Augusta 2011: A Year of Milestones

/PRNewswire/ - History, golf, Southern hospitality, and James Brown are center stage in 2011 - a year of milestones for Augusta, GA with the 75th Masters Tournament, the Civil War Sesquicentennial, the fifth anniversary of James Brown's passing, and the 150th anniversary of the historic Summerville neighborhood. www.augustaga.org

Although the Masters Tournament celebrated its 75th tournament in April, visitors to the city can continue to experience the golf connection. At the Augusta Museum of History, "Celebrating a Grand Tradition, the Sport of Golf," explores how golf has evolved over the centuries and features memorabilia and famous personalities www.augustamuseum.org Golfers who want to walk in the legends' footsteps can play on affordable courses - Forest Hills Golf Club, The Club at Jones Creek and The River Course.

2011 begins the nation's commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and many of Augusta's landmarks have close ties to the era. The Confederate Powderworks Chimney, the last remaining piece of the only factory built by the Confederate Army, is a part of The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area which offers guided tours on replica Petersburg boats. www.augustacanal.com The Augusta Museum of History also features Civil War relics such as the CSA Second National Flag and a 12-pound bronze Napoleon Cannon tube manufactured at the Augusta foundry. The Boyhood Home of Woodrow Wilson focuses on the life of the 28th President, who witnessed the destruction that war caused as his father's church across the street was turned into a hospital. Today, the national historic landmark and museum offers a glimpse of Wilson's life during that time. www.wilsonboyhoodhome.org

James Brown called Augusta his home and his presence is still felt. A one-of-a-kind exhibit at the Augusta Museum of History features rare memorabilia and personal artifacts that vividly tell the story of The Godfather of Soul's life. Also, standing in downtown Augusta is a life-size bronze of Brown where visitors can take photos.

Celebrating its150th year, the Summerville neighborhood features Augusta's most architecturally distinctive homes. Every October, the neighborhood opens its homes with the annual Tour of Homes. A tour stop includes The Partridge Inn, which celebrated a centennial in 2010.

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Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Presents 23 Statewide Preservation Awards at Ceremony in Macon

/PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation presented 23 awards recognizing the best of preservation in Georgia during its 34th annual Preservation Awards ceremony in Macon on April 1.

The Hardman Farm in Sautee, Ga. received the Marguerite Williams Award, presented annually to the project that has had the greatest impact on preservation in the state. The Italianate style house also received an award in the Excellence in Restoration category.

Owned by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Hardman House is a great example of how preservation and sustainability can work hand in hand for both cultural and environmental conservation. The Garbutt Construction Company carried out a gentle renewal of the Hardman House with the goal of achieving LEED gold certification. With the completion of the restoration, the farm will be open to the public as a Georgia State Historic Site.

The Trust also presented five awards for Excellence in Restoration, nine awards for Excellence in Rehabilitation, three awards for Stewardship, and two for Preservation Service.

The Trust also presented the Camille W. Yow Volunteer of the Year Award to Bonnie Dowling of Macon. The Mary Gregory Jewett Award for Lifetime Preservation Service was given to Jane Symmes. The Piedmont Park Conservancy received the Chairman's Award, which recognizes extraordinary contributions made to the field of preservation, for its preservation of Greystone. The Excellence in Restoration winners were: the Coweta County Courthouse, Newnan; Hardman Farm, Helen; Old Fort Jackson, Savannah; Hills and Dales, LaGrange; and Freeman's Mill, Lawrenceville.

Excellence in Rehabilitation winners were: Campus Theatre and Bookstore, Milledgeville; Clarence Thomas Center for Historic Preservation, Savannah; E.M. Rogers House, Adel; New College at the University of Georgia, Athens; Hallock Cottage, Augusta; Plaza Arts Center, Eatonton; Pulaski County Board of Education, Hawkinsville; the Rock Building, Chatsworth; and the Wynne-Claughton Building (Carnegie Building), Atlanta.

Three awards were given to recognize Stewardship in the field of historic preservation. The winners were: Friends of the Vann House in Chatsworth for their preservation and support of the Vann House, the Shields Etheridge Farm in Jefferson for their new self-guided interpretive program, and the Stumbo Residence in Fort Valley for an addition to a neoclassical style home which left the historic integrity of the existing house intact.

Two awards for Preservation Service were presented. Jim Lockhart was recognized for his lifelong dedication to photographing the buildings and structures throughout Georgia listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Madison Morgan Conservancy's successful efforts to protect over 1,000 sites through conservation easements also received recognition.

"This year's winners represent a tremendous dedication to restoring and revitalizing Georgia's historic buildings and communities," said Mark C. McDonald, president of The Georgia Trust. "We are proud to honor such deserving projects and individuals."

For more than 30 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 the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Founded in 1973, The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is one of the country's largest statewide, nonprofit preservation organizations. The Trust is committed to preserving and enhancing Georgia's communities and their diverse historic resources for the education and enjoyment of all.

The Trust generates community revitalization by finding buyers for endangered properties acquired by its Revolving Fund and raises awareness of other endangered historic resources through an annual listing of Georgia's "10 Places in Peril." The Trust helps revitalize downtowns by providing design and technical assistance in 102 Georgia Main Street cities; trains Georgia's teachers in 63 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.

To learn more about The Georgia Trust and the Preservation Awards, visit www.georgiatrust.org.

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Historic Athens newspapers now available online via digital library

An archive of historic Athens newspapers is now available online via the Digital Library of Georgia at the University of Georgia.

The Athens Historic Newspapers Archive provides online access to five newspaper titles published in Athens from 1827 to 1922. Consisting of more than 57,000 newspaper pages, the archive provides historical images that are both full-text searchable and can be browsed by date. The site provides users with a view into the history of Athens in its early years as the home to the first state-chartered university in the nation and its eventual growth into the largest city in northeast Georgia.

The archive includes the following Athens newspaper titles: Athenian (1827-1832), Southern Banner (1832-1882), Southern Watchman (1855-1882), Daily/Weekly Banner-Watchman (1882-1889), Daily/Weekly Athens Banner (1889-1922).

The Athens Historic Newspapers Archive is a project of the Digital Library of Georgia as part of the Georgia HomePLACE initiative. The project is supported with federal Library Service and Technology Act funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Digitization also was made possible through a grant provided by the Francis Wood Wilson Foundation, Inc. The Athens Historic Newspapers Archive is available at http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/athnewspapers.

Other newspaper archives available through the Digital Library of Georgia include the Atlanta Historic Newspapers Archive (1847-1922), the Macon Telegraph Archive (1826-1908), the Columbus Enquirer Archive (1828-1890), the Milledgeville Historic Newspapers Archive (1808-1920), the Southern Israelite Archive (1929-1986), and the Red and Black Archive (1893-2006). These archives can be accessed at http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/MediaTypes/Newspapers.html

“Georgia HomePLACE is very pleased to support digitizing and presenting online content for the Athens Historic Newspapers Archive, a project of the Digital Library of Georgia, which is an initiative of GALILEO (Georgia’s Virtual Library),” said Ed Johnson, director of Georgia HomePLACE.

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The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Announces its 2011 List of State's 10 'Places in Peril'

/PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released today its 2011 list of 10 Places in Peril in the state.

Sites on the list include: Zion Church in Talbotton; Rex Village in Clayton County; Craigie House (DAR Building) in Atlanta; John Ross House in Rossville; Harrington School in St. Simons Island; Medical Arts Building in Atlanta; Fairview Colored School in Cave Spring; Martin House in Columbus; historic buildings of Sparta in Hancock County; and, Berrien County Courthouse in Nashville.

"This is the Trust's sixth 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.

The Trust will provide on-site preservation assistance to each of the 2011 Places in Peril through its Partners in the Field program, funded by grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a number of charitable organizations in Georgia.

Sites that have been placed on previous years' lists have included: the Wren's Nest, home of folklore writer Joel Chandler House in Atlanta, which has undergone extensive restoration since its 2007 listing; Paradise Gardens, an internationally acclaimed folk art site in Chattooga County; Gilmer County Courthouse, a historic hotel building demolished in 2008; and the Crum and Forster Building in Atlanta. Updates on these sites and others can be found at www.georgiatrust.org.

