone retained legal possession of the property as per her
marriage contract dated November 19, 1828, in which she and her husband, Dempsey Harrell, agreed to keep their respective properties separate, which was very unusual in 19th-century Georgia. The contract proved to be prudent for Mrs. Harrell as her husband was often in debt and lost several lots in Bainbridge to foreclosure. By 1860, the Harrells were among the wealthiest plantation owners in Early County owning 60 slaves and over 1,400 acres of land.
In the case of the Terrell-Sadler House near Harmony in Putnam County (listed March 31, 2000), it was William Terrell's 1855 marriage to the wealthy widow Mary Davis Sadler that enabled him to own property and build a new house. Before his marriage at the age of 55, William was living with his mother and siblings on his father's plantation in the Turnwold community of Putnam County. He served as an overseer along with his brother and owned two slaves but no property. In 1852 at the age of 25, Mary

Sadler had inherited 800 acres of land and 19 slaves upon the death of her husband, Dr. Charles W. Sadler. By 1855, William and Mary Terrell had built a large, Greek Revival-style house and owned 20 slaves and 700 acres of land. Mary died in 1865 at the age of 38 leaving her husband and five children, and Mary's sister Celeste Sadler came to live at the house and care for the children. William died in 1875 at the age of 75 leaving the plantation to his son, Richmond, who was 12 at the time. By this time, William Terrell's two unmarried siblings are also living in the house, Susan (age 65) and Edward (age 45). Through more in-depth research of the residents, we find an interesting view of the household comprised of five young orphaned children and three middle-aged adults near the end of Reconstruction. Richmond Terrell eventually lost the house to foreclosure in 1903.
The architectural style of the Bulloch Family Home in Warm Springs in Meriwether County (listed January 11, 2002) is a direct result of the female residents updating the house to a more modern style. The house was built in 1892 for Cyprian Bulloch, Jr., as a two-story Folk Victorian-style house.
From 1887 to 1903, Cyprian Bulloch, Jr., was the cofounder, real estate developer, business-owner, promoter, establisher of the first U.S. fish hatchery, and entrepreneur of the community of Bullochville (renamed Warm Springs in 1924). After his death in 1903, his business interests were handled jointly by his wife, Julia Parkman Bulloch, and their two sons, both of whom died at an early age. By 1928, Julia Bulloch (1853-1936) assumed the role of matriarch for the family businesses, which included a general store, a business block with several storefronts, and several farms. Her four daughters, Mattie Bulloch, Minnie Bulloch, Ira Gene Bulloch Worth, and Mabel Bulloch Harry, lived with their mother in the family house. In 1927, the women had the house remodeled into the new fashionable Craftsman style. The house demonstrates the rapid change in architectural fashions from the ornate late 19th-century Folk Victorian style to the simpler Arts and Crafts Movement in the early 20th century--to the point where the family remodeled a perfectly good house just to keep current.

The lives of the Bulloch daughters are all remarkable in their own right. Mattie was a collegeeducated teacher and traveled extensively along the east and west coasts, unusual for a single Southern woman at the time. Minnie assumed direct control of many of the family businesses after the death of her mother in 1936. Minnie also bought and sold land throughout the county and was celebrated in her obituary in 1961 as a "prominent Warm Springs businesswoman." Ira Gene moved back into the family home after the death of her husband in 1931. She also managed the family businesses and was prominent in the local women's club and helped host social events in the community, including events where Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were guests and speakers. Mabel suffered from life-long health problems and moved into the house with her husband in 1930, but she still taught school and participated in women's club activities. Although Cyprian Bulloch started the town, for 62 years, the history of Warm Springs (Bullochville) and a large part of Meriwether County was directly shaped and influenced by the Bulloch women.
Things to think about As these few examples show, the complete history of a house can only be known by understanding all the residents of the house, not just the person listed as the head of household or listed in the tax records. Think about your own female relatives and remember that half of our ancestors are women! Who makes decisions in your family about room dcor, upgrades, remodelings, and even moving to a new house? Think about your grandmother's house, whether she lived in a Craftsman Bungalow or a Ranch House, and find out what influence she had on the house, its rooms, and even its location. During times of war or economic hardship, it was often the wife and children who were left behind to carry on the day-to-day activities at the house or farm. Their physical imprint on houses and the landscape are great even though the written records may be illusive. Think about the number and ages of children living in a house and how it could be reflected in additions or partitions of rooms. Having a lot of children may even require building an ell or a second story on a house! Remember to research all available resources including historic photographs and local newspapers. Local newspapers were the social networking system of their time. Women and children figure prominently in social news and you can often find records of visitors, illnesses, travel, parties, award winners, fairs, pageants, and other interesting activities.
These are just a few of the National Register nominations and stories about Georgia's women

