1998 ANNUAL REpORT March 1999 HONOR THE PAST, IMAGINE THE FUTURE Baker County Courthouse, photo by James R. Lockhart. Designed in 1906 by architect James W. Golucke, the Baker County Courthouse was built to last. When Tropical Storm Alberto pounded Georgia in July 1994, the courthouse was severely damaged. Flood waters rose almost to the second floor. When the w~ter receded, damage was extensive. The key to saving and restoring the building was the $568,000 grant Baker County received from the Historic Preservation Division Flood Recovery Program, the largest grant given to an individual building. The project work was completed in late 1998, after 4 1/2 years, under the supervision of architect David Maschke of Albany. The building is now used as a community center and houses the following programs: Baker County Library, Baker County Historical Society, GED/ Adult Literacy program, Community Action CouncillNeighborhood Service Center, and the Newton Housing Authority. 1998 ANNUAL REPORT INTRODUCTION What is special about Georgia? What makes us unique? Part of the answer lies in an investigation of Georgia's history. How Georgians treat their history will be an important indicator ofthe quality oflifefor the future. Georgia ends the twentieth century as one ofthe fastest growing and changing states in the country. We have grown so fast that often we have not taken the opportunity to stop and assess, to adjust our course, to decide ifour choices have been best. Now is that time. The mission ofthe Historic Preservation Division (HPD) is to promote the preservation and use ofhistoric places in Georgia. Since the functions ofthe state preservation office became part of the Department ofNatural Resources almost thirty years ago, the regulatory, educational, and planning assistance functions ofHPD have been closely integrated into the overall charge ofthe Department. The gr~atest strength of HPD is the depth and commitment ofthe staff, who have responded to literally thousands ofrequests in 1998 for information or project review, have traveled thousands ofmiles, and have spent many thousands ofhours fulfilling HPD's mission in the accomplishment ofongoing tasks. This includes responses to almost 1,900 environmental review requests, 3,140 properties surveyed' 44 sites or districts listed in the National Register and more than 400 technical assistance requests. Additionally, dozens of workshops, training sessions, and conferences involving from 20 to 350 people were held during the course ofthe year. The national reputation ofHPD is strong, and staffmembers sit on national committees and boards for preservation, transportation, and education. Following are some noteworthy accomplishments from the last year. Throughout, HPD has worked in partnership with many other organizations. Thanks are due to all who have contributed to these. undertakings. The Joint Study Committee on Historic Preservation, cochaired by Senator George Hooks and Representative Jeanette Jamieson. In its two years of activity, the Committee confirmed historic preservation's position as a priority for state and local governments. Recommendations for strengthening historic preservation in Georgia were targeted to the state stewardship program, state tax credits, growth strategies, tourism, archaeology protection program, local preservation commissions, and grants/financial assistance. Creation ofthe Archaeological Services Unit and the appointment of a State Archaeologist. In January 1998 the responsibility for archaeological assessment was transferred to HPD. Dave Crass was hired to head the program and immediately began implementing an expanded planning strategy for archaeological outreach programs as well as archaeological assistance for state and local organizations. HPD collaboration with other DNR programs, especially RiverCare 2000 and the Sapelo Island Master Plan. HPD's involvement brought the perspective of preservation to these important projects. Geographical Information System (GIS) development, using the National Park Service MAPIT model. Georgia has been selected as a pilot state in the use ofthis new technology. The Georgiaffennessee Joint National Register, Survey, and GIS project to study Civil Warrelated historic properties in the Chickamauga-Chattanooga area. This has been funded with a grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program. The Tax Incentives Program. Georgia has been at or near the top of all states in completing federal tax projects, generating $800 million in private reinvestment since its inception. 2 HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION THE WORK OF THE DIVISION Archaeological Services Unit Dave Crass, Unit Manager, State Archaeologist John (Chip) Morgan, StaffArchaeologist Ronnie Rogers, StaffArchaeologist Richard Warner, Cultural Resource Reviewer Christine Van Voorhies, Archaeology Outreach Specialist Betsy Shirk, Environmental Review Archaeologist Acting on recommendations from the Joint Study Committee on Historic Preservation and archaeolpgists from across the state, the Georgia legislature approved the creation of an expanded archaeology program within HPD in 1998. Dr. David Colin Crass, formerly ofthe South Carolina Institute ofArchaeology and Anthropology at the University of South Carolina, accepted the position ofunit manager as of January 1998. Concurrently, the three archaeologists on staffwere reorganized into the Archaeological Services Unit and two new positions were developed to be funded in 1999. The unit is charged with the development and implementation of programs through the new Archaeological Protection and Education Program. Over the past year, the unit has developed plans for major program initiatives. The issues facing archaeological preservation and education for the state were grouped according to major program areas: management of resources on DNR lands, public outreach, cultural resource management, academic institutional relationships, looting, and submerged resources. DNR Resource Management Management of archaeological resources on DNR lands is a critical mission. Because the destruction of sites on unprotected lands proceeds at an alarming rate, two philosophies guide the management of archaeological resources. First, in order to manage resources it is necessary to have a good understanding oftheir range and nature. Second, archaeological investigation on DNR lands can help educate the public about their disappearing heritage and raise the profile of DNR within the preservation community. This philosophy is expressed most clearly in the creation of a dedicated position in the new unit specifically intended to address management ofDNR archaeological resources and a new program that will generate archaeological resource management plans and archaeology publications for DNR's Parks and Historic Sites Division. Public Outreach A wide-ranging outreach program is currently being formulated, retaining the current policy of volunteering time to local archaeological and historical societies, but additionally expanding archaeology awareness and participation in resource protl(ction. A priority in its outreach goals is to develop working relationships with, and gain input from, valuable partners such as the Society for Georgia Archaeology, the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, and other nonprofit and public agencies. Cultural Resources Management The primary initiative in cultural resources management is the development of a new relationship with the University of Georgia in its position as the repository for archaeological site file information. The Georgia 3 1998 ANNUAL REPORT Archaeological Site File constitutes the primary cultural resources database for consultants and resource managers in the state. Significantly increased funding for 1999 and a new Memorandum of Understanding will improve the service level ofthe site file while lowering costs to consultants. Academic Institutional Relationships The new Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Georgia will additionally provide for HPD to partner with the University in research and public service. This partnership is exemplified in the dissertation research initiative underway at state-owned Kolomoki Mounds Historic Site, one of the most enigmatic mound centers in the Southeast. Other areas of interaction will include teaching in the Anthropology and Historic Preservation programs by HPD staff and education initiatives for the general public. Looting Looting of archaeological sites in Georgia has resulted in the loss of irretrievable information about our past. TheoArchaeological Services Unit has"joined with the Society for Georgia Archaeology and the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists to form a looting task force to examine this problem. The task force began meeting late in 1998 to formulate ideas to address this issue. Submerged Cultural Resources Despite its extensive marine and riverine resources, Georgia has never had an archaeological program designed to consider submerged resources. HPD has applied for several grants to begin to respond to this area of concern and is formulating plans for a comprehensive study of southeastern states that currently have active programs in submerged resources. The initial goals are to generate an overview of other programs and to develop a strategy for Georgia. ArchaeQlogy Case Study: The Vann House Survey One of the responsibilities of the Archaeological Services Unit is to conduct surveys on DNRproperty. Surveys are typically conducted prior to ground-disturbing activities such as those associated with new construction, road and trail building, or the establishment of wildlife food plots. Staff responded to a request from the Chief Vann House for a survey prior to construction of a planned visitor center. Based on a review of previous research on the property, the staff archaeologists designed a plan for investigating affected areas that had not been previously surveyed. Shovel tests revealed the existence of buried cultural deposits, which were further investigated by excavation of a narrow trench. Based on staff recommendations, the proposed visitor center site was moved a short distance to avoid the cultural deposits, which will be protected in place. A school group joined staff archaeologists for a tour ofthe investigation. They learned how soil disturbances, such as plow scars or post molds, help preserve records of past activities. From examining artifacts such as ceramic shards, they learned how the people who made them might have lived, and how the infonnation provided by artifacts and their location on a site is critical to understanding our past. HPD staff archaeologist Ronnie Rogers at the ChiefVann House near Chatsworth. 