The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Announces its 2014 List of State's 10 'Places in Peril'

ATLANTA, Oct. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released today its 2014 list of ten Places in Peril in the state.

Sites on the list include: Sowega Building in Adel (Cook County); Blackshear Prison Camp in Blackshear (Pierce County); Chauncey School in Chauncey (Dodge County); Griffin City Hall in Griffin (Spalding County); Hawkinsville Firehouse in Hawkinsville (Pulaski County); Kolb Street House in Madison (Morgan County); Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sharon (Taliaferro County); Greek Revival houses of Troup County; W&A Railroad Depot in Tunnel Hill (Whitfield County); and the Connally Marchman House in Villa Rica (Carroll County).

"This is the Trust's ninth annual Places in Peril list," said Mark C. McDonald, president and CEO of the Trust. "We hope the list will continue to bring preservation action to Georgia's imperiled historic resources by highlighting ten representative sites," McDonald said.  

Places in Peril is designed to raise awareness about Georgia's significant historic, archaeological and cultural resources, including buildings, structures, districts, archaeological sites and cultural landscapes that are threatened by demolition, neglect, lack of maintenance, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy.

Through Places in Peril, the Trust will encourage owners and individuals, organizations and communities to employ proven preservation tools, financial resources and partnerships in order to reclaim, restore and revitalize historic properties that are in peril.

Sites that have been placed on previous years' lists have included: Stilesboro Academy in Bartow County, which received a $25,000 gift in 2013 to restore the exterior; Chattahoochee Park Pavilion in Gainesville, which was restored in 2013; Fort Daniel in Buford, which was purchased by Gwinnett County and leased to the Fort Daniel Foundation who is developing an educational outreach program; the Spencer House in Columbus, which received a $10,000 grant from the Historic Columbus Foundation and community support to finish restoring the exterior; and the Hill House at Andalusia in Milledgeville, which received a Preservation Award for Excellence in Restoration from the Trust in 2013. Updates on these sites and others can be found at www.georgiatrust.org.

Founded in 1973, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is one of the country's largest statewide, nonprofit preservation organizations. 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 102 Georgia Main Street cities and encourages neighborhood revitalization; trains teachers in 63 Georgia school systems to engage students to discover state and national history through their local historic resources; and, advocates for funding, tax incentives and other laws aiding preservation efforts.

Summary information on each 2014 Places in Peril follows. For additional background material and more information on each site including downloadable high-resolution images, please go to www.georgiatrust.org/news/2014pip.php.

Summary Information on each Places in Peril Site

Sowega Building, Adel, Cook County
The Sowega Building is a prominent building in downtown Adel, which Life magazine named the watermelon capital of the world in a 1930s article. It was built in 1929 for the Southwest Georgia (Sowega) Melon Growers and uses watermelons as a design motif. In recent years, the building was home to Del-Cook Lumber Co., the largest producer of longleaf pine lumber in the world. It is currently owned by the Adel-Cook County Chamber of Commerce.

The Sowega Building is currently vacant, and the City of Adel lacks funding for its upkeep. Water intrusion is leading to the gradual deterioration of the upper stories of the structure and contributes to the overall deterioration of the building.

Blackshear Prison Camp, Blackshear, Pierce County
The Blackshear Prison Camp was established in 1864 as a prisoner-of-war station for Union soldiers during the Civil War. The camp housed more than 5,000 inmates transferred between nearby Millen and Andersonville to avoid potential liberation by Sherman's forces.

The property is zoned for residential use, and several houses have been constructed over a portion of the original camp in the past ten years. The remaining undeveloped portion of the site is privately owned and unprotected from development.

Chauncey School, Chauncey, Dodge County
Chauncey was the first city in Georgia to issue bonds to construct and equip a modern school building. As a result, the Chauncey School was built in 1914 on a budget of $10,000. The building featured six classrooms, a state-of-the-art science laboratory, and a regal auditorium.

Though fundraising efforts on the part of the community have been successful, the town of Chauncey has been a victim of hard economic times and requires assistance to further preserve the school building.

Griffin City Hall, Griffin, Spalding County
Constructed in 1910, the Griffin City Hall was designed by Atlanta architect Haralson Bleckley in the Beaux Arts style. The building served as a fire station, courtroom and city hall.

Prior to being vacated several years ago, the building's interior was altered several times to adjust to the changing needs of the city. Currently home to birds and other pests, the interior has significant water and plaster damage. The building is for sale and developers are being sought.

Hawkinsville Firehouse, Hawkinsville, Pulaski County
Constructed in 1917, the Hawkinsville Firehouse is a contributing property to Hawkinsville's Commercial and Industrial Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Vacant since 1975, the firehouse suffers from deterioration due to neglect and the deferment of maintenance resulting from a lack of funding. Despite efforts made by the community to stabilize the structure, it displays evidence of brick spalling and deterioration, as well as severe damage to the roof and soffits.

Kolb Street House, Madison, Morgan County
Built in 1850, the Kolb Street House in Madison was once used as a Civil War prison camp for Union soldiers who were captured during the Battles of Shiloh and Murfreesboro. Later the property was used as a Confederate hospital and was occupied presumably by Confederate doctors.

The house has experienced deferred maintenance over the past several years and is in need of roofing and structural repairs. Vandals have entered the house, destroying windows and causing considerable damage to the interior.

Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sharon, Taliaferro County
Built in 1883, the Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary was successor to the first Roman Catholic parish in Georgia which was established in Locust Grove in 1800. Several notable Georgia families attended the Church of the Purification, including former state governor Alexander Stephens and the Fitzgerald family, related to Margaret Mitchell on her maternal side.

Due to dwindling congregation size, the Church has been classified as a station church which offers mass one day per month and on special occasions. Suffering from lack of funds, the structure is in dire need of rehabilitation, most notably of the foundation and bell tower.

Greek Revival Houses of Troup County
Established in 1827, Troup County was primarily an agricultural center producing predominantly cotton and dairy. Few structures from Troup County's antebellum era in the Greek Revival style exist today, but houses such as the Flowers Newsome House and Nutwood Hall provide excellent examples.

Many of these properties suffer from neglect and lack of maintenance. Aided by the proximity of I-85, industrial growth and land development have increased in Troup County, contributing to a heightened threat of demolition development of historic houses on large tracts of land.

W&A Railroad Depot, Tunnel Hill, Whitfield County
The W&A Railroad Depot was constructed by the State of Georgia between 1848-1850 as part of the Western & Atlantic Railroad. The site witnessed many important events during the Civil War: a speech by Jefferson Davis in 1861; the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862; several Civil War skirmishes; and the first headquarters of General Sherman during his Atlanta Campaign. The building is part of the Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel and Museum Site; however, it has yet to be restored and as a result is not open to the public.

Structural damage including mortar erosion, the lack of an overhanging eave, and cracked lintels over the original freight door openings are contributing factors to the overall deterioration of the building.

Connally Marchman House, Villa Rica, Carroll County
Built in 1915 in the Neoclassical Revival style for the family of Dr. H. R. Marchman, the Connally Marchman House is a contributing structure within the North Villa Rica Residential Historic District. Joyce Connally, Dr. Marchman's granddaughter, lived in the house for many years, and during the 1970s, served as the mayor of Villa Rica. To date she remains the only female to hold that office.

The Connally Marchman house is still in use but suffers from lack of funding for maintenance. There has been considerable structural damage to the building, including the second floor being deemed unsafe by the fire marshal and a recent infestation of carpenter bees.

For more Information Contact:
Traci Clark
404-885-7802
[email protected]

SOURCE The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation