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PLACES IN PERIL REPORT CARD Since 2005, The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation has been compiling an annual list of 10 historic places across the state that are at risk of neglect, lack of funds, encroaching development, or even worse, demolition. Here's a status report on past years' sites. Adam-Strain Building, McIntosh County (2008) Fall 2008: Darien’s Director of Community Development, Frank Feild, put together a group to work on long-term plans for the building. The owner is interested in the building being preserved and the group is coming up with ideas for feasible uses. The DCA and Georgia Trust have become involved and are brainstorming with the Department of Economic Development on ways to use the building as part of larger town-wide tourism efforts as a way of bringing economic development to the town. A.L. Miller Senior High School for Girls, Bibb County (2008) Fall 2008: The Knight Foundation with Beverly Blake sponsored a town hall meeting to discuss possible future uses of the building and ways to raise funds. Aluminum Hill Mill Workers’ Houses, Putnam County (2007) Fall 2008: In January 2008 the city of Eatonton purchased the houses and shortly thereafter boarded them up. The City handed them over to the newly formed Downtown Development Authority so they could decide what to do with them. UGA students did a charette during which they addressed the mill workers' houses. Andalusia, Baldwin County (2006) Fall 2008: Since being placed on The Georgia Trust's Places in Peril list in 2006, Andalusia has completed several restoration projects and is pursuing others. With assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division’s Georgia Heritage Grant and donations from the Knight Foundation, City of Milledgeville, and Friends of Andalusia, the water tower behind the main house was fully restored in 2007. The next year, a grant from the Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board in Milledgeville made possible the restoration of the old pump house located next to the water tower. The next project is the restoration of the milk-processing shed. The Foundation has also been developing an Outdoor Learning Center with funding from the E. J. Grassmann Trust and the Knight Foundation. This project involved restoring a pond, building interpretative nature trails, and installing tree identification labels. Interpretive signs linking the landscape with O'Connor's literature are scheduled to be installed in September. Funding for the Foundation has increased each year, along with visitation to Andalusia, but millions of dollars are needed to fully restore the main house and other structures to preserve this internationally significant landmark for generations to come. Auburn/Edgewood Avenue Commercial District, Fulton (2006) Fall 2008: No progress to report. Battery Backus, Chatham County (2009) Bibb Mill, Muscogee County (2009) Campbell Chapel AME Church, Sumter County (2009) The Castle, Fulton County (2008) Fall 2008: No progress to report. City Auditorium, Ware County (2007) Fall 2008: The city has an excess of $1 million to renovate the building and the project is in the beginning stages. City Mills, Muscogee County (2006) Fall 2008: Situation unchanged, still for sale and in same condition. Cockspur Lighthouse, Chatham County (2008) Fall 2008: In June 2008, park staff began emergency repairs to the base of the Lighthouse. The fill material around the lighthouse was removed, exposing the wooden base. A close inspection of the timbers revealed that there was some shipworm damage to the upper sections of the timbers but that the timbers, themselves, were structurally sound. The timbers were then covered with the polyvinyl, then a layer of bagged dry mix cement and topped off by a layer of rock. This action should create an anaerobic environment that will kill off the current shipworm infestation and buy some time. A group of local residents and lighthouse enthusiasts came together to form the “Friends of Cockspur Island Lighthouse.” Its mission is “to raise funds and other resources for the preservation, restoration and perpetual maintenance and repair, as necessary, of the historic Cockspur Island Lighthouse.” The friends group is a Georgia non-profit organization. Cowen Farmstead, Cobb County (2006) Fall 2008: Currently listed for sale as part of The Georgia Trust’s Revolving Fund program. Crum & Forster Building, Fulton County (2009) Eleanor Roosevelt School, Meriwether County (2007) Fall 2008: Group is trying to collect funds to purchase from owner and have some funds committed and are planning on sending a letter of intent to owner. They hope to have the home purchased in the next couple of months and then start work on restoring the building and turning it into a museum. Fort Daniel, Buford County (2009) Gilmer County Courthouse, Gilmer County (2007) Hand Trading Company Building, Mitchell County (2007) Fall 2008: The city of Pelham and a joint development are accepting bids - roof is starting to be fixed, other bids are going out in the future for pressure washing and fixing windows. Hartwell Downtown National Register District, Hart County (2006) Fall 2008: Currently working on sign ordinance, want to initiate citywide the sign usage that is currently used in the historic district. Herndon Home, Fulton County (2007) Fall 2008: Going well, there is a new executive director and they are now open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Adults $5 and children $3. John Berrien House, Chatham County (2009) Mary Ray Memorial School, Coweta County (2009) Meriwether County Jail, Greenville (2008) Fall 2008: They had been planning to apply for a Georgia Heritage Grant but the county decided to work on demolishing the old city gym before they turning their attention to the county jail; currently being used as a parking space by the Methodist church; status largely unchanged. Metcalf Township, Thomas County (2009) Native American Structures, North Georgia (2007) Old Clinton Historic District, Jones (2008) Fall 2008: Clinton tanyard project is still going forward, the roof on red barn is completed. This is due to volunteer efforts of Corps Reenactment Committee and Clinton family descendants and the Old Clinton Historical Society members. A lot of work still has to be done on walls and foundation stabilization. It’s one of the few remaining barns of its era and has always been a hub of activity in Clinton. Old Hawkinsville High School, Pulaski County (2006) Fall 2009: The building is still awaiting an adaptive reuse project as the economic climate has halted some plans. Fall 2008: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in May 2008. An architect is working on a plan for the building. The project is moving forward for adaptive use. Old Highway 17, Glynn County (2006) Fall 2008: Glynn County is currently updating the Highway 17 corridor Historic Resources Study that was initally done in the early 1990s. Ponce de Leon Apartments, Fulton County (2006) Raised Tybee Island Cottages, Chatham County (2007) Rock House, McDuffie County (2009) Sallie Davis House, Baldwin County (2009) Spencer House, Muscogee (2008) Fall 2008: The Owlettes operate a house museum to continue funds to stabilize the structure and do minor repairs. Grants and support have come from the Historic Columbus Foundation, including paint and materials to repaint the house. Met with the Knight Foundation to discuss the possibility of a business plan. Columbus is a Knight Foundation community. St. EOM’s Pasaquan, Marion County (2006) Fall 2008: Just celebrated EOM’s 100th birthday with a party on July 4 attended by 200 people that included a snake calling contest (in honor of EOM’s proclaimed skill), cake making contest, costume contest and parade. Sunbury Historic Colonial Town Site (2008) Terrell County Courthouse, Terrell (2006) Fall 2008: The clock has been repaired and remanufactured. The clockface is out being restored; the exterior (including windows) is virtually complete; interior courthouse will be complete in another 2 months. Everyone has come in within budget and virtually all work has been done by correctional facility personnel (almost only costs have been materials). New sprinklers and A/C were put in. Trinity CME Church, Richmond County (2008) Fall 2008: Continuing to raise funds for complete redevelopment, hoping to break ground before the end of year; received a few grants. The windows are currently being repaired, and then other exterior work will be done including painting. A next project is to repair plumbing. UGA Marine Institute Greenhouse & Administration Building, McIntosh County (2008) Fall 2008: A task force was formed in April ’08, consisting of representatives from The Georgia Trust, University System of Georgia, the UGA Marine Institute, DNR, HPD, contractors and other interested parties. Project Sapelo was coordinated as a fall workday on the island to stabilize and secure the Administration Building. Virginia Highland Neighborhood, Fulton County (2007) Fall 2008: At a recent Neighborhood Planning Unit meeting, there was a 176-15-4 vote in favor of zoing for the neighborhood's three commercial nodes, which would limit new commercial development to three stories, enforce approved materials, and give a "storefront character" while allowing more shared parking. Wren’s Nest, Fulton County (2007) Fall 2008: Paid off $68,000 of debt; raised over $140,000 for capital improvements to home, started working on interior and roof, and increased programming.
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