4 HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION Management and Information Unit Carole Griffith, Unit Manager, Deputy SHPO Vicki Poole and Trina Pugh, Receptionists Sandra GarreU, Accounting Procurement Assistant Cynthia Byrd, Budget Coordinator Tevi Taliaferro, Communications Coordinator Karen Luehrs, Special Projects Coordinator Daryl Barksdale, Grants Coordinator Erin Tilghman, Grants Program Assistant Jim Lockhart, Photographer/Computer Coordinator Much of the work of HPD is supported by the education, training, grant selection, and division..wide financial management efforts of the Management and Information Unit. In programs directed toward education, preservation training, and assistance for local and regional organizations, the unit staff managed workshops, training sessions, and the 1997 state preservation conference in Athens. The monthly and quarterly newsletters were sent to more than 2,000 groups or individuals, and the HPD web site (www.gashpo.org) was created. Staff worked with the Georgia Trust on the promotion of Georgia Historic Preservation Month in May. Three grant programs were administered throughout the year, and as in recent years the number of inquiries regarding grant assistance continued to increase. To assist grant recipients effectively in addressing the needs of their projects, HPD provides individual consultation, frequently on-site, as well as a variety of workshops. Information & Education Case Study: The 1997 Georgia Preservation Conference Almost 350 participants attended the Georgia and Southeastern Preservation Conference in Athens in November 1997. Planning for the conference by the Georgia Trust and HPD pursued an ambitious course, incorporating five tracks, 37 sessions, a bookfair, and speakers of national note. Locating the conference in Athens allowed the University of Georgia and the Athens-Clarke County government to participate in planning and execution. The conference offered its popular "Your Old House" session for both local homeowners and conference participants. The theme of the conference, In lieu of a 1998 Georgia state which focused on Southern conference, preservationists from people and places, covered many around the state attended the emerging issues in preservation, National Trust's Preservation including regional studies, Conference, held in Savannah growth management, and in October. advocacy strategies. The opening and closing plenary speakers, Dr. William Ferris of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi and Dr. James Cobb, the new Phinizy Spalding Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Georgia, spoke on their memories of the South from the past and hopes for the South of the future. Downtown Athens. 5 1998 ANNUAL REPORT Grants Case Study: Historic Preservation Fund Amendment of the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Register District, City of Atlanta, Fulton County 1997 HPF Grant - $6,700 The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site and Preservation District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The city of Atlanta sought historic preservation funding in 1997 in order to expand the boundaries of the district. The purpose of this revised historic district was to combine several districts and other historic properties, including many in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, that had not been previously recognized. Located east of downtown Atlanta, the district includes the Queen Anne-style house where Martin Luther King, Jr., was born, the Gothic Revival-style Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King and his father preached, and the marble tomb where King is buried. The amendment was needed in order to identify all properties in the area included in the period of significance, from 1890 until the time of King's death in 1968. In order to complete this project, Atlanta's Urban Design Commission worked with the Historic District Development Corporation, an organization committed to revitalization in the area. A consultant was hired and with assistance from several Georgia State University Heritage Preservation students the nomination was submitted. The amended district will assist the revitalization efforts oflocal neighborhood organizations., 1997 Historic Preservation Fund Grant Awards ($72,000 total) Athens-Clarke County: $3,000 for local designation reports Athens-Clarke County: $4,000 for statewide study on the economic benefits of historic preservation, Phase III City of Atlanta: $6,700 for amendment to MLK, Jr., National Historic Site and District Cobb County: $9,000 for structural and archaeological surveys of West Cobb County City of Decatur: $5,800 for Historic Decatur Cemetery maintenance plan DeKalb County: $13,600 for historic resources survey of southern half of county City of Jefferson: $1,700 for National Register nominations City of Milledgeville: $10,500 for citywide historic resources survey City of Savannah: $8,700 for historic resources surveys of two neighborhoods City of Valdosta: $6,000 for design guidelines and rehabilitation workshop City of Washington: $3,000 for citywide historic resources survey Martin Luther King, Jr., Historic District in Atlanta. ................ . 6 HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION Grants Case Study: Georgia Heritage 2000 Program Pelham Carnegie Library Interior Restoration Mitchell County 1998 Georgia Heritage 2000 Grant - $10,000 The Pelham Carnegie Library in Mitchell County. The Pelham Carnegie Library in Mitchell County was the first free library in the city. The building has housed the public library since 1908. However, in recent years it was recognized that the library needed more space, and in 1992 the city began efforts to expand and restore the building. Interior and exterior restoration work was completed on the building in 1998, and a sympathetic addition was designed to blend with the original historic structure. Pelham was awarded numerous grants for this project. The citizens in this community of 4,000 were able to raise considerable local funds. A Georgia Heritage 2000 Program Grant was awarded in 1998 to Pelham to assist with the completion of the interior restoration. Many communities in Georgia with Carnegie libraries have chosen to relocate to other structures and reuse their Carnegie libraries for other functions. In Pelham, the community was committed to keeping the library in its original building. The resulting expansion has been a restoration/addition success and has allowed the community to maintain their historic public buiiding. 