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Historic
Oakland Foundation receives
preservation stewardship award from
The Georgia Trust
Atlanta’s
oldest cemetery undergoes major
restoration program
ATLANTA—The
Historic Oakland Foundation in Atlanta
received an award for Preservation
Stewardship from The Georgia Trust for
Historic Preservation at its annual
meeting April 17 in Savannah.
With
such famous residents as Margaret Mitchell
and golf legend Bobby Jones, Oakland
Cemetery, the oldest in Atlanta, receives
thousands of visitors every year. This
constant foot traffic was beginning to
take its toll on the c. 1850 cemetery when
the Historic Oakland Foundation began to
implement its comprehensive preservation,
conservation and restoration plan in the
hopes of reviving the site while still
preserving its historic character.
The
first section chosen to be renovated was
Bell Tower Ridge. The historic planting
patterns of the area were duplicated by
HighGrove Partners, and an irrigation
system was reestablished to handle the
needs of the hundreds of plants and trees
within the cemetery. Gutter, culverts,
pedestrian paths and walls were all
repaired by Southern Preservation Systems.
The cemetery’s thousands of gravestones,
urns, vases and other monuments were
restored by Roberts-Shields Memorial
Company and Ponsford Conservation &
Restoration.
The
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation,
founded in 1973, is the country’s
largest statewide, nonprofit preservation
organization, with more than 8,000
members. For more than 20 years the Trust
has recognized preservation projects and
individuals in the state who have made
significant contributions to the field of
historic preservation. Awards are
presented on the basis of the
contributions of the person or project to
the community and/or state and on
compliance to the Secretary of the
Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
Awards
in the Excellence in Preservation
Stewardship category are presented to
long-term owners who are ensuring the
preservation of historic properties
through care and maintenance,
stabilization or protection.
Committed
to preserving and enhancing Georgia’s
communities and their diverse historic
resources for the education and enjoyment
of all, The Georgia Trust generates
community revitalization by finding buyers
for endangered properties acquired by its
Revolving Fund; provides design assistance
to 46 Georgia Main Street cities and
encourages neighborhood revitalization;
trains Georgia’s teachers to engage
students in 51 Georgia school systems to
discover state and national history
through their local historic resources;
and advocates for funding, tax incentives
and other laws aiding preservation
efforts. The Georgia Trust is a recipient
of the Trustees Award for Organizational
Excellence from the National Trust for
Historic Preservation.
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