Reflections- Georgia African American Historic Preservation Network, Vol. 5, no. 1 (Feb. 2005)

Volume V, No. 1 February 2005
A Program of the Historic Preservation Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
continued on page 2
PRESERVING GOSPEL PILGRIM CEMETERY
Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery is located in Athens on a nine-acre
site in an African American neighborhood known as East
Athens. The cemetery boundaries include Fourth Street,
Springfield Baptist Church, Hillcrest Cemetery and a CSX railroad
line. The main entrance to the cemetery is on Fourth Street, where
a series of unpaved roads slope in a curvilinear pattern ending at
the railroad tracks. Many gravestones of prominent African
Americans lie along the main road, interspersed with family and
individual plots of various sizes.
The Gospel Pilgrim Society was an African American
organization that was established to meet the needs of the
community for burials in the late 19th century. Though the primary
purpose of the society was burial insurance, medical and disability
benefits were offered to members. By 1919, approximately 75% of
the African American community belonged to the Gospel Pilgrim
Society or other lodges that provided burials and life insurance.
Members paid dues amounting to ten cents weekly to ensure a
funeral and proper burial in the cemetery. Families assumed
responsibility for maintenance of plots, and visited gravesites on
birthdays, Sundays and holidays. The society had no formal
perpetual care program, but
maintained the site continuously
until the last member, Alfred Hill,
died in the early 1970s.
The site is densely
wooded and reflects the gradual
change of the community from
an agricultural to urban setting.
In 1882, when the Gospel Pilgrim
Society purchased 8.25 acres for
the cemetery, the community
was agrarian. By 1902, the
society purchased an additional
.75 acres, and sold some land to
construct Springfield Baptist
Church in 1905. The site is
covered with mature trees
that accentuate its wooded
appearance. Today, the site is on a major road surrounded by
homes and social services that links the East Athens community to
downtown businesses. Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery remained the
principal Athens cemetery for African Americans until the 1970s,
when integration presented new burial options for the community.
When accessing the
cemetery from the main road,
one of the family plots is the
final resting place of Monroe
Bowers “Pink” Morton and his
descendants. Morton was
born in 1856, and he was the
son of a slave mother and a
wealthy white landowner. Until
emancipation, Morton lived on
the Phinizy plantation near
Athens. With little formal education, Morton started a contracting
business, and became a leading politician during Reconstruction.
In 1896, Morton was a selected as a delegate to the Republic National
Convention, and was a member of the committee that informed
William McKinley of his
nomination as the party’s
presidential candidate. Morton
was appointed as the U.S.
Postmaster in Athens in 1897,
and became the second African
American to hold that post.
After five years in office, Morton
renewed his construction
business, and built numerous
homes and commercial buildings
in Athens that still exist today.
His most significant legacy was
the Morton Building and
Theatre. Many African
American doctors and dentists
maintained their offices in the
The Morton family plot is enclosed by
a chain link fence.
The landscape of Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery consists of numerous mature trees
surrounding gravesites along unpaved roads. Photo by James R. Lockhart
2
continued from page 1
PRESERVING GOSPEL PILGRIM CEMETERY
Athens carriage maker in 1833. He began his political career in 1867
as a delegate to the state constitutional convention and was elected
to the General Assembly the following year. When 26 African
Americans were expelled from the Georgia Assembly in 1868
because of their race, Davis and three others remained due to their
light skin color. He served two terms in the legislature and was
Athens’ first African American postmaster.
William A. Pledger
was born near Jonesboro in
1852. Like Monroe Morton, he
was the offspring of an
enslaved mother and white
planter. Pledger attended
Atlanta University and
emerged as a lawyer, newspaper
publisher and political leader.
When he came to Athens, he
and William H. Heard cofounded the Athens Blade, a
weekly African American
tabloid that discussed racial
injustice. Pledger’s political
career included continuous service as a Georgia delegate at-large
to the Republican National Convention from 1876-1900.
A number of African American educators are interred at
Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. Samuel F. Harris, who completed all
requirements at the University of Georgia, was denied a degree due to
his race, in spite of the support of the white community. Local
businessmen rallied to send him to Morris Brown College, where he
was awarded a master’s degree. He began his teaching career at the
West Broad Street School in Athens, and, while principal, introduced
vocational education to the curriculum. By 1917, Harris was
principal of the Athens High and Industrial School. Under his
leadership, it became the first accredited African American public
secondary school in Georgia.
Annie Smith Derricotte was one of Athens’ leading African
American teachers. She was a graduate of Atlanta University and
taught at Knox Institute, one of Georgia’s first schools established
by the Freedmen’s Bureau. She later started her own normal school
to prepare others for teaching careers.
When the Gospel Pilgrim Society ceased operations in the
1970s, individual family visitation and maintenance declined, and
Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery gradually deteriorated. By 1986, the
community began efforts to remove debris from the site. In 2002,
Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery was so neglected that community
volunteers removed 30 tons of garbage from the site. At that time,
the City of Athens and the East Athens Development Corporation
(EADC) began a series of preservation initiatives. A metal gate
was installed in 2003 to limit trespassing in the cemetery. EADC
enlisted the services of The Jaeger Company and Southeastern
Archaeological Services to develop a master plan for cemetery
preservation. The archaeological investigation documented 100
marked graves and estimated up to 3,000 unmarked graves from
depressions throughout the cemetery.
The graves of the Jackson doctors
are among the largest family plots in
Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery.
Morton Building, while the
theatre became a major
vaudeville house. When the
theatre opened in 1910, the
Athens Daily Herald described
it as the “largest building of its
kind owned exclusively by a
colored man in the world.”
Some of the doctors
who worked in the Morton
building were Farris and Albon
Jackson, and the dentist
Burnett L. Jackson. These
physicians provided services
in the African American
commercial district known as
“Hot Corner.” The Morton
Building was the cornerstone
of this area, where African
Americans received medical
treatment during segregation.
At night, it became the
center of African American
entertainment.
Gospel Pilgrim
Cemetery is the final resting
place for two African
American legislators who
served during the turbulent
Reconstruction Era. Alfred
Richardson was born enslaved in Walton County around 1837.
After emancipation, Richardson worked as a grocer, and later became
a carpenter. In 1867, Richardson became a member of the Union
League, a leading proponent of national suffrage. The Union League
advocated for voting rights for African Americans. Because of his
radical politics, Richardson
was often a target for the Ku
Klux Klan. In one incident, he
was shot and believed dead
when the Klan attempted to
burn his home. Richardson
survived the ordeal, and was
elected to the Georgia General
Assembly in 1868. He was reelected for a second term, but
died in 1872.
The other African
American legislator who
emerged during Reconstruction
with Alfred Richardson was
Madison Davis. Like
Richardson, Madison Davis
was born enslaved to an
This is the grave of Madison Davis,
one of Athens’ first African American
legislators during Reconstruction.
One of Monroe”Pink” Morton’s
descendants’ gravestone is shaped
like a tree. Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque William Pledger’s gravestone is
located near the main entrance to
Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery.
3
MASTER PLAN REVITALIZES
EAST ATHENS CEMETERY
Brian W. LaBrie
The Jaeger Company
The Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery was established by a fraternal society
in the late 19th century. It is located on Fourth Street in the
historically African American East Athens community. African
Americans in the area paid dues to the Gospel Pilgrim Society and
this guaranteed them a burial plot in the cemetery as well as a
proper funeral. This cemetery was the only African American
cemetery in Athens until the mid-twentieth century. Many prominent
members of the African American community were interred at this
cemetery, including two Reconstruction-era legislators from Hall
County: Madison Davis and Alfred Richardson. Gospel Pilgrim
Cemetery is the final resting place for Monroe B. Morton, a
prominent contractor in the southeast and owner of the historic
Morton Theatre in Athens. Unfortunately, due to the emergence of
other cemeteries for African Americans, the Gospel Pilgrim Society
no longer was the only burial option by the 1970s. By 2002, the
cemetery appeared neglected and dense vegetation covered many
gravestones. At that time, the East Athens Development
Corporation (EADC) began efforts to revitalize the site.
