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

In this issue:
-New Deal Art: Post Office murals in Georgia -Tax Program Highlight: The Edward H. Dorsey House, Athens, Clarke County -Archaeology at Fort Morris -Georgians celebrate National Historic Preservation Month -Ask HPD: development and cemeteries -Staff Profiles: Helen Talley-McRae
New Deal Art: Post Office Murals in Georgia
by Denise Messick, National Register Historian

A mural completed by Doris Lee in 1939 still decorates the lobby of the historic post office in downtown Summerville.
Communities throughout the United States have post offices that were built in the late 1930s or early 1940s as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs. The federal Public Works Administration was responsible for the construction of over 60 of these post offices in Georgia. Because they were based on standardized architectural plans, the buildings tended to have very similar faades and floor plans. But there was a way for a town to obtain a unique work of art that reflected local themes and interests. For many post offices, the federal government commissioned artists to add murals to embellish the public lobby with a large colorful image of a scene from American life. Thirty-three post offices in Georgia were selected to feature the paintings, which became important components of the buildings for which they were designed.
Today some people may encounter these murals without realizing how they got there. During the Great Depression several government agencies instituted programs to keep artists working.

One of these was in the Section of Fine Arts in the Procurement Division of the U. S. Treasury Department. The "Section," as it was known, sponsored competitions to select artists to complete works in post offices all over the nation. Commissions ranged from $500 to $800 per mural. Once selected, the artists were given guidelines that focused on celebrating local achievements or popular historical events. Other common themes included rural landscapes, leisure activities, farm products, industry, or transportation. Artists were discouraged from depicting realistic scenes of joblessness or hunger, or anything that might be controversial or offensive.
Mural artists were encouraged to visit the site and then submit design sketches deemed suitable for a particular post office. They had to please at least two clients the local community and the official in Washington who approved the designs. An example of correspondence in 1939 between artist Doris Lee of New York and her Section employer Edward B. Rowan relates to the mural in the Summerville, Georgia post office. Lee writes, "So in the sketch I show their reddish soil, Georgia peaches, corn, & cotton. I hope you like it (the sketch) and if you don't I'll be glad to hear criticism." Rowan responds with concerns about the "stick-like and skinny" human figures, and requests that Lee be sensitive to this characterization of the people as "halffed." In her next letter, Lee is pleased that the mayor of Summerville viewed her work in the studio and said he thought it was very beautiful. Doris Lee's agricultural scene entitled Georgia Countryside is still on display in the lobby of the downtown Summerville post office.
Some murals in Georgia have been moved to other locations (often a replacement post office or other federal building), placed in storage, or left in need of repair. For example, the 1939 Adel post office once had a mural entitled Plantation Life (1941) painted by Alice Flint, which was relocated to the town's new post office. As in Summerville, several murals do remain intact in their original buildings, usually over the postmaster's door. A list of post office artwork in the state is available here. For more general information, refer to this article from the National Postal Museum's website. Marlene Park and Gerald E. Markowitz also wrote a book on the

subject entitled Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1984). In addition to our National Register files, HPD has topical files on post offices and the New Deal, available for research.
Tax Program Highlight: The Edward H. Dorsey House, Athens, Clarke County
by Beth Gibson, Preservation Architect

The Edward H. Dorsey House as seen before (top) and after (bottom) rehabilitation.

Constructed in 1908, the Edward H. Dorsey House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property to the Milledge Avenue Historic District in Athens, Clarke County. Milledge Avenue has been a principal street in Athens since the early 1830s and was named for Governor John Milledge who donated land to the state for the University of Georgia in the late 18th century. In the 1960s the house was subdivided into seven apartments and, later,
the front porch was demolished. After years of neglect, the house was recently rehabilitated and is now used as law offices. The property owner was able to benefit from the tax incentives available for preserving historic buildings: the Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit program (for income-producing properties) and both of Georgia's tax incentives programs for rehabilitated historic properties - the State Income Tax Credit Program and the State Preferential Property Tax Assessment Program.
Over a period of 22 months, the 4,900 square foot house was completely rehabilitated following the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The project included general repairs of existing architectural features and missing elements were replaced, such as doors, windows, trim, wainscot, mantels, and interior finishes. The owner used existing architectural features - as well as physical and pictorial evidence - as guides for the replacements. The project also included some new construction, such as a new roof, new systems (HVAC, plumbing and electrical), a new interior stair to the attic, a new exterior egress stair from the second floor (to meet building code requirements), and a new ramp at the rear (required by ADA for accessibility).
Most notably, the owner was able to recreate the missing front porch using historic photographs and other documentation as guides. One of these was a 1970s photo of the house from HPD's

