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

Preservation Posts - September 2014
In this issue:
- Message from the Director: "We Shape Our Buildings" - Interpreting Historic Sites - Historic Preservation Commission Training Returns to Historic Decatur - CLG Spotlight: Griffin - Recent News & Announcements - Upcoming Events
Message from the Director: "We Shape Our Buildings"
By Dr. David Crass, Division Director & Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
"On the night of May 10, 1941, with one of the last bombs of the last serious raid, our House of Commons was destroyed by the violence of the enemy, and we have now to consider whether we should build it up again, and how, and when.
We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us. Having dwelt and served for more than forty years in the late Chamber, and having derived very great pleasure and advantage therefrom, I, naturally, should like to see it restored in all essentials to its old form, convenience and dignity." - Winston Churchill
Churchill spoke these words in the aftermath of The Blitz. A man of the House of Commons above all else, Winston had a deep respect for what we now label "place." This was a natural result of his reverence for history and its ability to teach us, if only we would pay attention to its lessons. Buried within this quote, however, is a subtler message, and one that speaks to those of us who are practitioners in historic preservation. At the time Churchill spoke there was great pressure on him to rebuild the Commons in a "new, improved" configuration. The chambers in the old building were very small, and many Members wanted a more modern building, with modern amenities and above all else, more seating. Churchill pushed back against those wanting bigger chambers--hard--as only he could. He correctly pointed out that the chamber was near-empty most of the time, but that during times of great debate, having Members crowd in, with many standing for lack of seating, lent urgency and weight to the debate. Winston correctly recognized that building design could elicit emotions and sensibilities that influenced human action and in this case, the fate of the nation. In other words, respect for place (and the emotions it elicits) had to be balanced against function as part of the reconstruction process.
How often do those of us in historic preservation face the same dilemma? Here at HPD it's a neardaily occurrence. Whether we are working with a Section 106 project, a tax project like Ponce City Market, or advising a local Historic Preservation Commission, we try to always be mindful of that balance between respect for the building and the place with recognition of the functions we expect that building to support. This often is a difficult thing to do, but I am very proud of our HPD staff for the consistency and transparency with which they apply the National Register criteria and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.
On a calendar note: don't forget the upcoming National Trust for Historic Preservation conference in Savannah from 11-14 November! Several of us will be attending the conference and training sessions. I will be hosting my fellow NCSHPO Board Directors at a dinner Monday night, followed by a tour of Ossabaw Island on Tuesday and the Low Country Boil out at Tybee Light that evening. I look forward to seeing many of you at the conference, and as always, if you have questions or concerns, don't hesitate to get in touch with me.
Interpreting Historic Sites
By Debbie Wallsmith, Preservation Specialist
Engaging a young visitor at Fort Morris Historic Site
If you have ever visited a historic site or spent time with people who work at parks, you might have heard the terms "interpretive theme" and "interpretive period." You might have asked, "What is interpretation?" as well as, "What do these phrases mean and how are they determined?" The following article will define these terms and provide the reader with a thumbnail sketch of how interpretive themes and periods are developed.
Interpretation is "the communication of information about, or the explanation of, the nature, origin, and purpose of historical, natural, or cultural resources, objects, sites and phenomena using personal or non-personal methods (Tilden 1957)." It is the tool used to help people make a connection with the place they are visiting, be it historical site or a natural area such as a park. Interpretation, which can also be viewed as telling stories using factual information, is used to demonstrate the significance of artifacts, places or events. The goals of interpretation are to: relate to the experiences of the visitor; be revealing and informative; provoke not just instruct; and, tell the whole story, not just a part of it. Great interpreters also customize their "stories" so that they are meaningful to people of all ages and backgrounds. The ultimate goal is to make the visit memorable.
Interpretive themes are the cornerstone of the interpretive plan. They are the core around which you build the "stories" you want to tell about the property. Interpretive themes also influence many operational and logistical aspects of the property such as marketing strategies, branding, live programming and may even determine the items sold in the gift shop. Research is a vital part of developing interpretive themes and plans so teams of experts are often organized to tackle the interpretation of complex sites (i.e., properties with both cultural and natural resources; properties with long histories, etc.). The team that developed the interpretation of the Magnolia Springs History Center was made up of geologists, biologists, archaeologists, and historians. The story told here is about how the springs made the property extremely desirable as the location for a Civil War prison camp and for the later development of the property into a state park by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Without the springs, it is unlikely either historical event would have taken place on the property.
Choosing an interpretive period is somewhat similar to determining the historical significance of a property for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Consideration is given to the association of the property to historic events or with a significant person or persons. Attention is paid to the property's historic characteristics as well as changes made over time. Unlike NRHP nominations, interpreters usually select a single time period, particularly in historic house museums. The interpretive period for a given property dictates the way in which the house is decorated. It also determines the clothing worn by living history demonstrators so as to lend an air of authenticity to activities such as candle-making or butter churning. It also dictates which living history demonstrations are appropriate for the time period. You would not expect to find a candlemaking demonstration at FDR's Little White House or Colonial era soldiers firing percussion cap weapons.
At the Reynolds Mansion on Sapelo Island, the interpretive period is the 1930s. It is during this time period that R.J. Reynolds Jr., heir to the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, purchased the island and made most of the renovations to the mansion including the murals painted by Athos Menaboni. However, history does not operate in a vacuum so stories are also told about many of the other owners of the property including Thomas Spaulding and Howard Coffin. Still, Reynolds remains the dominant figure in interpretive programs.
Interpretive planning is a critical tool used in the development of a park or historic site. It is the guiding force in the design of exhibits and interpretive panels, and can influence the overall appearance of a property, which may include planting of period appropriate hedges, shrubs and flowers. An interpretive plan may determine the selection of resale items for the gift shop. It will also dictate the living history demonstrators' clothing and the hands on activities that represent the interpretive period. The development of property specific interpretive themes and periods ensures that the historic site visitor will be "transported back in time" and everything they see and hear will be accurate. In short, it's all about an authentic portrayal of a specific time and place. A visitor will not be greeted at early 19th century Travelers Rest by interpreters wearing Civilian Conservation Corps uniforms and firing Civil War weapons, while serving hot dogs and soft drinks.
"Interpretation is what makes these special places memorable." Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewel
Tilden, Freeman 1957 Interpreting our Heritage. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.
Historic Preservation Commission Training Returns to Historic Decatur
Leigh Burns, Outreach Program Manager & CLG Program Coordinator
Last month, HPD held a one-day historic preservation commission (HPC) training in Decatur's historic DeKalb County Courthouse, home of the DeKalb History Center. Our training was just one part of the Georgia Downtown Conference. The downtown conference is an annual collaboration between the Georgia Downtown Association, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and the Georgia Municipal Association. HPD has hosted this training through our partnership for the last four years. Our one-day HPC Training was a great opportunity for preservationists representing Georgia HPCs and local governments to discuss issues and planning practices affecting their unique historic resources. The training was just one component of the almost week-long conference, which focused on planning, preservation, economic development and other relevant downtown topics.
The DeKalb County Courthouse was constructed in 1898 and is the permanent home to the DeKalb History Center. The DeKalb History Center was initially established as the DeKalb Historical Society in 1947 and provides educational and preservation assistance as well as important research support for many significant DeKalb County preservation and genealogy projects. We have partnered with the energetic and dedicated staff on numerous trainings and we truly appreciate their continued support of our statewide preservation efforts at the local level.
Individual sessions were offered by three speakers that included Ms. Susan Garrett, Mr. Joseph Smith, and Mr. Doug Young. As the Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Atlanta and a professor in Georgia State University's Heritage Preservation graduate program, Ms. Garrett provided valuable insight into the field of preservation law. Mr. Smith, a preservation-focused architect and founder of Hall Smith Office Architecture, discussed historic district design guidelines and the basics of identifying architectural styles and types found in Georgia. Our final presentation was given by Mr. Young, the Executive Director or the Atlanta Urban Design Commission. Mr. Young's "Atlanta's Collier Heights: Designating a Mid-Century African-American Neighborhoods" presentation contained beneficial information for HPCs from municipalities of all sizes establishing mid-century local historic districts. All three presentations were well received and we offer a sincere thanks to our speakers for their involvement.
Ongoing training opportunities are held throughout the year and all new HPC members are encouraged to attend. HPD requires that any Certified Local Government HPC members must attend training once every three-year appointment. The next HPC training will be in the spring of 2015 with the Georgia Alliance of Preservation Commissions and the location will be announced in the months ahead.
For more information about HPC Training and all other conferences and workshops please visit the training page on our website. More information about our partner the Georgia Downtown Association and their educational opportunities is available here. As always, we appreciate the support of the DeKalb History Center and encourage you to visit them in person in Decatur, but also virtually on their website.
For all those who attended, thank you for joining us in Decatur!
Certified Local Government (CLG) Spotlight: Griffin
By Marcy Breffle, Outreach Program Assistant
A blend of small town charm with big city ambition, the City of Griffin is counted among Georgia's eighty-seven Certified Local Governments (CLG) communities. Through efforts to educate the public on tax incentives and raise awareness of architectural treasures, Griffin has emerged as a strong supporter of historic preservation over the past decade. Griffin adopted a historic preservation ordinance in 2002, became a CLG in 2005, and designated its first historic district in 2007. The five-member Griffin Historic Preservation Commission (GHPC) oversees the Historic Downtown Griffin Commercial District and is working to protect the city's historic character through a variety of projects.
One of the GHPC's most recent projects has been the preservation of Griffin City Hall. Constructed in 1910 by Atlanta architect Haralson Bleckley, the Beaux Art style building served as a fire station, courtroom, and city hall. Griffin City Hall was placed on the 2014 Places in Peril list by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. The nomination and subsequent identification generated great enthusiasm for the building and reawakened its importance to the City of Griffin.
Mr. Kenwin Hayes, Executive Director of Griffin's Downtown Development Authority, organized the first City Hall clean-up day on May 10, 2014. The GHPC helped to sponsor the effort by recruiting volunteers to clean up debris. Beautiful weather and an outpouring of support from the community made this event a great success. GHPC Chairman Jim Ogletree led a team that removed partitioned walls, paneling, drop ceilings, and boards over windows and doors. The clean-up day was a great way to celebrate Historic Preservation month and work on the historic structure continues today.
The GHPC is also working to update their website. Expect to see more information and photos of significant preservation projects as the GHPC works to preserve its communal heritage for future generations. More information about the Certified Local Government Program can be found here.
Recent News & Announcements
Stewart County Historical Commission Receives Grant Funded by Preservation License Plate (press release - September 30)
Swift Manufacturing Company Listed in the National Register of Historic Places (press release - September 30)
Kensington Park-Groveland Historic District Listed in the National Register of Historic Places (press release - September 23)
Upcoming Events
November 11-14, 2014 - Past Forward: 2014 National Preservation Conference Savannah The National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual conference will be held in Georgia for the first time in many years. Full details are available here.
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 Swift Manufacturing Company, listed in the National Register on September 10, 2014.