1998 Georgia Heritage 2000 Grant Awards ($238,500 total) Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Atlanta, Fulton County $10,000 Dr. Calvin M. Baber House Greensboro, Greene County $18,000 Elisha Winn House Dacula, Gwinnett County $13,000 General Casimir Pulaski Monument Savannah, Chatham County $10,000 First African Baptist Church Sapelo Island, McIntosh County $10,000 ,0 First Methodist Episcopal Church Stillmore, Emanuel County $8,000 Francis Goulding House Lexington, Oglethorpe County $9,000 St. Paul's Episcopal Church Augusta, Richmond County $10,000 Roselawn Cartersville, Bartow County $10,000 Eastanolle Auditorium Toccoa, Stephens County $9,000 Mauldin House Clarkesville, Habersham County $25,000 Candler County Courthouse Metter $10,000 Gertrude "Ma Rainey" Pridgett House Columbus, Muscogee County $7,000 Lilly School House Lilly, Dooly County $18,000 New Corinth Baptist Church Americus, Sumter County $7,000 Old Marion County Courthouse Buena Vista $7,500 Pelham Carnegie Library Pelham, Mitchell County $10,000 St. Thomas AME Church Thomasville, Thomas County $4,000 Western and Atlantic Railroad Tunnel Tunnel Hill, Whitfield County $10,000 Wesleyan Methodist Tabernacle and CampGround Ashburn, Turner County $15,000 Nicholsonboro Baptist Church Savannah, Chatham County $12,000 St. Thomas AME Church Hawkinsville, Pulaski County $6,000 7 1998 ANNUAL REPORT Survey and National Register Unit Richard Cloues, Unit Manager, Deputy SHPO Gretchen Kinnard, Survey and Register Assistant Kenneth Thomas, Historian Kenneth Gibbs, Survey Coordinator Steven Moffson, Architectural Historian Leslie Sharp, Georgia/National Register Program Coordinator Amy Pallante, National Register Specialist The Georgia Historic Resources Survey is recognized nationally as one of the most active state survey programs in the nation. Last year, through its survey contracts with local governments and preservation organizations, HPD increased the size of the state's computerized inventory of information about historic buildings and structures by approximately 10%. This inventory now serves as the primary source of basic information about the state's historic buildings and structures. Access to this information will be enhanced in the upcoming years through new database programming and GIS technology. Surveys often are followed by other preservation activities including National Register nominations and local historic designations. The National Register of Historic Places is our country's official list of historic buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts worthy of preservation. Georgia's National Register program was among the most prolific in the nation last year. Preservation organizations, local governments, and property owners requested new National Register nominations in record-high numbers. Our 1,600 National Register listings, representing more than 40,000 historic properties, ranked Georgia sixth in the nation. Properties listed in the National Register are automatically listed in the Georgia Register. Listed properties are eligible to receive preservation benefits including grant assistance and tax incentives, consideration in the planning of state and federal projects, and heightened public awareness. The Centennial Farm program continued to recognize the significance of Georgia's historic farms. This interest in the state's agricultural heritage will lead to the development of a full historic context on Georgia's agricultural history. , National Register Case Study: Newton County National Register Nominations Over the past several years, Newton County has made great progress inoNational Register activity. National Register listings have doubled, and four more will soon be added. New listings include the Covington Historic District, Newborn Historic District, Starrsville Historic District, and Salem Camp Ground. Covington Mill Historic District, North Covington Historic District, and Burge Historic District unanimously passed the September 1998 Review Board, which met in Covington. Covington Historic District: Consisting of the historic commercial, residential, and institutional development which grew out of the original town plan, a concentration of historic and intact resources such as the Covington Historic District is unusual to find within the Atlanta area. The Covington Historic District has more than 600 contributing buildings, structures, and sites. The nomination was sponsored by the Newton County Historical Society, the City of Covington, the Covington Main Street Program, and the Newton County Chamber of Commerce. Starrsville Rural Historic District: This district encompasses two related areas of development, showcasing many excellent 8 HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION examples of domestic, commercial, community landmark, and agricultural resources. Historic development in Old Starrsville spans much ofthe 19th century, and early 20th century development in New Starrsville was defined by the location of the railroad. Together, both areas of development represent over 170 years ofhistory. Newborn Historic District: An excellent example of a railroad crossroads town, Newborn's historic district encompasses 83 historic resources consisting of buildings, sites, and various structures. This project began with the stabilization and rehabilitation ofthe Childs General Store and grew into a recognition ofthe significance ofthe entire historic area. Salem Camp Ground: Traditionally organized sides and containing original fixtures, the Salem Camp Ground contains