EADC, with the support of the community, decided that
this cemetery was an important resource that should be utilized as
a green space and historic site. They secured funds for the
revitalization of the cemetery from the Georgia Department of Labor
to provide jobs for residents of the East Athens community for
cleaning, perpetual care, and interpretation of the site. EADC hired
The Jaeger Company (TJC) and Southeastern Archeological
Services (SAS) to create a master plan, a guide that outlines and
provides information on the steps needed to implement their
revitalization initiative. The primary goal for EADC was the
revitalization of the cemetery. Fieldwork was undertaken by SAS to
determine the number of burials and map the road network of the
cemetery. The Jaeger Company used this information and other
existing research documents to understand the historic context of
this unique site. This information, along with accepted preservation
standards provided in The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for
Rehabilitation, was used to develop the master plan.
To achieve the revitalization goal of the master plan, issues
such as access, security, maintenance, organization, administration,
interpretation and heritage tourism were identified. These issues
were documented and prioritized for EADC to accomplish in phases.
Thus, each successive phase could build on the previous one.
Once the master plan was completed, EADC secured funds
to clean up and secure the cemetery. When Phase One was
completed, EADC unveiled a new entry gate on October 11, 2004.
The new gate secured the site and deterred illegal dumping of trash.
With the master plan to guide them, EADC is focusing on Phase
Two. This phase will include resurfacing of the road network with
pedestrian paths and limited vehicular use.
The master plan outlined a number of phases to address
cemetery cleanup, security and maintenance of the site. Gospel
Pilgrim Cemetery created an opportunity for new jobs in the
community, and the Georgia Department of Labor awarded a $100,000
grant to create six permanent landscaping jobs and 12 temporary
jobs to support masonry projects like the stone entrance and
gravestone repairs.
The Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center
(RDC) coordinated the process for selecting project consultants
who developed the master plan. Burke Walker, the RDC historic
preservation planner, is particularly proud of a grant they received
from the Georgia Forestry Commission to hire a certified arborist to
assess the site. The RDC nominated EADC for an award that
achieved national recognition for their preservation initiative from
the National Association of Development Organizations.
With the sponsorship of Athens-Clarke County and EADC,
Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery was listed in the Georgia Register of Historic
Places, and a National Register nomination is pending. Currently,
Winston Heard, executive director of EADC, is implementing the
second phase of the master plan that will reclaim the cemetery’s
walking trails that inform the public about this sacred place, a
treasure of Athens’ African American past.
In October 2004, a new gate was unveiled at the main entrance to Gospel
Pilgrim Cemetery after implementation of Phase One of the master plan.
Fallen trees and overgrowth were removed to reclaim the earlier 20th
century wooded appearance of the cemetery.
Photo courtesy of The Jaeger Company
In August 2003, this was the gate at the main entrance to Gospel Pilgrim
Cemetery before the master plan was implemented.
Photo courtesy of The Jaeger Company
4
RECLAIMING AFRICAN AMERICAN CEMETERIES IN LITHONIA
Lithonia’s earliest European settlement began in 1840, when 100
people lived in a community called Cross Roads. During the
next five years, the Georgia Railroad completed its line from Augusta
to what later became Atlanta. By 1850, the population of Cross Roads
increased to 250 residents, and in 1856 it was incorporated as Lithonia.
These early settlers were primarily farmers. Some, like
Jacob Chupp, owned slaves and produced cotton until the 20th
century. After the Civil War,
Lithonia became a granite
producer, and the first quarry
opened in 1879. During the next
ten years, skilled immigrants
migrated to the area to work as
stonecutters, and many African
Americans left farms for jobs as
laborers in the quarries. The
Chupp family gradually sold
parts of their land to the
emerging quarries, and by
1929, the farm, and the final
resting place of many African
Americans who were buried at the Lithonia One Cemetery, became
the property of Davidson Mineral.
In 1971, when new
owners were disposing of
sections of the property
that did not generate
income, they deeded
Lithonia One Cemetery to
the Lithonia Civic League.
This African American
organization was founded
to promote civic pride and
to fight discrimination.
Lucious Sanders, who died
in 1993, was the community
leader of the Lithonia Civic League. Sanders served in World War
II, and when he returned home, he started the first voter registration
drive in DeKalb County. He fought for recreational facilities for
the African American community in Lithonia, and was the first
black member of the DeKalb County Parks and Recreation Board.
Many African Americans lived in a community adjacent
to the Lithonia One Cemetery known as Bruce Street. This
community was established around 1895. Former slaves, farmers
and quarry workers lived on Bruce Street. Union Baptist Church
and the Yellow River School were Bruce Street community landmark
buildings that faced the Lithonia One Cemetery. The first Yellow
River School burned in 1935, and today only a granite shell remains
of the school that replaced it in 1938. In the 1960s, an elementary
school was built that is presently the DeKalb County Police
Department Training Academy.
The Lithonia One Cemetery occupies 6.7 acres, and most
of its boundaries, except for the southwest corner, lie in
unincorporated DeKalb County. On the north border there is a
community baseball field. The cemetery is accessible from Walker
Road, where the police academy occupies the other side of the
street. Walker Road is partially paved, and the remote sections are
accessible from an unpaved, dirt driveway.
The Friends of Lithonia African American Cemetery
(FLAAC) was formed to preserve the cemetery and develop a
maintenance plan for its continued care. FLAAC cleared small
trees, undergrowth and bushes in most of the cemetery. These
volunteers, led by Barbara Lester, work diligently on weekends to
remove debris and fallen leaves. Barbara Lester is a member of the
Lithonia City Council. While FLAAC raised funds to clear the
cemetery, they nurtured partnerships to assist them. FLAAC
received assistance from the Georgia State University Heritage
Preservation program. Students from the Historical American
Landscapes and Gardens class provided a research report that
FLAAC will use for future preservation initiatives. The research
report contains information that can support a National Register
nomination. FLAAC is working closely with the Arabia Alliance
to ensure that Lithonia One Cemetery is a viable site in the Arabia
Mountain Heritage Area.
Kelly Jordan, chair of the Arabia Alliance, and Barbara
Lester also visited the Flat Rock Cemetery in Lithonia. Johnny
Waits and other descendants are in the early stages of preserving
this African American cemetery, nestled on a hill adjacent to a new
Barbara Lester is the president of the Friends of Lithonia’s African American
Cemetery (FLAAC). While she is proud of FLAAC’s community effort to
clean the cemetery, she envisions a potential National Register nomination
and a site in the Arabia Alliance heritage corridor. Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque This grave enclosure is made of red
bricks with a cross on the headstone
and grave. Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque
This family plot is surrounded by a
concrete wall. Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque
Some headstones are provided by African American funeral homes, such as
Cox Brothers and Haugabrooks. Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque
Have you ever ridden along a highway, suddenly noticed
a small group of tombstones on the weed-covered roadside,
and wondered why it wasn’t being taken care of? Or, did you grow
up hearing stories about graves
being “up on the hill” and now
that a development is coming
in, you question what will
happen to them? Maybe
you’ve gotten hooked on your
family genealogy or the
history of your community, and
finding the location of your
ancestors’ graves is a top
priority. What do you do?
Many people have
questions relating to old
graveyards and recently a
guidebook was published in
Georgia to provide some of
those answers. Grave
Intentions: A Comprehensive
Guide to Preserving Historic
Cemeteries in Georgia, by
Christine Van Voorhies
(presently Neal), was written to
5
Christine Van Voorhies Neal, Archaeology Outreach Specialist
Historic Preservation Division
CARE AND NURTURING
OF HISTORIC CEMETERIES
continued on page 6
answer the wide variety of questions most frequently asked about
cemeteries. As the Archaeology Outreach Specialist at the Historic
Preservation Division (HPD), I honed my expertise in cemetery
preservation by researching and responding to questions from the
public over the last five years. There are hundreds of historic
cemeteries all across the state in need of restoration and protection
with hundreds of people who are interested in some aspect of their
care. To address these concerns, this book offers valuable advice
on topics such as ownership and access to a cemetery, recording
and commemorating graveyards, how to plan a clean-up or
restoration project, repairing tombstones, ensuring protection from
development or other impacts, funding for cemetery projects, and
understanding the applicable Georgia laws.
Grave Intentions is an easy-to-read text for learning what
to do and not to do with historic cemeteries. For example, chapter
three suggests the general issues to be considered before any
maintenance work begins, and then discusses when and how to
proceed. Remember that throughout history, people have been
buried in the manner their loved ones felt was meaningful, following
family, cultural, and religious traditions of their time. The decorative
items and plants placed on the grave– regardless of how those
items might look today – were significant to them and should be
respected today. In Grave Intentions, learn how to determine the
difference between trash and grave decorations, and between weeds
and purposeful plantings that should be left in place, in order to
preserve this important part of the cemetery’s history.
subdivision. Flat Rock
Cemetery is located near the
intersection of Evans Mill and
Lyons Roads in Lithonia.
While the old road connected
to the cemetery, today the
cemetery is only accessible by
walking up the hill. Waits has
identified a number of families
interred at Flat Rock who have
celebrity descendants. He
plans to contact these families
to raise funds for the cemetery
preservation. The Arabia
Alliance is working with
DeKalb County to purchase
and protect this cemetery.
Both Lithonia One and Flat Rock Cemeteries are examples
of a growing interest among African Americans to preserve the
final resting places of their ancestors. Barbara Lester and Johnny
Waits believe that their preservation efforts help to raise community
awareness about Lithonia’s African American past and provide
important information to pass on to future generations.
Johnny Waits stands by the grave of
one of his ancestors who is buried at
Flat Rock Cemetery.
Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque
The gravestone of Willie F. Waits in Lithonia’s Flat Rock Cemetery is handcarved and made from concrete. Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque
The grave of Joe Austin is maintained
by the Progressive Men’s Club at the
Wahoo Baptist Church and Cemetery
in Gainesville.
Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque
The book also has an extensive list of other good sources
for expert advice, including publications, consultants, organizations,
and websites. Additionally, the appendix of applicable Georgia
laws is an essential reference when questions arise about access to
cemeteries on private property, descendants’ rights, and protection
from development or vandalism. These laws are not well known,
even among law enforcement officials and local government
authorities, so having the text of the laws in hand to offer as
information is a powerful tool when approaching the county or city
about protecting a local graveyard.
Statewide and locally, she is known for her passion and
commitment to preservation. She has worked diligently at the state
level to develop linkages between various sites associated with the
“Chitlin Circuit” of theatres where African American performers
played during the first half of the twentieth century. She has brought
local recognition to properties of historical and architectural
significance in Columbus’s African-American community.
Among her most
outstanding achievements
include the restoration of
three downtown Columbus
landmarks - the William H.
Spencer House, the Ma
Rainey House and the
Liberty Theatre. She not only
secured the initial funds to
restore the Ma Rainey house
but also promoted Ma Rainey’s
national recognition through
the issuance of her stamp.
Her consistent advocacy and
perseverance has been the
driving force behind the
revitalization and local
designation of the Liberty
Heritage Historic District.
In 1993, she was selected as one of the 50 most influential
African Americans in Columbus, Phenix City and Ft. Benning. For
her tireless efforts in preservation in Columbus and across Georgia,
she was awarded the Governor’s Award in the Humanities in 2004.
