Preservation posts: the online journal of the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Nov. 2014

Preservation Posts - November 2014
In this issue:
- Message from the Director - November is Native American Heritage Month - The Gillem Logistics Center - CLG Spotlight: Tybee Island - Recent News & Announcements
Message from the Director
By Dr. David Crass, Division Director & Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
What follows is a brief report on the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers Board of Directors meeting, held November 11-12, 2014.
On Tuesday and Wednesday before the National Trust for Historic Preservation's conference in Savannah. I was honored to host the quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO). NCSHPO is a 501(c)(3) corporation registered in the District of Columbia. The NCSHPO acts as a communications vehicle among the SHPOs and their staffs and represents the SHPOs with federal agencies and national preservation organizations. Two of these meetings are held in host states, and typically involve a field day followed by an all-day business meeting. Tuesday we went over to Ossabaw Island. Dr. Paul Pressley of the Ossabaw Education Alliance and I led the trip. Along with NCSHPO board members and their spouses, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Chairman Wayne Donaldson joined us. We visited the Torrey West Mansion and discussed a preliminary conditions assessment that HPD completed recently, and also had a good discussion about potential partners when the house comes back under direct DNR management (Sandy West has a life estate on the property). After lunch we toured North End, and ended up joining the National Trust field group that was making tabby bricks. Tuesday evening we attended the Low Country Boil that Tybee Main Street, Tybee Island Historical Society, and HPD put together.
Wednesday was our business meeting. There were several highlights I want to bring to your attention.
Stephanie Toothman (National Park Service Associate Director, Cultural Resources, Partnerships and Science) spoke at length about some fairly significant reorganization that she has been driving. She has been realigning staff responsibilities, archived the National Register (NR) nominations at the Fort Worth National Archives facility, and has been actively engaged in outreach to underserved communities (this was an initiative of previous Secretary of the Interior Salazar). Perhaps most importantly, she evidenced a strong interest in opening up the 1966 Act to add landscapes to the NR property types. Needless to say, this has been a matter of some discussion both inside NCSHPO and outside, as opening legislation generally, and agency authorizing legislation particularly, brings some special challenges. While the NCSHPO board has not yet weighed in officially on this, at some point I expect that we will.
There was a lengthy discussion and presentation regarding the hydraulic fracturing industry (commonly referred to as "fracking") and its impact on archaeological sites. Section 106 application to fracking is very limited; representatives of the Society for American Archaeology as well as a private firm (Cultural Heritage Partners) are working on a nonregulatory, risk management-oriented approach to try and address this. Amanda Terrell, Director of the Ohio Historic Preservation Office (and HPD alum!), gave a good presentation on Ohio's role in this effort.
The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions has moved to Norfolk, VA, and has a new Executive Director, Paige Pollard. You can read more here. It sounds as if we can look for some further growth/retooling of this organization in the future.
There was a presentation on the 50th anniversary celebration of the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act, which is being spearheaded by the ACHP and Marion Werkheiser of Cultural Heritage Partners . NCSHPO will be coordinating this commemoration with the National Park Service as 2016 also marks the centenary of the agency
NCSHPO Deputy Director Elizabeth Hebron briefed us on the impact of the recent elections on congressional committees. Additionally, the Historic Preservation Fund (the federal funds source for SHPOs) is coming up for reauthorization; NCSHPO is making a substantial investment both in terms of funds and staff time to educate congress on its importance.
Finally, I gave a very brief presentation on the development of a mentoring program for new NCSHPO members. NCSHPO Executive Director Erik Hein developed a brief questionnaire for DSHPOs/SHPOs, and will use this to partner up new members with a more-experienced NCSHPO member who runs an office of similar size, placement in state government, etc. The point will be two fold: help new NCSHPO members integrate into the organization more smoothly and rapidly, and allow the board to identify new members who have specific skill sets and leadership potential for future roles.
I hope everyone has a safe and restful Thanksgiving, and as always, thanks for everything you do for historic preservation in our state!
November is Native American Heritage Month
By Aimee Bouzigard, Staff Archaeologist
Bear Brooks demonstrates the craft of bow making at the "Common Cherokee Farmstead," part of the New Echota Historic Site. In his opinion Maclura pomifera, commonly called osage-orange or hedge-apple, are the best trees for archery bows as the wood is both flexible and durable. All photos by author.
November is Native American Heritage Month, a designation that has been proclaimed annually by the President of the United States since 1990. This year's theme is "Native Pride and Spirit: Yesterday, Today and Forever." According to President Barack Obama's 2014 proclamation, the dedication allows "our Nation [to pause and] reflect on the profound ways the First Americans have shaped our country's character and culture. The first stewards of our environment, early voices for the values that define our Nation... American Indians and Alaska Natives helped build the very fabric of America." As a means to honor the legacy of American Indians, several programs and activities are scheduled throughout the month. Additionally, November 28, 2014 was declared Native American Heritage Day.
Here in Georgia, we have a very rich Native American history that can be explored by visiting several State Parks and Historic Sites. On November 15th, New Echota Historic Site in Gordon County held an event featuring re-enactors demonstrating various skills: Cindi Quay with traditional herbal medicines, Dawn Gilliland Bright with pine needle basketry, Billy Mack Steele with watercolor paintings, Bear Brooks with bow construction, and Sharlene Adams with pucker toe moccasin making. Walking throughout the site during the day's events, one quickly realized that many of the attendees and participants were of Native American heritage, with some even able to trace their roots directly to New Echota. Other programs included music and the reprinting of an issue of the Cherokee Phoenix.
Established by the Cherokee national legislature in 1825, New Echota served as the Cherokee capitol until 1838 when American Indians were forcibly removed to lands west of the Mississippi River during an event known as the Trail of Tears. In the course of its brief history, New Echota witnessed the creation of the first Cherokee Constitution (1827); the founding of a printing press for the first American Indian newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix (1828-1834), published in both English and the Cherokee syllabary; and the signing of the Treaty of New Echota (1835), which ceded all land east of the Mississippi River to the United States, among other notable occurrences. New Echota State Historic Site was dedicated on May 12, 1962, after the restoration of the only original structure to survive on site-- the Worcester House, built in 1828-- the reconstruction of the Supreme Court House and the Printing Office, and the relocation of the historic Vann's Tavern (1805) to the site. Later additions include the museum, an 1830s cabin replica, an early-mid 1800s common Cherokee farmstead with outbuildings, the reconstructed Council House, the relocated 1931 Cherokee Memorial Monument, and nature trails. Archaeological excavations began in 1954 at New Echota, uncovering the locations of old roads and buildings; the foundations of Elias Boudinot's house are now interpreted as part of the self-guided tour.
New Echota was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Over the past decade, the site has undergone extensive archaeological and historical study as part of its upcoming nomination as a Traditional Cultural Place (formerly Property). The nomination is being pursued due to the site's continued use and significance to the Cherokee Nation (headquarters in Tahlequah, Oklahoma), the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (also based in Tahlequah), and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (based in western North Carolina). A Traditional Cultural Place(TCP) can be defined generally as one that is eligible for inclusion in the National Register because of its association with cultural practices or beliefs of a living community that (a) are rooted in that community's history, and (b) are important in maintaining the continuing cultural identity of the community. This is the first TCP nomination for the State of Georgia. So, what better way to celebrate Native American Heritage Month than to learn something about the history and cultures of the indigenous Americans?
To stay informed about the various programs and events held at Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, you can visit the website, or follow Parks and Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites on Facebook.
The Gillem Logistics Center: Preserving Fort McPherson's "Little Brother" for the Future
By Jennifer Dixon, Environmental Review & Preservation Planning Program Manager
While most Atlantans have heard about the potential redevelopment plans of Fort McPherson, many are unaware of the plans being discussed for its little brother, Fort Gillem. Fort Gillem's roots began in 1917 when the Army Depot was established in Candler Warehouse in southwest Atlanta, and its ties to Fort McPherson began immediately. Initially it served as the supply depot for the nearby Fort as well as many other army installations in the area. Eventually it became a sub-installation of Fort McPherson in 1974 and was renamed Fort Gillem. Combining aspects such as the Atlanta Motor Base and the Atlanta Depot in the 1940s and housing facets such as the US Army Criminal Investigation Lab and the First US Army headquarters throughout its history, Fort Gillem was eventually identified by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission in 2005 as obsolete and closed its doors in 2011.
Since the Army must consider the effects of the base closure on the historic resources found at Fort Gillem in order to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act, our office and the Army entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in 2010. The MOA stipulated several measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the property transfer, including a popular report, photographic documentation, including a popular report, photographic documentation, existing condition surveys of identified properties, sharing of historic records, and conservation easements for selected properties.
The popular report, entitled Supply and Demand; A History of Fort Gillem, is an excellent record of the history of Fort Gillem. The report was authored by Brockington and Associates, Inc. and distributed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. It is available to download here (PDF). As stated in the introduction, the purpose of the report is to "document the history and architectural development of Fort Gillem through text, maps, and photographs." The report presents the post's history in detail, identifying its relationship to Fort McPherson. It attempts to "explain how Fort Gillem responded to world events and how the landscape and architecture of the installation was altered in response to them."
Photographic documentation was completed of over 50 resources at Fort Gillem built between 1942 and 1953 identified as eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. This documentation can be found in our office's archives, with plans for digital access in the works. Existing conditions surveys were compiled for 10 resources that make up the core of the installation, all of which were constructed in 1942 in conjunction with the army's automotive school moving from Fort McPherson to Fort Gillem. These surveys are tied to the conservation easements and they, along with a copy of the historic records of Fort Gillem can be found in our office's archives.
With all of Fort Gillem's buildings and most land transferring out of federal control on June 12, 2014, the City of Forest Park has paved the way for redevelopment of the installation. The Atlanta Business Chronicle recently published an article about the potential plans for a Gillem Logistics Center. The prime location (close to Hartsfield Airport) and empty buildings are a "blank canvas to build a state-of-the-art logistics park unparalleled in the Southeast" as explained by David Welch of Starwood Capital in the article. Companies dependent on distribution centers have already expressed interest in the location. The hope is to spark additional development and attract jobs to the south Atlanta economy. Additionally, Forest Park may retain portions of the rural-looking property for a park. This redevelopment of Fort Gillem represents a new trend in companies looking to utilize developed property with existing infrastructure for their logistics operations instead of undeveloped properties. The covenanted buildings will be retained, while the mitigated buildings will be integrated into the development. By blending history and modern development, the story of Fort Gillem and its manifestation in its historic buildings can continue to be viable in the future. More information about our Environmental Review program is available here.
Certified Local Government (CLG) Spotlight: Tybee Island
By Marcy Breffle, Outreach Program Assistant
The Tybee Island Light Station as seen in a historic postcard and as the setting for HPD's event at the National Trust's conference.
Recognized as Georgia's 88th Certified Local Government this past May, the City of Tybee Island has a growing reputation as one of the most preservation-friendly communities in the coastal region. A preservation ordinance was passed in 1999 to create the Tybee Island Historic Preservation Commission (TIHPC), a seven-member board that strives to protect the city's historical resources and educate the community. Recently, the TIHPC has been moving forward with developing design guidelines, identifying local historic districts, and promoting the city's eight resources listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The TIHPC works alongside the Tybee Island Main Street Program and the city's Planning and Zoning Department to preserve the city's cultural heritage.
Preservation efforts undertaken by the TIHPC have been supported and supplemented by Tybee Island's committed citizenry. Tybee Island's private investment in historic preservation is a result of a private/public coalition put together by the late Cullen Chambers and several other dedicated preservationists. Founded to preserve the cultural and natural heritage of the island, the Tybee Island Historical Society has been instrumental in the listing of three National Register historic districts and the documentation of numerous additional historic resources. The society, along with the Friends of Tybee Theater, secured SPLOST funding and a state grant to reopen the historic Tybee Post Theater (c. 1930s) as an entertainment venue for island residents and visitors.
The Tybee Island Historical Society is also responsible for the restoration and maintenance of the landmark Tybee Island Light Station and the Fort Screven Guardhouse. Earlier this month, HPD hosted an exclusive evening reception at the historic lighthouse for preservationists attending the National Trust for Historic Preservation's conference in Savannah. More than 60 preservationists gathered for a low country boil and all-access tour of the historic site, which was held in partnership with the Tybee Island Historical Society and Tybee Island Main Street. For many attending the conference, the lighthouse experience was a highlight of the week.
Tybee Island may be one of Georgia's newest CLG communities, but the city has established itself as a model for preservation and community collaboration. Expect to hear more about local district designations and revitalization efforts in this coastal community in the coming year. More information about the Certified Local Government program is available here.
Recent News & Announcements
Cartersville Downtown Historic District Listed in the National Register of Historic Places - (press release - November 26)
Pine Gardens Historic District Listed in the National Register of Historic Places (press release - November 10)
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) 2014 Georgia Historic Preservation Division All rights reserved. Title image: Downtown Savannah as seen from Hutchinson Island during the opening reception of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual conference.