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

Preservation Posts - May 2014
In this issue:
- Message from the Director - So You Found an Historic Cemetery. Now What? - Historic Properties and Homeowner's Insurance: Let's Clear the Air - Recent News & Announcements - Upcoming Events - Available Grants
Message from the Director
By Dr. David Crass, Division Director & Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
Its been a great Historic Preservation Month! From lectures by HPD staff at the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, to the Governor's Proclamation, to events all around the state, it was terrific to see all the enthusiasm surrounding the work in which all of us are engaged. HPD staff displayed their customary leadership, helping organize and speaking at many of these events.
Our Historic Resources Section Chief Bill Hover organized a terrific tour of the Ponce City Market (PCM) for DNR Board members, DNR Commissioner Mark Williams, and Governor Deal's staff. The Project Manager for this $200 million rehabilitation of the old Sears Roebuck Southeastern Distribution Center, Jim Irwin, did a great job describing the federal and state tax incentive programs. As I mentioned to Commissioner Williams, you can talk about the economic benefits of these programs all you want to, but when board members and the Governor's Staff walk through a 2,000,000 square foot project, and see all the development that is spinning off of that (three large apartment complexes across the street, a new park, and new commercial ventures), it makes an impression like no other. Look for further developments later this year as we work to promote the tax incentive programs in some new and innovative ways!
Left: Ponce City Market as seen in a vintage postcard. Right: DNR Board members, Governor Deal's staff, and the DNR leadership team tour the project.
Governor Nathan Deal signed a proclamation on May 1st declaring May to be Historic Preservation Month. Pictured (l to r): Sharman Southall, GDOT; Commissioner Mark Williams; Tammy Herron,
The Society for Georgia Archaeology; Dr. David Crass, Division Director; Joe Rothwell, Georgia Mountains Regional Commission; Governor Nathan Deal; Georgia Trust Chairman Ira Levy; Georgia
Trust President and CEO Mark C. McDonald; Stephanie Jordan, Georgia Historic Preservation Division; Georgia Trust Director of Preservation Kate Ryan; Richard Laub, Georgia State University;
Leigh Burns, Georgia Historic Preservation Division; David Franz, Brockington & Associates
So You Found an Historic Cemetery. Now What?
By Rachel Black, Deputy State Archaeologist - Terrestrial
Tornado damage in Ringgold (Catoosa County).
There are many old cemeteries hiding in the woods and tucked away amongst parking lots, warehouses, and shopping centers. The Georgia landscape is littered with them. So often these forgotten burial grounds are in danger of being lost to time, nature, and in some cases development. So you've found one of these little gems and are wondering what to do now.
Your first order of business should be to define your goals. Do you want to clean up the cemetery and repair the markers and monuments? Perhaps you notice the cemetery has been vandalized and you'd like to report that. Or, maybe you feel the cemetery is in danger of being destroyed. The following information will provide you with a little direction to get your project started and help you achieve your goals.
Destruction and Vandalism If you think the cemetery has been vandalized or that it is in danger of being destroyed, the first call you make should be to local law enforcement. The State of Georgia has legislation that protects cemeteries and burial sites from destruction and the local sheriff's department or city police are the ones who can enforce these laws.
In-cemetery Activities If you would like to give the cemetery a little TLC by clearing the brush and repairing stones, you need to determine who owns the property before you begin any activities. Clearly, if you are on your own land, this isn't a problem. But, if you see a cemetery from the side of the road or somewhere else, this should be your first priority. The last thing you want is to be charged with trespassing. Once you've determined who owns the property, you need to get their permission before beginning any work. (I would get this in writing and carry a copy with you any time you are working in the cemetery just to be on the safe side.) However, be prepared for the possibility of not finding an owner. It is not uncommon for records identifying the last owner to have been lost over time.
Brush Clearing Before clearing a cemetery of overgrown plants and trees, familiarize yourself with the types of plants currently growing in the cemetery and which ones might be traditional cemetery plantings. While it is tempting to remove all plant matter, you might actually be removing something that was intentionally planted by the family of the departed. If you do identify traditional plants, a little selective pruning can help you manage the growth in the cemetery while still retaining some of the original intent.
Cleaning and Repair The first rule of cleaning and repair is do no additional harm. In many cases, these stones are well over 100 years old. The ravages of time, weather, and callous individuals have taken their toll on these delicate monuments. Educate yourself on the proper types of cleaning solutions and repair techniques for different stone types beforehand. Often the best and safest course of action is to clean with plain water and a soft, natural bristle brush. There are a plethora of resources available that provide information about cleaning and repair of cemetery fixtures. Two good references to start with are A Graveyard Preservation Primer by Lynette Strangstad and Grave Intentions: A Comprehensive Guide to Preserving Historic Cemeteries in Georgia by Christine Van Voorhies.
This article is just a brief introduction to help point you in the right direction for getting your cemetery project started. We also have additional information and handy quick tip sheets on our website's cemetery resources page.
Historic Properties and Homeowner's Insurance: Let's Clear the Air
By Stephanie Cherry-Farmer, National Register & Survey Program Manager
Capitol View Manor Historic District, listed in the National Register on December 3, 2013.
Spring has arrived, and houses are going on the market. Throughout Georgia's historic districts, real estate signs are popping up in the hopes that improving weather and summer vacation will bring buyers.
With a home purchase comes additional needs - among them, homeowner's insurance. But for purchasers of historic properties, this is where things can get complicated. Most of these needs, including homeowner's insurance, are part of a system geared more toward new and recently-constructed buildings. When a historic home is part of the equation, misinformation and lack of education are rampant.
HPD's National Register staff often receive calls from prospective homeowner's insurance agents regarding "historic" houses. Typically, an inspector has visited a property that the agent is considering insuring and has reported that there is a plaque on the property or a sign in the neighborhood. When the relevant underwriters learn this, they believe that the property is an increased liability, apparently sometimes to such a degree that they are disinclined to insure it.
It's important to understand that this concern isn't entirely unfounded. After all, older and historic properties are inherently different: unique materials, craftsmanship, and design not only define historic properties as significant, but are also what make them attractive to buyers. However, these elements can cost more and take longer to repair or replace in the event of damage - they often require creative solutions, and the insurance industry generally views this as increased liability. Owners and potential purchasers of historic properties and the professionals that serve them need to be aware of and prepared for these realities, without being intimidated by misinformation.
In responding to inquiries, we usually find that the insurance agent's concern is almost always rooted in misinformation. First, is the property in question actually "historic?" For the purposes of this discussion, "historic" properties are typically defined by a designationthey are either listed in the National Register of Historic Places, or they are designated under a local historic preservation ordinance. HPD helps agents determine whether a property in question is listed in the National Register by verifying if the property is listed individually, or if the address is within a historic district, and if so, if the property at that address contributes to the historic district. Surprisingly, we have received calls concerning properties that were in fact new construction, but because the addresses fall within historic district boundaries, were flagged by underwriters. Many historic districts include some newly-constructed buildings, but because they are non-historic, these are classified as non-contributing to the district. Clarifying distinctions like these is critical when determining what's "historic" and what's not.
Additionally, background research as to whether the municipality or county in which the property is located has a historic preservation ordinance is vital. In jurisdictions with historic preservation ordinances, agents should contact the relevant historic preservation commission or planning and development office to determine whether the property in question is "historic" by virtue of being locally designated. Local designation is a separate process entirely from National Register listing, and has different implications.
Once a property's accurate designations have been confirmed, it's time to clarify what those designations mean. From a property insurance perspective, concerns about "historic" status stem from apprehension about regulation and what's going to be required in the event that the insurance agency has to cover repairs. A fundamental misconception is that a listing in the National Register of Historic Places regulates future alteration and treatment of the listed property. Additionally, the misconception that listing in the National Register mandates public accessibility causes concern about liabilities stemming from use: as one agent put it, "we have concerns about our inability to estimate the level of foot traffic that the property will see."