She has been a long time friend and supporter of Historic
Columbus Foundation. It is my great pleasure to award this year’s
Sarah Turner Butler Heritage Award to Charlotte Frazier.”
6
THE HISTORIC COLUMBUS FOUNDATION
SARAH TURNER BUTLER HERITAGE AWARD
Historic Columbus Foundation (HCF) celebrated its 38th year at
the annual meeting held at the Columbus Ironworks
Convention and Trade Center. Following dinner, HCF honored
preservationists. Thomas L. French, Jr. and Dr. John S. Lupold
were two of the honorees recognized for their recent book: Bridging
Deep South Rivers, The Life and Legend of Horace King. St. James
A.M.E. Church was recognized for an appropriate addition to
the original 1875 sanctuary in the Liberty Heritage Historic
District. As a special video presentation began, John M. Sheftall,
president, announced the recipient of the HCF lifetime
achievement award:
“This year’s recipient
of the Sarah Turner Butler
Heritage Award has been an
ardent preservationist for
thirty years. Her work in
Columbus and in Georgia has
led to many achievements and
awards. She has received
accolades from the Historic
Chattahoochee Commission,
Historic Columbus Foundation
and the Georgia Historic
Preservation Division. She
has served on Georgia’s
National Register Review
Board and the Columbus
Board of Historic and
Architectural Review for two
terms. She has also held the position of Chairman of the Georgia
African American Historic Preservation Network.
Christine Van Voorhies Neal, continued from page 5
CARE AND NURTURING
OF HISTORIC CEMETERIES
Who will take care of these old, neglected cemeteries?
The answer is WE will -we as community members, we as local
governing officials, and we as families and descendants.
Unfortunately, Georgia government has no money available for
care and maintenance of private family cemeteries all across the
state, which we estimate to number at least 15,000. However, HPD
and the Department of Natural Resources can offer guidance about
the topics to be considered when working with a cemetery, best practices
for cleaning up a graveyard, places to go for assistance – both political
and financial – and the text of laws and suggestions regarding legal
issues, including when it is necessary to consult an attorney.
Please be sure to visit our website at www.gashpo.org
and browse the information on cemeteries under Archaeological
Services. Copies of Grave Intentions can be purchased from the
Historic Chattahoochee Commission for $12.95 plus $4.00 shipping at
P. O. Box 33, Eufaula, AL 36072-0033, or by phone at 334/ 687-9755. All
sales proceeds are dedicated to future cemetery preservation projects.
Charlotte Frazier and Virginia
Peebles, executive director of the
Historic Columbus Foundation, Inc.
celebrate her award. Isaac Johnson, chairman of the Georgia African American Historic
Preservation Network, and Reverend Scottie Sweeney, pastor of St. James
A.M.E. Church, congratulate Charlotte Frazier. Reverend Sweeney received
an award for the church addition that complements the historic character of
the Liberty Heritage Historic District. Photo by Jeanne Cyriaque
Jeanne Cyriaque congratulates
Charlotte Frazier, the 2004 recipient
of the Sarah Turner Butler Heritage
Award. Photo by C. Donald Beall
Karl Webster Barnes
Atlanta, 404/758-4891
C. Donald Beall
Columbus, 706/569-4344
Corinne Blencoe
LaGrange, 706/884-8950
Linda Wilkes
Atlanta, 678/686-6243
Thomas Williams
Kennesaw, 678/445-5124
Isaac Johnson
Augusta, Chair
706/738-1901
Beth Shorthouse
Atlanta, Vice-Chair
404/253-1488
Jeanne Mills
Atlanta, Secretary/Treasurer
404/753-6265
GAAHPN STEERING COMMITTEE
Jeanne Cyriaque
African American
Programs Coordinator
Reflections Editor
Voice 404/656-4768
Fax 404/657-1040
jeanne_cyriaque@dnr.state.ga.us
STAFF
THE CENTENNIAL FARM PROGRAM
Centennial Family Farm Award – this category honors farms that
were owned by members of the same family for 100 years or more.
To receive an award, an application with supporting
documentation must be completed. Applicants must submit
photocopies of supporting documents showing original family
purchase, proof of 100 years of continual family ownership, and a
brief description of the history of the farm.
Applications are approved and selected by the Centennial
Farm Program Committee. Applications are accepted throughout
the year, but must be received by March 1, 2005 to qualify for the
next award cycle.
For more information or an application, contact Gretchen
Brock, National Register Coordinator, at 404/651-6782 or email her
at: gretchen_brock@dnr.state.ga.us. 7
African American
Centennial Family Farms
1994
John and Emma Jane Rountree Farm
Brooks County
1995
Carranza Morgan Farm
Sumter County
1996
Lewis Clark Estate
Thomas County
2000
James Fowler Farm
Worth County
2001
Dave Toomer Estate
Houston County
2002
Zack Hubert Farm
Hancock County
Isaac Johnson
Chairman
I
n 1992, Georgia joined several states in establishing a program to
recognize historic farms. The purpose of the program is to honor
Georgia’s farmers for their contributions to the state’s agricultural
heritage and to encourage preservation of agricultural resources
for future generations. To qualify, the working farm must remain in
the same family for over 100 years or the farm must be at least 100
years old and be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Each farm must be a working farm with a minimum of ten acres or
$1,000 annual income. Recognition is given to farms through one
of three distinguishing awards:
Leola Hubbard and Dr. Clinton Warner, descendants
of Zack Hubert, celebrate the legacy of this centennial
heritage farm. A Georgia Historical Marker was
erected at the site of the Hubert home in Hancock County.
African American
Centennial Heritage Farms
2001
Carranza Morgan Farm
Sumter County
2003
Zack Hubert Farm
Hancock County
Centennial Heritage Farm Award – This award honors farms owned
by members of the same family for 100 years or more that are listed
in the National Register of Historic Places.
Centennial Farm Award – This category does not require continual
family ownership, but the farm must be at least 100 years old and
must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Georgia African American Historic Preservation Network (GAAHPN)
was established in January 1989. It is composed of representatives from
neighborhood organizations and preservation groups. GAAHPN was formed
in response to a growing interest in preserving the cultural and ethnic diversity of
Georgia’s African American heritage. This interest has translated into a number of
efforts which emphasize greater recognition of African American culture and
contributions to Georgia’s history. The GAAHPN Steering Committee meets regularly
to plan and implement ways to develop programs that will foster heritage education,
neighborhood revitalization, and support community and economic development.
The Network is an informal group of over 1,850 people who have an interest in
preservation. Members are briefed on the status of current and planned projects and are
encouraged to offer ideas, comments and suggestions. The meetings provide an
opportunity to share and learn from the preservation experience of others and to receive
technical information through workshops. Members receive a newsletter, Reflections,
produced by the Network. Visit the Historic Preservation Division website at
www.gashpo.org. Preservation information and previous issues of Reflections are
available online. Membership in the Network is free and open to all.
ABOUT GAAHPN
This publication has been financed in part with federal
funds from the National Park Service, Department of the
Interior, through the Historic Preservation Division,
Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The contents
and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or
policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the
mention of trade names, commercial products or
consultants constitute endorsement or recommendation
by the Department of the Interior or the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources. The Department
of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis
of race, color, national origin, or disability in its
federally assisted programs. If you believe you have
been discriminated against in any program, activity, or
facility, or if you desire more information, write to: Office
for Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C
Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.
Published quarterly by the
Historic Preservation Division
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
W. Ray Luce, Division Director &
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
Jeanne Cyriaque, Editor
A Program of the
Historic Preservation Division
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
47 Trinity Avenue, S.W.
Suite 414-H
Atlanta, GA 30334-9006