and their children, but I hope they will inspire you to research and document all the residents of your historic house.
Sources for more information Historic Preservation Division Women's History Initiative Fact Sheet: www.gashpo.org/assets/documents/ Womens_History_fs.pdf National Women's History Project: www.nwhp.org/whm/history.php National Register of Historic Places Women's History Month 2010: www.nps.gov/history/nr/feature/wom/ index.htm National Park Service's Women History portal: www.nps.gov/history/womenhistory/
National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week
by Amanda Schraner, Transportation Projects Coordinator, and Dr. Dave Crass, Division Director
National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week was held the week of March 1st, 2010 in Washington D.C. Dr. Dave Crass and Amanda Schraner attended representing HPD. Advocacy Week was held concurrently with meetings of the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, National Historic Tax Credit Conference, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Preservation Action. Day one of activities included federal agency updates from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Park Service (NPS), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Department of Energy (DOE), and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). A plenary

session focused discussions on current legislative issues.
Day two of Advocacy Week was the big day: the visits to Capitol Hill. Preservation Action compiled a "Grassroots Guide to Congress" as a primer for legislative issues to be discussed with members of Congress on the Hill. There are a number of preservation-related legislative issues that are pertinent for discussion with congressional representatives this year. These include: increasing funding for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) to $50 million for the operation of State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs); providing full funding to the HPF; in 1980, Congress authorized $150 million to be deposited in the HPF from funding received through offshore oil and gas lease revenue from the outercontinental shelf, but Congress has never appropriated that amount; restoring funding to Save America's Treasures and Preserve America, which are eliminated in the President's FY2011 budget; increasing funding to Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs); supporting new legislation that promotes energy efficiency retrofits for historic and older buildings; supporting historic preservation within a reauthorized transportation bill, including maintaining funding through Transportation Enhancement (TE) grants; supporting amendments to the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program.
We visited the offices of those members belonging to the Historic Preservation Caucus. These included John Barrow, District 12; Phil Gingrey, District 11; John Lewis, District 5; Jim Marshall, District 8, Hank Johnson, District 4, and David Scott, District 13.
We focused our discussions on proposed enhancements to the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program in visits to Capitol Hill contained in two bills. H.R. 3715/S. 1743, The Community Restoration and Revitalization Act, is a bill that would increase the federal rehabilitation tax credit to 30% for "small" commercial projects of $5 million or less and would increase the credit for achieving energy efficiency improvements. H.R. 3670, the Historic Homeowners Revitalization Act, would allow homeowners of historic houses to get a federal tax credit of 20%

of costs for qualified rehabilitation activities.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation held a news conference during the congressional visits to release the First Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit. This study, developed by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, meticulously documents the positive effect the program has had on the nation's economy. In federal fiscal year 2008 alone, for instance, $3.6 billion in private capital invested in historic rehabilitation resulted in the creation of 58,000 jobs (http://policy.rutgers. edu/reports/HTCimpact/HTCeconimpact.pdf).
Day three of consisted of the National Conference of State Historic Officers (NCSHPO) Annual Meeting. The format of the meeting included discussion of national items of interest, as well as an opportunity for each state to talk briefly about its current situation. We spoke on the recent reorganization of HPD, which elicited interest from several other state offices, as well as the new Ranch House context that Dr. Richard Cloues helped develop with partners including the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Transmission Corporation.
During the discussions it was quite evident that with a few notable exceptions, every SHPO is in the same financial boat. Some, such as California and New York, face extremely daunting challenges. This makes economic impact studies like the one commissioned by the National Trust all the more important to the continued viability of the national preservation program. Several state historic preservation offices have tracked the economic impact of their activities. Having this information at hand is increasingly critical as policy-makers assess the effectiveness of a wide range of programs. HPD's Mary Ann Eaddy is developing the outlines of such a study here in Georgia; we have a good economic story to tell and we need the data to support that. Look for more on HPD's economic impact study later this calendar year.
The Cabretta Inlet shipwreck
by Chris McCabe, Deputy State Archaeologist - Underwater

The Cabretta Inlet shipwreck. Inset: (l-r) HPD archaeologists Chris McCabe, Jenn Bedell, and Dave Crass excavate a section of the wreck.
Coastal winter storms have uncovered yet another historic shipwreck on a Georgia beach; this time on small Cabretta Island, part of Georgia's Sapelo Island Reserve. The area is known for its shifting sands and surf, and is considered highly dynamic geologically. Only the lower portions of the weathered wooden hull remains, but an initial examination of its construction indicates that it was likely a sailing vessel from the early to mid 1800s. Efforts are currently underway to conduct a more formal archaeological investigation at the site before nature once again hides the remains from view. Team partners and collaborators include DNR's State Parks and Historic Sites and Wildlife Resources Divisions, Georgia Southern University's Applied Coastal Research Laboratory (ACRL), and the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve (SINERR). Look

for more information in an upcoming issue of Preservation Posts.
Celebrating National Historic Preservation Month in Georgia
by Leigh Burns, Preservation Planner & Certified Local Government Coordinator
Girl Scouts celebrate National Historic Preservation Month at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah, a National Historic Landmark.
Last May numerous communities across Georgia participated in National Historic Preservation Month. The first National Historic Preservation Month was celebrated in 1971 and created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP). Every year the NTHP chooses a different

theme for the month long celebration in May. This year's theme is "Old is the New Green." This theme focuses on sustainability, smart growth, and a strong adherence to remembering that preservation is "inherently the most green of practices."
The NTHP website offers excellent ideas, information, and support for celebrating National Historic Preservation Month in your own community. You can find sample proclamations, lesson plans, and practical advice about promoting your own unique events. For more information visit www.preservationnation.org/take-action/preservation-month/. You can also add your own local events to the NTHP calendar at http://my.preservationnation.org/site/PageServer? pagename=Calendar_thismonth as well as sending them to HPD at helen.talley-mcrae@dnr. state.ga.us for inclusion on HPD's Web calendar.
While the NTHP has many National Historic Preservation Month programs, goals, and ideas, below are a few for you to consider when planning your celebrations locally in Georgia. Since the beginning of National Historic Preservation Month, national activities and programs have grown in Georgia. One of our goals this year at HPD is to see a few first time communities participating in and celebrating National Historic Preservation Month.
Below are some ideas for activities:
-Hold walking tours and open houses for historic cemeteries, commercial downtown districts, historic residential districts or rehabilitated local, state, or federal tax projects. -Hold city-wide or neighborhood-wide block parties highlighting a historic residential district or a downtown commercial district. -Hold a historic preservation lecture or workday. -Start an annual fundraiser, such as a 5K walk/run, bake sale, or photography contest highlighting local historic resources in your community. -Offer visitors complimentary admission to a local historical society or museum for one day during National Historic Preservation Month. -Hold a local Historic Preservation Month proclamation signing for your city or county. -Plan a visit to a Georgia State Historic Site (www.gastateparks.org). -Host a historic preservation scavenger hunt. -Hold a historic preservation awards program.

