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Irwin
County Courthouse Receives Statewide
Award
from Georgia
Trust for Historic Preservation
County Officials See
Value in Preserving Endangered Property
ATLANTA, April
22, 2006 – The Irwin County Courthouse received an
award for Excellence in Rehabilitation from The
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation at its
Annual Meeting April 22 in Athens, Ga.
Located two blocks
from the main downtown intersection, the
courthouse is the county’s most recognizable
landmark and the center of its governmental
affairs. The three-story Neo-classical building
was built between 1907 and 1909.
“Rehabilitation of
the Irwin County Courthouse has boosted the
county’s economic development and created a
renewed sense of community,” said Greg Paxton,
president and CEO of The Georgia Trust. “In a time
when many of Georgia’s historic courthouses are
endangered, it’s encouraging to see this project
take place.”
After years of
continual use and neglect, the courthouse was
deteriorating and in need of repair and
rehabilitation. Roof leaks, termites, and
inadequate electrical and plumbing systems
contributed to the poor condition of the building,
which houses several offices including the
sheriff’s department, tax assessor’s office and
courtroom.
In 1996, Irwin County
hired McCall and Associates of Valdosta to create
a schematic design and budget for the National
Register-listed courthouse. With the estimate at
nearly $3 million, the county needed substantial
funds to begin the project. With the help of
Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST)
funds, a loan from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), a Georgia Heritage grant and
inmate labor, restoration began in 1999.
Original heart pine
flooring, marble wainscoting, the clock tower and
dome, and an original stained glass window
depicting a portion of the state seal were all
restored. The courthouse was also updated with new
ADA, safety, fire and technological systems. The
project was completed in 2005.
For more than 25 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.
Excellence in
Rehabilitation awards recognize projects that make
compatible use of a building through repair,
alterations or additions while preserving features
of the property that convey its historic value.
This year the Trust presented seven Excellence in
Rehabilitation awards.
With more than
8,000 members, The Georgia Trust for Historic
Preservation is the country’s largest statewide,
nonprofit preservation organization. Founded in
1973, the Trust is committed to preserving and
enhancing Georgia’s communities and their diverse
historic resources the education and enjoyment of
all.
The Trust
generates community revitalization by finding
buyers for endangered properties acquired by its
Revolving Fund; provides design assistance to 105
Georgia Main Street cities and encourages
neighborhood revitalization; trains Georgia’s
teachers in 56 Georgia school systems to engage
students in discovering state and national history
through their local historic resources; and
advocates for funding, tax incentives and other
laws aiding preservation efforts.
Late last year,
the Trust announced its first annual listing of
Georgia’s 10 Places in Peril. The
Georgia Trust is a recipient of the Trustees Award
for Organizational Excellence from the National
Trust for Historic Preservation.
For more information
on the Irwin County Courthouse, contact Michael
Commisso, historic preservation planner, at
229-333-5277.
To learn more about
The Georgia Trust and the Preservation Awards,
visit
www.georgiatrust.org.
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