approximately 25 small frame one-and two-story houses, known as tents, many with sawdust floors, front overhangs, and minimal interior walls and furnishings. The property also contains 30 acres ofvirgin forest, a two-story hotel, caretaker's cottage, two bath houses and a spring house, a woman's club house, and a bell tower to call worshipers to service. Centennial Farm Awards Case Study: James M. Ross Farm, Jones County The 1998 Georgia Centennial Farm Awards recipients were honored at the opening day luncheon and awards ceremony of the Georgia National Fair in Perry on October 9. The Centennial Farm Program honors significant farms that have been continuously operating for over 100 years and deserve recognition for their historical importance. This year, one Centennial Farm and 11 Centennial Fami1y Farm awards were presented. In its six year history, the Centennial Farm Program has recognized more than 180 farms from around the state. It is administered by HPD, the Georgia Farm Burea~. Federation, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, and the Georgia National Fair and Agricenter. The Centennial Farm Award was given to the James M. Ross Farm, located in the Clinton Historic District, Jones County, and owned by Juanita Ross Billingsley. The main house has been attributed to the architect Daniel Pratt and was built in 1826 by Mrs. Beersheba Jones. The Ross family purchased the property in 1911. around a tin-roofed James M. Ross Farm in Jones County. ~~.~.~~-------~------~-----------------------------------------_._~-----------------_ . 9 1998 ANNUAL REPORT 1998 National Register Listings Strachan House Garage, Glynn County Ogletree Farm, Habersham County Sands Hill Historic District, Richmond County Corra White Harris House, Study, and Chapel, Bartow County Warthen Historic District, Washington County Thomas Square Streetcar Historic District, Chatham County Monticello Historic District, Jasper County Savannah and Ogeechee Canal, Chatham County John Rountree Log House, Emanuel County Fowler Apartments, Baldwin County Southern Railway Freight Depot, Muscogee County Glenwood High School, Wheeler County Sardis Baptist Church, Chattaooga County Sapelo Island Lighthouse, McIntosh County William Mizell, Sr. House, Charlton County Dawson Historic District, Terrell County Tidwell-Amis-Haynes Homestead, Coweta County H.B. Davis Building-Hotel Roxy, Fulton County Talmo Historic District, Jackson County Trio Steam Laundry, Fulton County Zuber-Jarrell House, DeKalb County Campbell Chapel AME Church, Sumter County B'nai Israel Synagogue and Cemetery, Thomas County Williamson Mausoleum at Orphans Cemetery, Dodge County Liberty Methodist Church, Richmond County Canton Wholesale Company Building, Cherokee County Bethlehem Historic District, Richmond County Lilly Historic District, Dooly County Bullard-Everett Farm Historic District, Twiggs County Benham Place, Bartow County Almand-O'Kelley-Walker House, Rockdale County Cuyler.l)Brownville Historic District, Chatham County Morgan Farm, Sumter County Salem Camp Ground, Newton County Downtown Athens Historic District Addition, Clarke County Daniel M. Davis House, Lumpkin County North Wall Street Historic District, Bartow County Knox Apartments, Cathorn House & Peachtree Road Apartments Historic District, Fulton County U.S. Coast Guard Station - St. Simons Island, Glynn County Redbone Community House, Lamar County Martha Poe Dogtrot House, Thomas County Starrsville Rural Historic District, Newton County Pine Mountain State Park, Harris County .....-.-.-.-.-.- -.- - -.- - - 10 Survey Case Study: Early County Knowing about historic properties through surveys is an essential first step in a community's preservation effort. It facilitates wise decisions about the future preservation of individual buildings, neighborhoods, and downtowns. Seven surveys were completed during 1998. The number of properties added to the Georgia Historic Resources Survey was 3,140. This brought the total number of surveyed properties to more than 92,000, of which 38,592 had been entered into the statewide computer database by year's end. Sponsored by the Early County Board of Commissioners, the survey ofEarly County's historic resources was completed in July 1997 and serves as the foundation for future planning efforts. Ofthe 476 properties documented in the survey, 160 are located in Blakely. Although only one historic building in Blakely has been listed in the National Register, nearly 80% ofthe surveyed properties appear to be eligible for listing. The typical historic house in this southwest Georgia town differs in several ways from the typical single-family dwelling. The percentage oftwo-story houses is about halfthat in the rest ofthe state, and houses are likely to be more than two rooms deep and have a square plan shape. The New South cottage, in which five or more rooms are grouped about a central hallway, is three times more likely here than in the whole state. - - -- - -.-.-.-.- HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION Planning and Local Assistance Unit Ray Luce, Unit Manager, Deputy SHPO and Interim Division Director Serena Bellew, Planning and Local Assistance Specialist Jeffrey Durbin, Environmental Review Coordinator Jecyn Bremer, Environmental Review Assi!ciate Planner Richard Laub, Community Planning Coordinator Pratt Cassity, Certified Local Government Coordinator One of the challenges facing Georgia in the years ahead will be the ability to maintain economic growth while mitigating some of its effects such as urban sprawl and environmental harm. Historic presef\Tation offers communities an alternative to sprawl and saves public dollars through planning to avoid) unnecessary waste. The role played by historic preservation programs in the promotion of investment in rehabilitation, job creation, and regulation make it an important economic development tool. The Planning Unit works with other government entities, local groups, and individuals in bringing together several programs that assist in community preservation efforts. Community Planning Services, Regional Preservation Planner Program The Community Planning program is designed to assist communities, groups, and individuals across the state by providing direct preservation planning assistance and by coordinating the Regional Historic Preservation Planning program through the state's regional development centers (RDCs). With financial and technical assistance from HPD, 14 of the 16 RDCs in the state currently employ historic preservation planners. The regional planner program has been extremely effective in bringing the programs of the Historic Preservation Division and other preservation related activities to regional and local constituents. oftheir local comprehensive plans. Involvement ofthe historic preservation planners in this process ensures that historic resources are considered when local governments make important growth strategy planning decisions. Historic resources benefit by having professionals available locally. The planners held their spring meeting at Cloudland Canyon State Park in 1998; this meeting included a site visit and workshop session on the use of historic preservation as a tool in the successful revitalization efforts of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The primary responsibility of the planners is to assist communities in the creation and implementation Regional preservation planners spring meeting at Cloudland Canyon State Park. 11 1998 ANNUAL REPORT Environmental Review Program During State Fiscal Year 1998, HPD reviewed 1,859 projects which represented more than $1 billion in public and private funds; 290 ofthese projects affected historic properties. Through the review process 2,578 archaeological sites, historic buildings, districts, and structures were identified. Gfthat number, 784 were considered eligible for listing or were already listed in the National Register. The public continues to be actively involved in many ofthese projects, helping to encourage agencies not only to consider historic and archaeological resources in the planning of projects but also to minimize or avoid adverse effects on the areas involved. A significant number of reviews in 1998 involved the development ofProgrammatic Agreements, which promote greater local autonomy in the Section 106 review process, including agreements with Macon and Savannah for their Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME projects. Other important projects HPD reviewed during the year included: continued review ofthe design development and mitigation measures for the Total Systems Services Campus/2nd Avenue Redevelopment Project in Columbus; the Georgia . Military College master plan in Milledgeville; the exterior rehabilitation ofbuildings at Lockheed Plant 6, Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta; the proposed Norfolk Southern Railroad Intermodal Facility in Austell; and the rehabilitation of the Techwood Homes Cupola Building in Atlanta. To further assist government agencies in meeting the requirements offederal preservation responsibilities, HPD staff conducted Section 106 training at the HPD orientation for historic preservation professionals in Atlanta; environmental review program orientation for new HPD staff; and along with the Georgia Department ofCommunity Affairs, co-sponsored two training workshops for the state CDBG/ CHIP Programmatic Agreement. HPD also participated in three other workshops, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency environmental workshop in Atlanta, a cultural resources management workshop for National Park Service staffon Cumberland Island, and a Federal Aviation Administrationsponsored interagency workshop held in Atlanta. Along with the Department of Transportation, HPD continued working on American Indian consultation procedures for GDOT projects. Transportation Enhancement Activities (TEA) Case Study: The Silver Comet Trail Transportation Enhancement Activities (TEA), established in 1991 by ISTEA legislation, continue to be funded under TEA-21, new legislation which establishes the federal transportation policy through 2003. Georgia is one ofthe national leaders in implementing the TEA program. Itranks high in both the percentage ofallocated funds expended and in the percentage of projects ready for contract Many historic preservation projects have benefitted from the program, with over $13,000,000 committed to preservation-related projects through 1998. The Silver Comet Trail is a multiuse (pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian) trail that follows an abandoned rail line between Cobb and Polk counties. It will link to another TEA project, the Iron Horse Trail in Polk County, to provide long-distance alternative transportation options between the Atlanta Metro area and cities in Alabama as well as many opportunities for local use. The project involves Cobb, Paulding, and Polk counties as well as state and federal agencies and nonprofit organizations. Portions ofthe trail are already open for use; other sections are currently under construction by Path Foundation, a statewide nonprofit foundation. Plans are being developed to provide shops, restaurants, and overnight facilities to serve the trail users. Spur trails, some to be constructed using TEA funds, will provide connections to several historic communities along the route. 12 HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION Technical Services Unit Mary Ann Eaddy, Unit Manager Lee Webb, Tax Incentives Coordinator Susan Hitchcock, Tax Incentives Specialist Michael Miller, Preservation Architect Antonio Aguilar, Rehabilitation Architect A number of studies and results from successful ongoing programs make a convincing case for the vital contributions that historic preservation makes in Georgia's economy. The state and federal tax incentive programs have spurred more than $79 million in private investment in Georgia's historic properties in 1998. Working with its statewide partners, including the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the Georgia Main Street Program, the Georgia Municipal Association, and the Office ofPreservation Services ofthe University of Georgia, HPD provides technical assistance around the state. With grant assistance from the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, HPD recently completed a symposium and report on tabby conservation. Technical Assistance Case Study: Georgia Historic House and Garden Pilgrimage When spring comes to Georgia, many people celebrate by enjoying house and garden tours. For the last three years, HPD and the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. have cosponsored the Georgia Historic House and Garden Pilgrimage. Outstanding historic homes and gardens are featured. In April 1998 historic properties in the Rome area were highlighted. This project originally was conceived by current Georgia National Register Review Board member and landscape architect Jim Cothran of Robert & Company. Brencie Werner was coordinator of the 1996 and 1997 pilgrimages. Mabel Milner chaired the Rome event and Technical Services Unit staff served as project advisors. The next Georgia Historic House and Garden Pilgrimage will be in the spring of 2000. Tour proceeds support the Garden Club's grant program, used for the improvement of historic landscapes and gardens and for preparation of cultural landscape reports or restoration plans. In 1998, the program's first year, $15,000 in grants were awarded, assisting eight projects statewide. Margareta Hall in Rome, built in 1840 byJ.J. Skinner ofAugusta and named for his wife, was one ofthe 1998 tour sites. 13 1998 ANNUAL REPORT Preservation Technology Case Study: The Conservation and Preservation of Tabby From February 25-27, 1998, 40 invited participants from across the country met on Jekyll Island with the common goal of preserving tabby resources. Two and one-half days of presentations, tours, and intensive discussion resulted in a major step forward in compiling a body of knowledge on tabby and its treatment. A mixture of shell, lime, sand, and water, tabby is a traditional building material used in coastal Georgia construction from the mid-18th to the early 20th-centuries. Tabby structures and ruins still can be found in coastal Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, but their numbers are diminishing. Attempts to stabilize or restore them have been hampered since there is little information about the long-term effects of preservation treatments. Public and private stewards of these resources want to know how to protect them. Project cosponsors included the Historical Services Division, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (South Carolina SHPO); Division of Historical Resources, Florida Bureau ofHistoric Preservation (Florida SHPO); and the Museum and Historic Preservation Division ofthe Jekyll Island Authority. Participants included architects, craftsmen, archaeologists, landscape architects, architectural conservators, engineers, geographers, site managers, and preservationists-all with an interest in tabby. One of the outcomes of the symposium was publication of the proceedings. Papers describe the geographical distribution of early tabby and highlight remaining resources in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. Physical characteristics oftabby are discussed, and treatment approaches used on specific projects are identified. The conclusion focuses on areas in which additional inquiry is needed. Graduate students and other scholars will be able to take these suggestions and turn them into research topics. Symposium proceedings can be found on HPD's Web site. The Conservation and Preservation of Tabby was a first step in preserving a vanishing part ofthe American landscape. It is hoped that information compiled as a result ofthis project will help stewards of these resources as well as encourage future scholarship. To address this issue, HPD applied for and received a grant from the National Park Service's National Center for Preservation Technology and Training. The result was The Conservation and Preservation of Tabby: A Symposium on Historic Building Material .in the Coastal Southeast. Ossabaw Island slave cabin (photograph taken in the 1970s). 14 HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION Preservation Tax Incentives Program Case Study: Troy-Peerless Laundry, Atlanta The urban phenomenon of 10ft housing has reached Georgia, particularly in communities like Atlanta where former industrial buildings are being rehabilitated into residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments at a remarkable rate. Many of these 10ft conversion projects are in historic properties that qualify for and participate in the tax incentive programs offered by HPD. The 1929 Troy-Peerless Laundry Building project has successfully used both the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit and the State Preferential Property Tax Assessment program. The Troy-Peerless Laundry is among the few commercial buildings in Atlanta with Art Deco ornamentation. This detailing is expressed on the north and south elevations, with decorative crenelated