Preservation posts: the online journal of the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2012 June

In this issue:
- Message from the Director - Ossabaw Excavations - Georgia Celebrates Historic Preservation Month - "Downtown Georgia" Photo Contest
Message from the Director
By Dr. David Crass, Division Director & Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
As I write this column those of us in state government service are getting ready to close our fiscal year, which runs from 1 July to 30 June. Next Monday starts a new budget cycle, so it's fitting that Monday will also be the first day on the job for our new Historic Resources Section Chief, Amanda Schraner. Amanda of course takes over from Dr. Richard Cloues, who will be staying on in a contract capacity to work on several mission-critical projects including the launch of the latest version of the Georgia Natural, Historical, and Archaeological Geographic Information System (GNARHGIS), the web-based technical review tool developed by the University of Georgia's Information Technology Outreach Services office (located in the Carl Vinson Institute of Government) and funded through Georgia Department of Transportation. Many of you know Amanda from her service as our Georgia DOT Transportation Projects Coordinator. Amanda brings a wealth of diverse experiences to her new job. These include her work with Georgia DOT and the Federal Highway Administration on problematic Section 106 projects and in the development of MOAs, PAs, and non-traditional mitigation techniques, her experience working through the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers with our congressional delegation in Washington, and her blend of both historic preservation and archaeology training, which will be helpful as we work to further develop a proactive and integrated posture in our support of our sister resource-managing divisions in DNR. Several weeks ago I had the privilege of showing Commissioner Williams, Georgia House Appropriations Committee Chair Terry England, and House Game, Fish, and Parks Committee Chair Jon Burns around Ossabaw Island. We spent time at the Cane Patch site (see the story by Jennifer Bedell, below), as well as the 18th-century plantation site being excavated by Dr. Nick Honerkamp (University of Tennessee-Chattanooga). Our visitors also spent time learning about the island's ecosystems with representatives from the Wildlife Resources Division. This was a great opportunity for us to talk about the full range of cultural resources on the island, including the wonderful historic buildings at the north end. The importance of familiarization tours like this can't be overstated; the more our policy makers understand about the public resources we manage, the easier it will be for us to explain our management and budget decisions. I hope everyone is a having a good summer. Based on conversations I have had with partners all across the state, I continue to be optimistic about the overall trend lines for historic preservation here in Georgia.
Ossabaw Excavations
By Jennifer Bedell, Senior Staff Archaeologist
Volunteer archaeologist Aimee Bouzigard records excavation information at the Cane Patch site. For the second year in a row, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga co-sponsored an archaeological field school on Ossabaw Island. The field school focused on two sites, the North End Plantation and Cane Patch Island. Dr. Nicholas Honerkamp led 14 field school students to conduct systematic close-interval shovel testing at the North End Plantation site. Shovel-testing will help to pinpoint the site boundary in addition to remains of buildings or activity areas from the plantation era (1760-1860) on the island. While traces of 18th-century plantations on the Georgia Barrier islands are rare, the North End Plantation contains considerable intact archaeological remains. Survey results will provide a much deeper understanding of the life-ways of these early plantation inhabitants and will increase the interpretive value of The Ossabaw Island Foundation programs. This, in turn, will help DNR with their land management decision-making practices. While Dr. Honercamp was at work at the North End Plantation, DNR archaeologists directed excavations at the Cane Patch site which is about 2 kilometers northwest of the North End site. Cane Patch is a large shell midden of about 60 meters in diameter. Ms. Sandy West, Ossabaw's oldest resident, reports that the shell was the height of "a two-story house" when she was a child in the early 20th century. The site has been damaged by historic shell mining activity. Shell mined from the site has been used to fill roads, build tabby structures, and construct the 1-kilometer-long causeway that connects the site to Ossabaw Island. Initially, because of the amount of disturbance to the site, archaeologists could not say for certain whether the site was a shell ring or a more rare coastal shell mound. These answers were necessary in order to help DNR interpret and determine how best to stabilize the site. Excavations conducted last year near the center of the site found intact archaeological deposits below a heavily-mined area suggesting the site was a shell mound. The results from radiocarbon analysis of carbon samples taken last field season date the site to around 4,700 years ago. Additional radiocarbon samples collected this year will help to determine how quickly the site was formed and what types of human activities created it. For more information about archaeology in Georgia visit our website.
Georgia Celebrates Historic Preservation Month
By Leigh Burns, Preservation Planner & CLG Coordinator
Governor Nathan Deal signed the Preservation Month proclamation on May 2. During May, preservationists across the country celebrated National Historic Preservation Month. This year's theme was "Discovering America's Hidden Gems." Here in Georgia, preservationists continued to find meaningful ways to highlight their own historic resources and their community's efforts to preserve those resources. HPD contributed to several events and activities, including our 2012 "Downtown Georgia" Photo Contest (more details in Charlie Miller's article below) and the annual Preservation Month Lecture Series (in partnership with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation). Governor Nathan Deal kicked the month off on May 2 by signing the official Preservation Month proclamation at the State Capitol. For the fourth year in a row, HPD partnered with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation to host a month-long preservation lecture series related to current historic preservation practices, scholarship, and emerging preservation topics. The lecture series began on May 3 with Jack Pyburn, FAIA, an architect with Lord Aeck and Sargent, who presented a lecture entitled "Technology, Modern Architecture, and Historical Significance in the 20th Century." Other lectures during the series included: "Rail - Peachtree Station with Purpose" by Brian Sweny, Savannah College of Art and Design; "Creating the West Georgia Textile Heritage Trail" by Dr. Keith S. Hebert and Dr. Ann McCleary, University of West Georgia (along with Keri Adams and Andy Carter); "Differentiation Versus Compatibility: What Georgia's Classical Architects Taught us about Renovation" by Wright Marshall, Revival Construction; "Georgia Historic Preservation Handbook A who, what, where and why of preservation in Georgia" presented by Carmie McDonald, Fox Theatre Institute; and finally a bonus lecture "What you need to know about changes to Conservation Easement Donations" by Mark McDonald, President & CEO of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. We would like to thank all of our presenters and sponsors! Local Spotlight: City of Madison Celebrates National Historic Preservation Month
These ten gable vents were the subject of Madison's 2012 "architectural heritage hunt." Courtesy of the City of Madison.
Many cities and counties around Georgia celebrated and hosted local events. In Madison, the mayor, city council, Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) members, planning staff, and local preservationists gathered for the HPC's 12th-annual Ice Cream Social and Annual Preservation Awards. The Madison HPC "initiated the old fashioned Ice Cream Social to encourage interaction between Madison's historic and cultural entities, to acknowledge good preservation efforts during the year, and to take a brief peek at local preservation efforts." The HPC and planning staff also present awards to projects and individuals who have positively impacted historic preservation in the city. This year the city sponsored an "architectural heritage hunt" throughout the city. Prizes were given to those who could correctly identify the gable vents on several of Madison's historic houses throughout the local historic district. Madison has numerous local preservation groups including the Madison-Morgan Conservancy, the Madison Morgan Cultural Center, the Morgan County African-American Museum, Morgan County Historical Society, the Morgan County Landmarks Society, and the Morgan County Resource Preservation Advisory Board. We'd love to hear about what your community did for National Historic Preservation Month. Please feel free to email me at leigh.burns@dnr.state.ga.us. We look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you during next year's activities!
"Downtown Georgia" Photo Contest
By Charlie Miller, Media & Communications Coordinator
This photo of Macon's Terminal Station by Michael Williams won first place. HPD recently held its third-annual online photo contest. This year's theme was "Downtown Georgia," following 2011's "Mid-Century Modern Georgia" and 2010's "Georgia's State Parks & Historic Sites." We received a wide variety of entries from across the state (191 total) that reflect the great diversity of Georgia's historic resources. A panel of six judges selected Michael Williams' photo of Macon's Terminal Station as the overall winner. The Beaux Arts station was built in 1916 by architect Alfred T. Fellheimer, well-known today for his work on Grand Central Terminal in New York City and other major railroad stations around the country. Though it last saw passengers in 1975, the building has been rehabilitated into a special events facility and offices. There was an unprecidented 3-way tie for second place:
Gayle Bowman sent in her photo of the Lowndes County Courthouse in Valdosta. Built in 1905 to replace an earlier courthouse, the Beaux Arts building was designed by significant regional architect Frank P. Milburn.
Samuel Beetler II took a photo of the Cotton Exchange in Savannah. Built in 1886, the Romanesque Revival building was historically known colloquially as "King Cotton's Palace" due to
its extravagant architectural details.
Sam Ratcliffe's photo depicts the GEM Theater in Calhoun. The theater was created in 1936 out of a renovated 1920 furniture warehouse. The building was renovated again in 1982 when a clothing
store moved in. Rehabilitation of the building back to its theater usage was recently completed, and it now hosts a variety of live events. More information is on the Calhoun GEM's website.
We'd like to extend a big "thank you" to all who submitted photos, as well as to our cosponsors: The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the City of Madison, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs - Downtown Development Office, and the Georgia Downtown Association. Stay turned for the 2013 contest, which will have an entirely new theme.
Please send your comments or suggestions to charlie.miller@dnr.state.ga.us.
Not a member? Subscribe now! Our mailing address is: Georgia Historic Preservation Division Department of Natural Resources 254 Washington Street, SW, Ground Level Atlanta, GA 30334 Add us to your address book Copyright (C) 2012 Georgia Historic Preservation Division All rights reserved. Title image: Detail from Paradise Gardens (Chattooga County), listed in the National Register on March 27, 2012.