Georgia Historic Preservation HANDBOOK
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Georgia Historic Preservation HANDBOOK Georgia Historic Preservation HANDBOOK A Layman’s Guide to Historic Preservation in the State of Georgia Published by The Fox Theatre Institute, The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division The Fox Theatre Institute The Fox Theatre Institute (FTI) is an outreach program of Atlanta’s Fox Theatre that offers historic preservation Publication Coordinator and operations expertise, consultation Carmie McDonald and education to performing arts venues throughout Georgia and the Southeast. Research Assistants http://www.foxtheatreinstitute.org/ Elizabeth Decker Kimberly Harbrecht Justin Hutchcraft Contributors Mark McDonald The Fox Theatre Institute Heather Miller The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Emily Taff Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division Designed by Emily Taff Funders The Fox Theatre Institute 2012 The Fox Theatre Institute The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Any parts of this publication may be Georgia Department of Natural Resources, reproduced without permission for Historic Preservation Division educational and non-profit purposes if the The National Trust for Historic Preservation source is acknowledged. Table of Contents Introduction 7 The Georgia Historic Preservation Handbook 8 History of Historic Preservation in Georgia 9 Preservation Partners 13 National Preservation Partners 13 State Preservation Partners 16 Statewide Nonproft Preservation Organizations 17 Local Preservation Partners 24 Preservation Tools 27 Recognizing Historic Properties 27 Protecting Historic Properties 36 Economics of Historic Preservation 44 Research and Documentation 52 House Types in Georgia 53 Styles of Architecture in Georgia 68 Guide to Historical Research 87 Technical Information 95 Restoring a Historic Structure 95 Repair and Maintenance of your Old House 98 Building Exteriors 102 Conservation of Building Materials 108 Building Interiors 140 Common Repairs for Historic Buildings 160 Appendix 165 Additional Resources 163 Glossary 165 Glossary of Preservation Acronyms 168 Frequently Asked Questions 169 Preservation Directory 173 v 1. Savannah, c. 1909. Introduction GEORGIA HAS A RICH history that can They reflect the impact of progress and be traced from 16,000-18,000 BC and the invention—the development of the cotton earliest native inhabitants of the coastal gin, railroads, electricity, automobiles, plain, through the founding of Savannah technology and our obsession with moder- as a colonial port city in 1733, to Atlanta’s nity. They capture the essence of everyday rise as a center of commerce and trans- life—They are the places where Georgians portation in the nineteenth and twentieth lived, worked, worshipped, socialized centuries. Cities and towns across the and honored those who had gone before state boast cultural resources as diverse as them. These places tell stories of Georgia’s Georgia’s natural landscape. These his- development and the changes we have toric resources reflect the times in which faced throughout our history. they were built, displaying the technology, Georgians have long taken pride in building materials, artistic movements, and our collective history, and there is a political beliefs of the period. strong and demonstrated preservation Examination of Georgia’s unique ethic throughout the state. In 1951, the built environment reminds us that the Georgia General Assembly established the experiences and lessons of the past are Georgia Historical Commission, which led still relevant today. Our buildings, cities, the statewide preservation movement for sacred sites and cultural landscapes bear more than 20 years. Shortly thereafter, the witness to cycles of economic prosperity loss of a beloved city market, along with and recession. They reflect the attitudes of threats to other Savannah landmarks, led our country, over time, towards gender and to the establishment of Historic Savannah race and the influence of other cultures. Foundation in 1955 and the beginning, in 7 8 INTRODUCTION earnest, of Georgia’s preservation move- ment. Cities across the state faced similar The Georgia Historic development pressures throughout the Preservation Handbook post-war boom years uniting preservation- ists in a common cause. The near loss of Partnerships are a valuable part of the Atlanta’s iconic Fox Theatre in the 1970s work of preservation. This publication, for galvanized preservationists within the city, example, is a collaborative effort of The as well as the state, who banded together Fox Theatre Institute, The Georgia Trust to save the local landmark. In the decades for Historic Preservation and the Historic since, historic preservation has gained Preservation Division, Georgia Depart- momentum at both state and local levels ment of Natural Resources. These partners and its impact in Georgia is being mea- developed the Georgia Historic Preserva- sured in numerous ways. tion Handbook in response to the need for Preservation positively impacts our an introductory guide to preservation in economy by creating jobs, increasing the state. property values and generating revenue. The purpose of the Georgia Historic It impacts our environment by reducing Preservation Handbook is to provide a waste, conserving energy, and decreasing comprehensive resource for the state of our greenhouse gas emissions. Preservation Georgia that promotes citizen involvement enhances quality of life by creating vibrant, and explains preservation practices. This distinctive communities that attract handbook seeks to define the roles of vari- residents and visitors who contribute to the ous federal, state and local organizations, local economy. Preservation not only tells outline guidelines and regulations, and the story of Georgia’s past, it also provides create a directory of historic preservation a foundation for Georgia’s future. partners. We hope that this handbook will enhance the reader’s knowledge of historic preservation, the organizations and indi- viduals that contribute to making preserva- tion work, and how to become part of this vital movement. How to Use This Handbook The Georgia Historic Preservation Hand- book is divided into six sections: Introduction, with a history of historic preservation Preservation Partners Preservation Tools Research and Documentation Technical Information Appendix INTRODUCTION 9 In the Introduction the History of Historic Preservation section provides a History of Historic brief overview of the roots of the historic Preservation in Georgia preservation movement in America and Georgia, including important acts of government and the events, concerns, and Preservation in America efforts that prompted action. During the nineteenth century, the Preservation Partners gives an overview American government began to recognize of various national, statewide and local pres- its duty to protect the country’s significant ervation departments and organizations, resources, but the focus of these initial and how they can be of service to individu- preservation efforts was on the natural als and their communities. A directory of rather than built environment. Because of preservation partners is also included. this lack of national collaboration, historic The Preservation Tools section outlines preservation began as a matter of private programs that provide for the recognition interest. Individuals, primarily wealthy and protection of cultural resources includ- women, banded together to save historic ing designation for historic properties and resources of personal significance. In 1853, local preservation ordinances. Also dis- Ann Pamela Cunningham, founder of the cussed in the section are preservation tools Mount Vernon Ladies Association, peti- including tax incentives and other economic tioned Congress to preserve and protect benefits that impact historic preservation the Virginia estate of our nation’s first for individuals and communities. president, George Washington. Although The Research and Documentation her request of Congress was denied, section serves as a guide for individuals Cunningham persisted in her efforts, rais- and communities interested in learning ing enough money to purchase and restore how and where to begin researching and Mount Vernon for the enjoyment of future documenting preservation resources. generations. The Mount Vernon Ladies Included are sections on the identification Association served as a model for many of building types and styles as well as early preservation organizations. historic resources surveys. In the first half of the twentieth cen- In Technical Information, the reader will tury, the United States government passed find a brief overview of historic building a number of statutes for the protection of materials and their unique qualities, as well the country’s historic places. The National as common repairs for historic buildings Park Service Organic Act, or “The Organic and information on building maintenance. Act,” established the National Park Service This section is intended to provide the in 1916 as an agency of the United States reader a starting point for restoration Department of the Interior. The agency was projects, and links to additional resources charged with supervising and maintaining on specific topics are provided. all designated national parks, battlefields, Finally, the Appendix contains a glos- historic places, and monuments. In 1935, sary of preservation terms and acronyms, the Historic Sites Act