brick Interior after rehabilitation. columns topped with stylized capitals and strips of windows with decorated spandrels. Terra cotta and glazed tile panels above the columns are also indicative of the Deco styling. The interior ofthe building was originally divided into spaces designated for offices, as well as the actual dry cleaning and laundry operation. The building served as a dry cleaning and laundry facility until the late 1960s, when the site was purchased by Sears Roebuck and Company and converted into a warehouse. In 1994, it was purchased by new owners who began a substantial rehabilitation to convert the building into 10ft residences. The industrial motifs associated with the building were maintained, including the large metal windows, skylights, concrete columns and posts, concrete walls and floors, and exposed pipes and duct work. Minimal change to the building was necessary to allow for the residential units to be constructed. The Troy-Peerless Laundry received its final certification as a completed tax project in December of 1997. For approximately $1.6 million, the building was converted into 36 residential 10ft units. Early consultation and planning efforts among the owners, their architects, and HPD were crucial to the project's success. 1929 Troy-Peerless Laundry, Isaac Moscowitz, architect. 15 1998 ANNUAL REPORT Georgia Downtown Design Team Case Study: Monticello, Georgia The Historic Resources Committee ofthe Atlanta Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AlA), in conjunction with the Georgia Association AlA, HPD, and the City of Monticello joined forces on November 14-15, 1997, to sponsor a Georgia Downtown Design Team visit to Monticello. The team's focus was to promote sensitive building rehabilitation in the historic downtown commercial district, to examine economic development issues in and around downtown, and to provide recommendations for landscape and streetscape improvements in the downtown area. Monticello was selected as the 12th Georgia Downtown Design Team project because of its commitment to the promotion and preservation of its core commercial area and surrounding residential neighborhoods. The entire historic downtown was placed on the National Register in November 1997, just days prior to the city hosting the design team. Monticello is one of a selected number of Georgia communities that is both a Certified Local Government and a Better Hometown community. Monticello is characterized by its small town commercial district in the center of a number of intact historic residential neighborhoods. Its architecture dates from the late-19th to early 20th- centuries. The downtown contains many landmarks, including the courthouse, town square, the Benton Supply Company/Department Store, other commercial buildings, churches, and schools. The weekend's program included a community seminar, architectural/landscape analysis with individual property owners, and a project summation. A final report was distributed in early 1998. Successful completion of this project would not have been possible without strong support from the city and the dedicated cooperation oflocal, state, and federal organizations and many enthusiastic volunteers. Georgia Downtown Design Teams have visited 12 communities across the state, including: Newnan Rome Waycross Brunswick Millen Cordele Quitman Louisville Marshallville Sandersville Stone Mountain Monticello .:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:,:.:.:,:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:-::::.:.:.:.Z.:.:.:.::-::::.:.:.:.:-:.:.:.::.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:. The Monticello Downtown Design Team and Monticello city officials: Back Row L to R: Craig Wertz, AlA-DDT member; Stone Workman, Monticello City Council; Walter Smith, Monticello City Manager. Front Row L to R: Robert Jordon, Monticello City Council; Bruce Green, DDT member; Cari Goetcheus, DDT member; Susan Holmes, Monticello Mayor; Burke Walker, DDT member; and MichaelMiller, AlA-DDT member. 16 HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION Georgia Civil War Commission Rich Elwell, Administrator Michelle Evans, Project Manager & Planning Coordinator The Georgia Civil War Commission (CWC) was created by the 1993 Georgia General Assembly. The CWC's mandate is to coordinate preservation, planning, and promotion of . structures, buildings, sites, and battlefields associated with this significant period and to acquire or provide funds for the acquisition of Civil War battlefields, related cemeteries, and other historic properties associated with the Civil War. In 1997, the CWC acquired 17 acres of the battlefield at Griswoldville, and during the past year significant progress has been made toward the purchase of 1,200 acres ofbattlefie1d land at Resaca, the opening battle ofthe 1864 Atlanta Campaign. To accomplish its mission of coordinating the planning and preservation of Civil War buildings and battlefields, the CWC increased its staff in 1998 with the addition of Michelle Evans as Project Manager and Planning Coordinator. Adding a full-time coordinator to the program has allowed the CWC to increase its efforts to plan future activities, and to undertake a larger mission. The CWC has begun a process of reviewing and re-interpreting its mission, with the assistance of the IW. Fanning Institute for Leadership and Community Development at the University of Georgia. The CWC sponsored information::gathering forums in Savannah and Dalton and drafted a full report that grew from a planning retreat in Americus in October 1998. The report outlines goals and objectives for the CWC into the next century. Civil War re-enactors at Griswoldville dedication. 17 .. v .... .... ct: