Preservation posts: the online journal of the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Jan. 2013

In this issue:
- A Preview of Coming Attractions: National Register Review Board Meeting in February - HPD Partner Spotlight: GAPC - Staff Profile: Stephanie Jordan - Recent News & Announcements - Upcoming Events
Division Director Dr. David Crass will resume his regular column next month.
A Preview of Coming Attractions: National Register Review Board Meeting in February
By Denise Messick, National Register Historian
The Academy Awards are not the only nominations on the agenda for late February. HPD will be hosting the bi-annual meeting of Georgia's National Register Review Board on February 22 at our offices. Here is a "sneak preview" of some of the diverse locations for our state's real-life historical dramas, with settings from the mountains to the coast. There will be no car-chase scenes, but we expect all nominees to be winners. The following eight nominations will be presented:
The slogan "See Rock City" identifies a tourist attraction that has long been famous for making itself famous, not just through paintings on hundreds of barns, but also through other clever promotional feats. Rock City Gardens on Lookout Mountain in Walker County began as one woman's vision of a private garden interposed with the cliff-side rock formations. By 1932 Frieda and Garnett Carter had opened the site to the public, offering up an enticing array of winding footpaths, dramatic bridges, panoramic lookouts, and improbable geological forms. This interplay of the natural and man-made landscape was also punctuated with strategically placed gnomes and fairytale creatures among the native plants. Now that curious visitors have been arriving by automobile for over 80 years, Rock City hopes to celebrate another milestone through National Register listing.
Historic districts have been an important mainstay of Georgia's National Register program. Listing buildings and structures in districts allows a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to preservation planning. Three suburban residential developments are on the February agenda, including two very large districts and one smaller district. The Shirley Hills Historic District in Macon was initially listed in 1989, and is now enlarging its boundaries to include later developments and also extending its period of significance to 1967. This will enable more homeowners to potentially take advantage of tax incentives for rehabilitation. The amended historic district encompasses a large, planned neighborhood that includes meandering streets on hilly terrain with a wide range of architecture from early to mid-20th-century types and styles. It represents the migration of Macon's middle- and upper-middle-class residents from dense downtown neighborhoods to more spacious and fashionable suburbs across the Ocmulgee River.
The proposed Windsor Park Historic District in Brunswick, Glynn County, was a planned community on a much smaller scale. The initial plans for the land, which overlooked a scenic marsh, came in 1888 when it was to be developed as a subdivision where wealthy Northerners would spend the winter months. An 1892 recession and subsequent financial crises postponed any residential development. For many years the tract was used as park space with a nine-hole golf course. When the economy improved, Windsor Park was formally platted and laid out in its present form in the late 1920s. Most housing dates to after the late 1930s due to the effects of the Great Depression. As Brunswick's first suburb, the neighborhood features large, wooded lots of various shapes and sizes nestled in a picturesque layout of curvilinear streets that surround a central oval-shaped park. The 178 houses include many in the Colonial Revival and Craftsman styles, plus a variety of other examples of residential architecture typical in middle-class subdivisions from the 1920s through the early 1960s. Windsor Park will be Brunswick's second historic district, following the listing of the Old Town Brunswick Historic District in 1979.
By the middle of the 20th century, an innovative approach to community planning was taking shape. The proposed Northwoods Historic District in Doraville, DeKalb County, is significant as one of the first planned tract developments in Georgia that was built to include not only housing, but also neighborhood schools, churches, and shopping/professional centers. Northwoods encompasses over 500 acres on five contiguous and historically related subdivisions constructed primarily between 1950 and the mid1960s. It was part of an explosion of growth in suburban DeKalb County after World War II. Nearby industries, such as the General Motors plant, provided employment. The developer of Northwoods was Walter Talley, who tried to maintain low costs and high quality in order to appeal to young middle-class families. The first ranch houses were from conservative pattern-book plans. Talley had to work with lenders who were initially reluctant to finance the more innovative designs of the Contemporary-style ranch houses. He collaborated with architects Ernest Mastin and John Summer to devise six model floor plans that could be customized by the purchaser at an affordable price. Two of the neighborhood schools were early designs of noted Atlanta architect John Portman. This National Register nomination was prepared as part of a class project by graduate students in Georgia State University's Heritage Preservation Program.
The former Fulton County Almshouse (1911) is located in northwest Atlanta, adjacent to Chastain Park, on the campus of the Galloway School. Staff and students at this private school have been very involved in researching and documenting the history of their oldest building. Designed by the prominent Georgia firm of Morgan and Dillon, the brick almshouse is an excellent example of the use of the Neoclassical Revival style in an institutional building. Fulton County built two new almshouses in 1911 in order to provide improved residential facilities for the elderly and indigent. The nominated building was for white residents and another nearby facility (now the Chastain Arts Center) was for African Americans. Initially constructed to house 145 women and men, the almshouse operated until 1963 with a population varying between approximately 45 and 200. Superintendent Jessie Early Clark Boynton (1902-1980) ran the facility (also called Haven Home) from 1932 to 1963. Her considerable achievements included instituting recreational programs for the elderly, supervising the women prisoners who did domestic work at the almshouse, pioneering efforts at prison reform, and leading a large institution at a time when women were rarely given positions of authority in Fulton County government.
The importance of railroads to the history of Georgia is represented by three buildings near downtown Forsyth in Monroe County. The Forsyth Depots nomination includes a rare stone antebellum depot (c.1846-1850) alongside an elaborate Victorian-era railroad station (1899) with architectural details that are in remarkably good condition. The 1899 building evokes elements of both the Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque styles. The third building is a separate 1917 baggage room. The Monroe County Historical Society maintains exhibits on the property and also sponsored the nomination.
An architect-designed house in Jones County and a family farm in Banks County complete our February agenda. The Herman and Allene Shaver House is located in the small community of Wayside, near Gray. Designed by Macon architect Ellamae Ellis League in 1936, it is a one-story rustic-style house intended as a seasonal residence with room arrangements conducive to social gatherings of family and friends. League was one of Macon's most prominent architects of the 20th century and the first Georgia woman selected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
The Brooks Family Farm near Lula consists of an 1872 I-house and several outbuildings located on 123 acres. This farm received a Centennial Family Farm Award in 2012.
Summaries of each proposed nomination are available on our website, along with the complete Review Board agenda. At the meeting on February 22, HPD staff will present 10-15 minute PowerPoint presentations about each property. Members of the board will have an opportunity to comment and ask questions before voting on whether the nomination meets the National Register criteria. This is an important step in the multi-phase process that leads to listing. The meeting is open to interested parties and the public. For more detailed information about the National Register of Historic Places nomination process in Georgia, please visit our website.
HPD Partner Spotlight: GAPC
By Marcy Breffle, CLG Program Intern
This month we are featuring the Georgia Alliance of Preservation Commissions (GAPC), a significant partner that works with our division to coordinate local preservation efforts throughout the state. GAPC is a statewide non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing support for Georgia historic preservation commissions (HPCs) through education, advocacy, and training.
Composed of representatives from HPCs across the state, the GAPC board of directors has the experience and knowledge to determine new solutions for the issues facing preservation commissions. A board member of the Monticello HPC and the principal of consulting firm Piedmont Preservation, GAPC Chairman Ken Kocher believes that the answers lie in educational trainings and increased communication between commissions. He states, "For the past several years GAPC has endeavored to restore and maintain statewide training for Georgia's HPCs. The organization's current focus is building a web presence that will serve as a clearinghouse for Georgia HPCs and a forum where they can provide mutual aid."
Currently under development, the GAPC website will offer links to invaluable preservation resources and will list opportunities for future trainings. GAPC members will have access to a best practices library, a forum where members can actively discuss issues and offer advice, and a collection of preservation documents, such as design guidelines and ordinances, for many Georgia HPCs.
GAPC's next project will be to partner with HPD for a statewide HPC training at the annual Historic Preservation Conference in Milledgeville on April 26-27, 2013. The two-day conference will offer informative sessions in three different tracks, one of which will be specifically aimed at addressing issues faced by Georgia's historic preservation commissions. Speakers will include University of Georgia professors Mel Hill and James Reap, who will be giving presentations on preservation law. Commission members will not want to miss this crucial opportunity for training and networking with preservation professionals from across the state.
As the current intern for GAPC, it has been very rewarding and educational to contribute to an organization that is committed to elevating preservation to the highest and most professional standards in Georgia. Guided by a mission to facilitate commission communication, support educational trainings, and promote preservation issues to the general public, GAPC is poised to become a major player in historic preservation in Georgia.
Staff Profile
Stephanie Jordan, Transportation Projects Coordinator
Stephanie at Catherine the Great's Palace, Pushkin, Russia (June 2012). "Um...Can I live here? It's just the summer home."
Stephanie joined HPD in the fall of 2012. Stephanie works primarily with the Georgia Department of Transportation to ensure Section 106 compliance for transportation projects throughout the state. Before arriving at HPD, she worked for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and the Historic Savannah Foundation, a local non-profit preservation organization. Stephanie holds a Master's degree in Historic Preservation and a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
How did you become involved in your field? Growing up in New Orleans (Who Dat!) was the catalyst for my career in preservation. New Orleans is deeply rooted in tradition, heritage (tangible & intangible), architecture and history. Even the high school I attended was founded in 1727! Plus, my papa is a history buff. My childhood memories consist of touring the city, admiring the architecture and hearing "Stephanie, did you know...?!?"
I have been completely inundated. How could I not be a preservationist?
What do you do on a typical day? What do you like most about your job? I am the primary contact for Georgia DOT environmental review projects. As the Transportation Projects Coordinator, I review projects for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, participate in technical assistance meetings with GDOT historians and various consultants, conduct site visits, and speak to the public about how projects affect historic resources and communities throughout the state.
Every morning (after coffee) I look forward to what the day has to bring. I never know what resources will cross my desk. I find my work rewarding in that I play an integral part in the preservation of Georgia's historic resources. I also enjoy working with a dedicated group of professionals who care about the preservation of our cultural resources. I love my job.
What do you like to do outside the office? Lately, you can catch me running on the Silver Comet or exploring my new city. I just moved to Atlanta in September, so I'm trying to find my way around (help!). My husband, Paul, and I bought a house in Mableton near the Covered Bridge Historic District so we've been busy being new homeowners. I'm on the Board of Directors for the Smyrna Historical Society and an active member of the Junior League of Atlanta. If I'm not bustling around town, I'm traveling! I love exploring new places. So far I've visited 21 countries and countless cities. The picture above is from my recent trip to Scandinavia and Russia. Next..? I'm thinking Southeast Asia!
Recent News & Announcements
2013 Historic Preservation Fund grant applications now available The FFY 2013 Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grant applications are now available on our website. These grants are available to Certified Local Governments (CLGs) for Survey & Planning, Predevelopment, or Development projects.
Applications must be postmarked on or before February 1, 2013. Grant awards will be announced by April 2013. Projects may begin in April/May 2013, and must be completed by September 30, 2014. If you have questions about the grant program or application process, please contact Tax Incentives & Grants Coordinator Carole Moore at 404-6515566 or at carole.moore@dnr.state.ga.us.
Porterdale is Georgia's 85th Certified Local Government (Press release - January 30)
Social Circle is Georgia's 84th Certified Local Government (Press release - January 25)
Paine College Listed in the National Register of Historic Places (Press release January 16)
Vienna High and Industrial School Listed in the National Register of Historic Places (Press release - January 2)
Upcoming Events
February 2, 2013 - Decatur Old House Fair - Decatur This day-long event teaches homeowners how to restore, renovate, preserve, and maintain their old houses. HPD will have a booth and staff will be available for questions. http://decaturoldhousefair.com/
February 22, 2013 - Georgia National Register Review Board - Atlanta Full details are available here. RSVP to National Register & Survey Specialist Lynn Speno if interested in attending - lynn.speno@dnr.state.ga.us or 404-651-5911.
April 9-11, 2013 - Section 106: An Introduction - Atlanta Learn the basics of project review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This seminar emphasizes practicalities-how to avoid pitfalls and victimization by myths. Discuss recent changes in regulations and procedures, with an emphasis on coordination with the National Environmental Policy Act and other laws. An agenda is available online at www.npi.org.
April 26-27, 2013 - Georgia Historic Preservation Conference - Milledgeville Up-to-date information - including the call for session proposals, agenda, travel recommendations, and more - will be posted to our website at www.georgiashpo.org/conferences. Please contact Outreach Program Manager Leigh Burns at leigh.burns@dnr.state.ga.us with any questions.
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) 2013 Georgia Historic Preservation Division All rights reserved. Title image: A sign at Rock City Gardens, to be presented at the February 2013 National Register Review Board.