Survey files, which showed the porch still intact. Another was a 1950s family photo from a previous owner that showed family members sitting outside on the front porch, which included details of the columns and railings. Also, the owner referenced the Sanborn Maps (1913-1947), which showed the original curved design of the front porch. Interestingly, the owner was also able to use some of these historic family photographs to recreate missing elements at the interior, as well.
Today, the Edward H. Dorsey House is once again a thriving part of the neighborhood. The owner's sensitive and extensive rehabilitation contributes to the vitality of the Athens community. This project demonstrates how tax incentive programs can ensure the preservation of irreplaceable historic properties. Find out more about state and federal tax incentive programs on our website.
Archaeology at Fort Morris
by Ryan Kennedy, Review Archaeologist

Fort Morris State Historic Site contains the only Revolutionary War earthworks in Georgia.
Fort Morris is a Revolutionary War fort located along the Medway River in Liberty County. The fort was an important location for American efforts to protect the nearby port of Sunbury as well as a staging point for several attempts to invade British East Florida. While Fort Morris itself was only involved in a single day of combat, it was the scene of one of the most memorable encounters of the Revolutionary War in Georgia. When British soldiers demanded the surrender of the fort in 1778, the American commanding officer, Colonel John McIntosh, refused and instead told the British to "Come and take it!" The outnumbered British withdrew, though they eventually returned in larger numbers to attack and take the fort on January 9, 1779.
Archaeological research at Fort Morris in 2002 was funded by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and was carried out by Southern Research Historic Preservation Consultants,

Inc. This effort yielded a rich documentary and archaeological record and helped to expand interpretation of the site. Artifacts such as buttons, pipes, and personal items provide valuable information about the daily life of soldiers during the Revolutionary War, while pieces of shrapnel and other weaponry bring to life the brief but intense battle that took place at the fort. Today, the Fort Morris Historic Site is managed by the Department of Natural Resources and is open to visitors Thursday through Saturday.
Georgians celebrate National Historic Preservation Month
by Leigh Burns, Preservation Planner & CLG Coordinator
Richard Cloues gave his lecture on split-level houses on May 6 at Rhodes Hall in Atlanta.

During May, hundreds of Georgia preservationists gathered across the state to celebrate National Historic Preservation Month. From Rome to Valdosta, Georgia preservationists found unique and meaningful ways to highlight their own historic resources and their efforts to preserve those resources. HPD's online events calendar for May featured over 30 events.
Preservation Month kicked off with Preservation 101 on May 4th at the old courthouse on the square in Decatur, home of the DeKalb History Center. Many attended the daylong event sponsored by HPD. The orientation is an annual event (first Tuesday in May) for those who want to learn more about HPD programs, initiatives and network with other preservationists across the state. A big thanks to the staff of the DeKalb History Center for helping us host this event and to Mark McDonald for his presentation about the Georgia Trust.
HPD and the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation cosponsored a weekly lecture series related to current historic preservation practices, scholarship, and emerging preservation topics. The series began at Rhodes Hall in Atlanta with Richard Cloues giving a lecture entitled "...and the first runner up is ... the Split-Level House." At the beautiful Hay House in Macon, the Historic Macon Foundation sponsored Mark McDonald's lecture, "Preservation and Sustainability." Mark also gave the lecture the following week at Rhodes Hall in Atlanta. Jim Cothran presented the final lecture of the month, "Landscapes and Historic Preservation Resources." Jim also took time to sign copies of his publications following the lecture. All of the lectures provided new ideas, recognized interesting historic resources, and helped expand attendees' knowledge of preservation topics. A big thank goes out to all of our partners including Georgia DOCOMOMO/US Georgia, Inc., Historic Macon Foundation, The Georgia Conservancy's Generation Green, AIA Atlanta, and the Cherokee Garden Library at the Atlanta History Center. Visit the Georgia Trust's website to learn more about the lecture series.
In addition to our programming at HPD and events planned with the Georgia Trust, many other preservationists around the state hosted their own celebrations. In Cartersville, the Mayor and the County Commissioners joined together at the offices of the Etowah Valley Historical Society

to sign a joint proclamation supporting National Historic Preservation Month. The Cartersville Historic Preservation Commission, the Cartersville Downtown Development Authority, and the Bartow History Museum combined efforts to sponsor a driving tour of historic residences in the Cartersville residential historic district. The local newspaper published a brief history and photos of the historic residences featured on the driving tour. The local radio station also ran a promotion spot during the month of May, reminding community members it was National Historic Preservation Month and providing details about local activities. Twelve residences participate in the driving tour. Community members were so excited about the tour that city officials received numerous calls from residents wishing to have their houses highlighted in next year's edition. Finally, like many other Georgia local governments and preservation non-profits, Cartersville decided to recognize their citizens at the Cartersville City Council meeting. The Mayor and the HPC Chair presented the annual Historic Preservation Awards to outstanding projects completed in 2009. We thank the local government of Cartersville for supporting National Historic Preservation Month. For more information about local historic preservation and community activities in Cartersville please visit their website.
If you would like to highlight your own community's Preservation Month activities please feel free to email Leigh Burns at leigh.burns@dnr.state.ga.us. We look forward to hearing from you.
Ask HPD
Q. What can I do about development encroaching on a cemetery?

The Crowley Family Cemetery was surrounded by the 1964 development of the Columbia Mall (later the Avondale Mall) in Decatur. Recently the mall has been replaced with a Wal-Mart.
A. Some Georgia counties and cities have enacted local ordinances setting out buffers and other requirements a developer must follow when the project area includes a cemetery. Check with your local governing authorities, such as the Board of Commissioners, the planning or zoning department, the development permitting office, and/or the county or city attorney, regarding any local regulations and their enforcement.

In Georgia, local city and county governments are responsible for enforcing local regulations as well as state laws regarding historic cemeteries. Therefore, if you have concerns, you should contact the appropriate local officials and ask how state laws are enforced to protect cemeteries in your community.
Cemeteries can be impacted by several kinds of activity. If you see something happening in a cemetery, first try to find out what is being done and by whom, and if they have they proper authorization from the local government. State laws do provide for the removal and relocation of graves, under certain circumstances, with the proper permits and with the work being done by professionals. In this manner, development is prohibited from adversely affecting cemeteries.
However, if you observe unauthorized disturbance of graves occurring, i.e., persons or equipment involved in ground disturbing activity on known grave plots without proper authorization, contact local law enforcement authorities. This type of activity is illegal and prohibited under Georgia law. Calling your local Sheriff or law enforcement office is the most important thing you can do and is exactly what the Georgia law calls on us as community members to do.
No state laws prohibit development around a historic cemetery nor do require buffers between the development and the cemetery. The laws primarily protect the burials from disturbance. A developer whose project will not impact the actual cemetery is not required by state law to do anything else with regard to it, including cleaning it up. A private landowner is likewise not required to clean up a cemetery on his or her land. Just like a developer, the private landowner is only required to not disturb the graves, in compliance with our state laws.
The three primary state laws in Georgia that prohibit disturbance of human burials are:
Official Code of Georgia 36-72-1 is the law that specifically addresses development impacting a cemetery. Please read the several steps a developer is required to take (paragraphs 4, 5 and 6), including having an archaeologist identify the location of all graves (including unmarked) and also having a genealogist prepare a plan for identifying and contacting descendants. If you are a descendant, your concerns are to be considered regarding the proposed plan for the cemetery.

It may be best for you to consult an attorney yourself to clarify your rights in this situation but certainly contact the local government authorities who are permitting the development, if you have concerns.
Official Code of Georgia 31-21-6 spells out what to do when you believe that burials are being or might be disturbed, or if burials are inadvertently exposed. The law directs you to contact the local law enforcement authority, who is to stop the project activity and investigate the situation.
Official Code of Georgia 31-21-44 generally prohibits disturbing the contents of a grave, the abandonment of a dead body, and the display of American Indian remains.
You can find more information about cemetery preservation on our website.
This answer is based on information prepared for our website by Christine Neal, HPD's former archaeology program coordinator and cemetery specialist, who retired in 2008.
Please send your questions to Helen Talley-McRae at helen.talley-mcrae@dnr.state.ga.us. We'll include your name, organization affiliation, and location along with your question (unless you prefer to remain anonymous).
Staff Profiles
Helen Talley-McRae, Public Affairs Coordinator

Helen has been HPD's public affairs coordinator since March 2000. Her duties include maintaining the division's Web site, producing weekly and monthly preservation e-newsletters, and producing press releases and publications. Before coming to HPD, she worked with the Georgia Archives as a reference archivist. Helen grew up in Atlanta and attended Georgia State University before earning a B.A. in History from Ohio State University. She has served as cochair of the Georgia Women's History Month Committee and currently serves on the board of the DeKalb History Center.
How did you become involved in the field of historic preservation? In addition to my degree, the skills I learned over the years working with the public in retail and the travel industry, as well as writing freelance articles, lead the way to the job I have

now. When I graduated from high school here in Atlanta, I wasn't sure what I wanted to study in college. I began taking core classes at Georgia State University while I worked and traveled for a few years. I really enjoyed visiting London and was able to move there in 1986 on a student work permit. I ended up living and working in England for about six years and was immersed in history on a daily basis. Wandering around in London, you see buildings spanning centuries within blocks of each other. I returned to the U.S. and completed a B.A. in history from Ohio State University in 1996. I moved back to Atlanta and worked at the Georgia Archives as a reference archivist for about two years. I assisted patrons looking for primary documents to use in their researching. Most of the people I helped were amateur geneaologists working on their family history, but a few were professional historians and archaeologists. One of my favorite researchers was Ken Thomas, HPD's historian (he has since retired). In 1999, Ken told me that HPD was hiring for its survey and register specialist position which seemed similar to what I was doing, so I applied. Although I didn't get that job, I was asked to interview for a different position and became HPD's first information specialist. Six months later the position I have now became available and I have been HPD's public affairs coordinator for over ten years.
What do you do on a typical day? What do you like most about your job? As public affairs coordinator for our division, my job involves getting the word out to media and the public about our programs and services and following what's being said about us in the news and online. I write, edit and distribute press releases, and monitor RSS feeds and websites for preservation and archaeology articles. I collect and edit content for our enewsletters, Preservation Georgia Online and Preservation Posts, before passing it on to our communications specialist Charlie Miller, who formats the content, produces the graphics and distributes the newsletters via email. I update our division's website and look forward to learning a new content management system when we are able to upgrade and redesign our site. My job is never boring and I've always got plenty to do. I really enjoy the challenge of collecting information, distilling it and making it accessible - both to the public, who may be new to preservation and archaeology - and to our staff, who are busy working on the details of their programs and may have a different perspective.
What do you like to do outside the office? My husband and I live in a Ranch House in Decatur with our two cats. We enjoy spending time

at home watching movies, reading and relaxing. We travel whenever possible and look forward to visiting more of the west coast in the future. We're very fortunate to have a horse farm in our neighborhood and I take riding lessons nearly every weekday morning before work. It's a fantastic way to start the day and I've made a lot of great friends there.

Please send your comments or suggestions to helen.talley-mcrae@dnr.state.ga.us.

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Title image: The National Register-listed Burge Farm (Newton County) was named a Centennial Heritage Farm at the 2009 Centennial Farm Awards.