Misinformation like this can generate serious complications in the process to obtain homeowner's insurance. However, these misconceptions are easily dispelled with a quick inspection of HPD's National Register webpage, which clearly outlines what the National Register of Historic Places does and doesn't do. Fact sheets clarifying these issues are available from our office, as are references to the relevant federal regulations, for anyone wishing to dive deeper into the issue. In sum, a listing in the National Register of Historic Places recognizes a property as historically significant, but has no impact on the future treatment or use of private property.
A variety of additional resources regarding insurance and historic properties is available. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is one useful source of information. Additionally, the National Council of State Historic Preservation Officers has compiled a "best practices" webpage offering information on this issue.
The interest in historic property ownership indicated by recent inquiries to our office about homeowner's insurance is encouraging, but the potential implications of perceived or actual difficulties in obtaining insurance on historic properties in Georgia cannot be taken lightly. It is imperative that property sellers, buyers, and professionals working with historic resources make the effort to educate themselves and others, and clarify misconceptions. As always, HPD is here to help!
Recent News & Announcements
Tybee Island is Georgia's 88th Certified Local Government (press release - May 20)
United States Post Office and Courthouse Listed in the National Register of Historic Places (press release - May 16)
Upcoming Events
June 5, 2014 - Section 106 for Georgia - City Hall Annex, Valdosta Curious about your role as a Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) member or a preservation non-profit staff in the Section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act? Are you interested in hearing national and Georgia perspectives on Section 106 and the Certified Local Government program? Please join us for a one-day Section 106 training sponsored through a federal historic preservation fund grant from the National Park Service. Co-sponsored by HPD, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the National Park Service. A registration packet that includes schedule and hotel information is available here (PDF). Registration closes on May 29.
August 21, 2014 - Summer Historic Preservation Commission Training, Georgia Downtown Conference - DeKalb History Center, Decatur HPD will again sponsor a one-day Historic Preservation Commission Training as part of the Georgia Downtown Conference in Decatur, Georgia. For information about the Georgia Downtown Conference please visit the Georgia Downtown Association website. Registration will open by June 20th.
September 26-28, 2014 - 9th biennial "Preserving the Historic Road" conference Savannah "Preserving the Historic Road" is the leading conference dedicated to the identification, preservation, and management of historic roads. This year's conference is co-sponsored by HPD and numerous other Georgia organizations. Details
Available Grants
SFY 2015 Georgia Heritage Grant Program After a hiatus of several years, limited funding for preservation projects through the Georgia Heritage Grant Program is available for the SFY2015 cycle. This grant program is 60%/40% reimbursable. Applications are now available on the HPD website. The application postmark deadline date is July 11, 2014. Eligible applicants include local governments and non-profit secular organizations for historic properties listed in or eligible for listing in the Georgia Register of Historic Places. Eligible activities include predevelopment projects such as preservation plans, feasibility studies or historic structure reports and development projects for actual "bricks and mortar" rehabilitation." Applications are available on our website. For further information, please contact Carole Moore at 404-651-5566 or carole.moore@dnr.state.ga.us.
2014 Historic Landscape and Garden Grant Program The Garden Club of Georgia is now accepting applications for its 2014 Historic Landscape and Garden Grant Program, which provides funds for the preservation and restoration of Georgia's historic gardens and landscapes. Non-profit organizations, local government, and local garden clubs are eligible to apply for the 50/50 matching grant in amounts up to $3,000. Grants only will be awarded to projects that are historically documented, and projects must be completed within one year. Guidelines and the one-page application may be found at the Garden Club of Georgia's website here.
The deadline for submission is August 1, 2014. If you have questions about your application, please contact Committee Chair Joy Vannerson - 770-540-2764 or joyvannerson@gmail.com - or Carole Moore, HPD's Tax Incentives & Grants Coordinator - 404-651-5566 or carole.moore@dnr.state.ga.us.
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: The United States Post Office and Courthouse in Brunswick (Glynn County), listed in the National Register on April 15.