-Create a historic preservation driving tour. -Work with your local Board of Education to promote a K-12 historic preservation lesson plan or field trip. -Partner with your local historical society, historic preservation commission, non-profit agencies, o Main Street and Better Hometown Programs to better promote National Historic Preservation Month -Participate in Georgia Trust and Historic Preservation Division activities throughout Georgia.
Preservation Month Highlight: Valdosta Valdosta had two activities in 2009 for National Historic Preservation Month. These activities brought together community members who celebrated Valdosta's historic resources and share Valdosta's own historic preservation community success. The first National Historic Preservation Month event was a Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series in the Historic Lowndes County Courthouse Square. The second event was an annual presentation of the Valdosta Preservation Awards for community preservationists and historic preservation projects. The awards were announced during the concert series lunch.
This year, for the 2010 National Historic Preservation Month, a large celebration is being planned to additionally celebrate Valdosta's Sesquicentennial. Besides the Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series and the annual Valdosta preservation awards, Valdosta city staff are busy planning two more additional activities. The first activity will be a rededication of City Hall, which was constructed 100 years ago. Following the rededication, a large birthday cake reception will take place in the lobby of City Hall.
The second event will be a virtual ribbon cutting for the new Sunset Hill Cemetery Interactive Website. This project was achieved through numerous funding sources including a Historic

Preservation Fund grant through HPD.
Both these events will continue to celebrate Valdosta's ongoing commitment to historic preservation and celebrate all that Valdosta has achieved in the past 100 years. For more information on these National Historic Preservation Month events in Valdosta, and overall historic preservation activities please see the following websites: www.valdostamainstreet.com www.valdostacity.com
Lead-Paint and Asbestos - Don't Panic! Part 2
by Bill Hover, Architectural Reviewer

Asbestos, as seen under an electron microscope.
Lead-based paint and asbestos are two materials that continue to cause great concern when questions about renovating or rehabilitating historic houses and buildings come up. While these are legitimate concerns and should be addressed, they should also be kept in perspective to avoid historically inappropriate and often unnecessary treatments. This two-part article is intended to briefly outline the issues and suggest preservation sensitive solutions.
Asbestos This fibrous mineral product has been in wide use in building materials since the late 19th century through about the 1960s because of its fire-resistance and durability. Asbestos fibers are very small and light and when inhaled or ingested can cause several diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. While asbestos in a fibrous state, also known as being friable, is a hazard, when it is in good condition and not likely to be disturbed, there is little hazard risk from exposure.
Awareness of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) when planning or undertaking renovation or rehabilitation activities is an important consideration because of the possibilities of exposure to friable asbestos if ACMs are disturbed during the process. And, like lead-based paint, dealing with ACMs shouldn't really cause alarm because methods of treatment are well established; there are also no laws or regulations simply mandating their removal. ACMs include such building products as acoustical surface applications, floor tile, siding shingles, roofing shingles, and pipe insulation. Of these products, those of most concern would be acoustical surface applications and pipe insulation, because in finished form they are already in a semi-fibrous state so are more susceptible to becoming friable if disturbed. If large amounts of these ACMs need to be removed or will be disturbed in a renovation project, it should be done so by professionals. Helpful guidance for dealing with ACMs is provided in EPA's Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in Buildings (Purple Book), Managing Asbestos in Place (Green Book), and Asbestos in the Home: A Homeowner's Guide.
Among the most common ACMs likely encountered will be 9" x 9" floor tile (VAT), siding shingles, and roofing shingles. Because the asbestos in these materials is well contained; for instance, in the shingle products the asbestos fibers are a binder in a cement mixture, as such they pose small risk of exposure as installed, even if broken. This changes, however, if work

activities include drilling, grinding, or crushing them, because of the resulting dust, which will contain asbestos fibers. If a small project includes minimal disturbance, such a drilling one or a few small holes through a siding shingle, simply keeping the ACM product wet during the process will greatly reduce the possibility for creating a hazard. Generally, though, dealing with ACMs during work activities is similar to that for lead-based paint containment, personal protection, using HEPA filters and vacuums, and proper clean up and disposal of waste.
Summary Historic buildings are almost assured to have lead-based paint, asbestos, or both and these materials are likely to be a part of significant historic features and important to retain during renovation or rehabilitation. Lead-based paint and asbestos products also have the potential to be hazardous, but only if they are in a deteriorated condition; otherwise, if maintained or left undisturbed, there isn't a hazard. Equally important is having an understanding that working with these materials can be done in a safe manner that also retains them as historic features and doing so has the mutual benefits of addressing the lead and asbestos hazard problems, preserving historic features and as a bonus reducing the amount of waste that would go to a landfill.
Part 1 Lead-Paint, appeared in the February 2010 edition of Preservation Posts
Georgia State Historic Preservation Office timeline
compiled by Helen Talley-McRae, Public Affairs Coordinator
Part 7: 1999-2001 - Historic Preservation Division; Department of Natural Resources

In 1999, HPD and the Georgia Trust participated in a volunteer work day and archaeological excavation at Jarrell Plantation.
1999 - Ray Luce was appointed as division director and deputy SHPO and held that position until 2009. - The first Preservation 101, annual orientation on statewide preservation programs of both HPD and The Georgia Trust, was held at HPD's office. - Profiting from the Past: Economic Impacts Study, a statewide analysis of historic preservation's impact in Georgia, was produced. - Staff from HPD and the Georgia Trust participated in a volunteer work day at Jarrell Plantation, a state historic site.

- The State Capitol restoration project received $1.9 million in bonds.
2000 - The African American Programs Coordinator position was added. This position serves as a staff liason to the Georgia African American Historic Preservation Network (GAAHPN) and focuses on the preservation of African American historic resources. The quarterly publication entitled "Reflections" was initiated. - The Healey Building changed from leased office space to live/work condominiums. HPD offices moved to the state-owned Trinity/Pryor Building. - A statewide historic preservation conference entitiled Preservation Matters: A Future for Georgia's Past was held in Atlanta. - Staff from HPD and the Georgia Trust participated in a volunteer work day at historic Hardman Farm, a future state historic site in the Sautee-Nacochee Valley in White County. - HPD's annual report for sfy1999 was produced. - Stemming the Tide: A Survey of Submerged Cultural Resources Programs in the United States With a View Toward Georgia was produced. - OneGeorgia Authority (2000); 50-34-1/18 - Legislation created the OneGeorgia Authority to administer the OneGeorgia Fund that supports economic development, including historic preservation. - A+ Education Reform Act (2000); 20-2-260 (c) (10) - Called for guidelines regarding funding for, and use of, schools that are listed in the National or Georgia Registers. - The Governor's Greenspace Program was established to encourage protection of open space, including historic and cultural areas. - Specimen Trees (2000); 48-5-7.2 - Legislation authorized property tax freeze to include costs incurred in preserving specimen trees. - The State Capitol restoration project received $5 million in bonds.
2001 - A County Courthouses and City Halls Initiative was begun by HPD, the Georgia Trust, the Georgia Municipal Association, and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia.

- A survey of Georgia's Rosenwald Schools was initiated by HPD's African American programs staff. - HPD's annual report for sfy2000 was produced - HPD's congressional report for sfy2000 was produced. - State plan, From the Ground Up: A Preservation Plan for Georgia was produced. - Tilling the Earth: Georgia's Historic Agricultural Heritage context study was produced. - Atlanta Housing: 1944-1965 report was produced. - A State Performance Audit of HPD was conducted. - Historic preservation and archaeology were priorities of the 2001 General Assembly: -State Archaeologist's Duties (2001); 12-3-621 Strengthened state laws for the protection of archaeological sites by clarifying law enforcement provisions and confirming private property owners rights. - The Governor's Commission on Georgia History and Historical Tourism was created by HB 190 to study a broad range of history, preservation and tourism issues. - Funding for the Georgia Heritage Grant program was increased to $500,000. - Funding provided by the legislature for various projects and resources:
- $50,000 for a survey report of the graves of former Georgia Governors - $50,000 for the restoration of Hay House, Macon - $100,000 for the restoration of T.R.R. Cobb House, Athens - $200,000 for the Civil War Trail Pilot Project - $250,000 for the restoration of Rhodes Hall, a state-owned property in Atlanta - $750,000 for Resaca Battlefield state historic site development in Gordon County - $1.5 million for the Georgia Cities Foundation. Their mission is to assist cities in their

efforts to revitalize and enhance downtown areas by serving as a partner and facilitator in funding capital projects through a revolving loan fund.
- $2 million for the restoration of future state historic site Hardman Farm, White County - $5 million for the restoration of the Old Governor's Mansion, Milledgeville
Sources: - Georgia Historical Quarterly Special Section: Historic Preservation in Georgia on the 30th Anniversary of the State Historic Preservation Office, 1969-1999 - reprinted courtesy of the Georgia Historical Society - HPD History/Chronology by Carole Griffith, November 2002 - Articles and publications posted on HPD's Web site - www.gashpo.org
- Overview of Georgia Trust GAPA State Advocacy Efforts
Part 1: 1951-1973, Georgia Historical Commission appeared in the September 2009 edition of Preservation Posts Part 2: 1973-1978, Historic Preservation Section, Office of Planning and Research, Department of Natural Resources appeared in the October 2009 edition of Preservation Posts Part 3: 1978-1986, Historic Preservation Section appeared in the November 2009 edition of Preservation Posts Part 4: 1986-1990, Historic Preservation Section; Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division; Department of Natural Resources appeared in the December 2009 edition of Preservation Posts Part 5: 1990-1994 - Historic Preservation Section, appeared in the January 2010 edition of Preservation Posts Part 6: 1994-1998 - Historic Preservation Division, appeared in the February 2010 edition of Preservation Posts
Staff Profiles
Denise Messick, National Register Historian

Denise Messick has worked for HPD since 2002, most recently as National Register Historian. She has completed nominations for several large historic districts throughout the state, including neighborhoods and downtowns. Her previous experience includes employment as an architectural historian for New South Associates, a cultural resource management firm. Denise earned a Master of Heritage Preservation degree from Georgia State University and has been a resident of Atlanta since 1981.
Q: What attracted you to the field of preservation? Most of us at HPD see preservation as more than just a job; it is the way we view our environment as stewards of its resources. After working as a legal assistant for 12 years, I decided in the early 1990s it was time for a career change. While I did not know exactly what I was getting into, the field of historic preservation presented opportunities to use some skills I

already had (such as research and writing) and to gain expertise in a fascinating new discipline. At Georgia State I could continue my day job and earn my Masters degree in the evening. But the main reason I became a preservationist is that I saw the loss of authentic places, and I hoped to be involved in a movement that values and sustains tangible connections to the past.
Q: What are your main duties at HPD? Some of the work is collaborative and some is more solitary. As a National Register team, we meet frequently to evaluate documentation sent to us by applicants who want properties listed. We work with the applicants (our constituents) to guide them through the research, so that they collect the information and are involved in the process from the beginning. We also visit communities to conduct public information meetings for proposed historic districts. Three times a year we present nominations to the Georgia National Register Review Board. The majority of my time is spent writing and finalizing nominations to the standards required for acceptance by the National Park Service. This includes preparing maps, packaging photographs, and trying to ensure that the narrative accurately reflects the significance of a place.
Q: What do you like to do outside the office? Spending time in the outdoors is my ultimate relaxation. I'm an avid hiker and also enjoy paddling a sea kayak. The Georgia coastal marshes are a perfect place to paddle and enjoy wildlife up close. Travel is my other escape. I am incredibly fortunate to have visited around 25 countries on five continents. Of course, historic sites and cultural resources are tops on the agenda.
Upcoming HPD staff appearances
March 24 - Richard Cloues, Historic Resources Chief, will present "The Ranch House in DeKalb County" as part of the DeKalb History Center's "Lunch and Learn" program. www. dekalbhistory.org/dekalb_history_center_events-programs.htm
May 4 - Preservation 101: A Georgia Orientation - annual seminar highlighting HPD's programs and services - www.gashpo.org/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=420

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Title image: Demorest Woman's Club, Demorest (Habersham County) - more