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 Places in Peril Site

Zion Church, Talbotton, Talbot County

Built in 1848 by Talbotton master carpenter James D. Cottingham and master brick mason Miranda Fort, Zion Episcopal Church features many fine details from the crenellated parapets on the roof to the triple-arched entrance. The church's gallery was used regularly for religious instruction of slaves, which was encouraged by the bishop of the diocese and Zion parishioners. Family box pews are as originally installed.

Major threats to the site are neglect, lack of maintenance and lack of funding for maintenance. The structure has significant wood rot on the exterior along with the need for typical weathering repairs. Additionally there is a diseased mature oak tree directly adjacent to the church, which would crush the building if it fell.

Rex Village, Clayton County

Historic Rex Village has recently experienced national attention because of its ancestral lineage to First Lady Michelle Obama. Rex Village is a 90-acre community featuring unique 19th century structures such as Rex Mill, Rex Bridge, and several period homes and mercantile buildings.

The new bypass has caused virtually all pedestrian and vehicular traffic to be diverted from the main storefronts. The resulting lowered property values have created the potential for Rex Village to be purchased by developers who may seek to inappropriately redevelop or even demolish the site. Rex is unincorporated, has no design codes for new construction and uses septic tank water systems.

Craigie House (DAR Building), Atlanta, Fulton County

Also known as the DAR Building, the 1911 Craigie House was the first chapter house of the Daughters of the American Revolution established in Georgia, which was only the second chapter of the DAR established in the country. Reportedly parts of the original Craigie House were moved to this site from the 1895 Cotton States Exposition in Piedmont Park, where it was the Massachusetts Commonwealth Building.

The building was used by the DAR until 1985 when it was damaged by a fallen tree. Inman Park Properties purchased the property in 2001, but as a result of the downturn in the real estate market, the building was foreclosed upon. Neglect and apparent squatters, compounded by a price tag of approximately $500,000 make the parcel more appealing as a buildable lot to many potential buyers.

John Ross House, Rossville, Walker County

The John Ross House is the oldest surviving structure in northwest Georgia and the metropolitan Chattanooga area. Built in 1797 by trader John McDonald, the building was a major stop for traders and settlers. McDonald's grandson, Chief John Ross, grew up in the house and later became the leader of the Cherokee Nation until his death in 1866.

Settling of the building has been compromising the construction of the late 18th century building. The Chief John Ross House Association maintains the structure and recently re-roofed the building with historically appropriate wood shingles. The association has an aging membership, and due to its location, has no local preservation support.

Harrington School, St. Simons Island, Glynn County

The last African American school on St. Simons Island, the Harrington School represents the most viable and valuable venue to interpret the Gullah-Geechee heritage of St. Simons Island. The building formerly served as the Harrington Grade School from the 1920s until its desegregation in the 1960s, when it was converted to a daycare facility and served as such until the 1970s.

The school building has incurred significant deterioration through the years despite being purchased by Glynn County and the St. Simons Land Trust as part of a 12-acre park. Last fall, after a grant request was denied, Glynn County declared the building beyond repair and placed its demolition on their 2010 agenda. Supporters of the school rallied. Plans for demolition were tabled, and supporters obtained a second opinion by preservationists that the building's foundations were solid and restoration was possible.

Medical Arts Building, Atlanta, Fulton County

Designated as a local landmark in 2005, the 1927 Medical Arts Building is closely associated with the growth and development of Atlanta as a major medical center for Georgia and the Southeast. Designed by G. Lloyd Preacher, the Medical Arts Building was Atlanta's first high-rise office building constructed specifically for medical professionals.

The building was affected severely by GDOT's "Freeing the Freeways" program in the mid-1980s that widened Atlanta's Downtown Connector. With the Peachtree Street bridge closed for a year and the permanent loss of the Alexander Street bridge, many medical practices in the building had difficulty remaining open.

Numerous real estate deals have fallen through. Although there are multiple liens against the building, the current owners have it listed for $11 million.

Fairview Colored School, Cave Spring, Floyd County

The circa 1924 Fairview Colored School is one of the few remaining educational structures which provided education to African American children in Georgia. It provides a glimpse of segregated education and the impact it had on the children of the period.

After the school closed in the 1950s, it was used as rental property and a storage unit. Since that time, upkeep and repairs have not been maintained. Immediate steps are needed to address structural issues. Access to the building is hampered by deep brush and kudzu. The floors and roof are unstable and the building is uninsured.

Martin House, Columbus, Muscogee County

Designed in 1954 by the architectural firm of Finch, Barnes and Paschal, the International style Martin House anchors the northeast corner of Midtown Columbus' Peacock Woods-Dimon Circle National Register Historic District. Its gardens were designed by noted and prolific landscape architect Thomas D. Church.

The structure is currently vacant and owned by a property management company that is cited by preservation groups in Columbus as not performing adequate maintenance, consequently resulting in rapid deterioration.

Historic Buildings of Sparta, Hancock County

The town of Sparta contains a large number of architecturally significant buildings. Before the Civil War, Hancock County was a leading cotton producer, and the wealth created by the plantation system is evident in Sparta, its county seat. By 1803 Sparta was one of only five towns in the state to have a newspaper, and the town had begun a substantial library.

Today, vacancy and neglect of many historic resources are hindering the economic revitalization of the small town. The historic Baker House was lost to demolition; many others are threatened by a new demolition ordinance. The Georgia Trust has been involved in Sparta for many years; most notably, its Revolving Fund program helped to save the Terrell-Stone and the Rossiter-Little Houses. The Sparta-Hancock Historical Society is also active, and the City of Sparta has created a historic district commission. However the City has not yet designated a historic district for the commission to administer.

Berrien County Courthouse, Nashville

A local landmark protected by a local preservation ordinance, the Berrien County Courthouse was built in 1898 and designed by W. Chamberlin and Company of Knoxville, Tennessee. The building incorporates steel and reinforced concrete; its fireproof structure has survived several fires with no significant damage. Marked by a prominent bell tower still ringing on the hour, the courthouse currently serves as office space for the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development Authority/Better Hometown Office, and Berrien County Historical Foundation.

The Berrien County Courthouse receives inadequate funding for needed maintenance and suffers from a leaking roof, termite damage and failing plaster. The accrual of this neglect is causing significant damages to the structure.

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Theatre in the Square Hosts FREE Panel Discussion about the Great Locomotive Chase

Theatre in the Square will host a free panel discussion that gives more insight into the actual history of the Great Locomotive Chase which is the basis for the current production, Stealing Dixie and about how the play came to be. Panelists will include Playwright, Clayton State Theatre Director Phillip DePoy; Lead Interpreter at The Southern Museum, Harper Harris; CEO/Founder of the Marietta Museum of History, Dan Cox; and President of Georgia Battlefields Association, Charlie Crawford. Moderator for the panel will be Stealing Dixie director and Theatre in the Square Assistant Artistic Director, Jessica Phelps West. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not needed for the panel, but tickets are available to purchase to the 2:30 p.m. matinee or the 7 p.m. showing of Stealing Dixie by calling (770) 422-8369 or online at www.theatreinthesquare.com.

DePoy will be available to sign copies of his books following the panel discussion.

Sunday, Aug. 29, at 4:30 p.m. The panel will last approximately one hour.

The panel will take place on the Main Stage at Theatre in the Square. Theatre in the Square is located off of the Historic Marietta Square at 11 Whitlock Ave., Marietta, Ga., 30064.

Details about the show:

Stealing Dixie
By Phillip DePoy
Directed by Jessica Phelps West
Music Direction by Phillip DePoy

Stealing Dixie is a gripping portrayal of the Great Locomotive Chase that centers around James Andrews’ (Zechariah Pierce), plan to end the Civil War with hopes of no more bloodshed. As a part of his plan he meets in what is now known as the Kennesaw House, the location of the Marietta Museum of History, with Knight (Corey Bradberry), a locomotive engineer, Parrott (Rob Lawhon), a private in the Union Army who is armed and ready to kill, Ross (Scott E. DePoy), a Sgt. Major in the Union Army and Campbell (Bryant Smith), a fellow spy. This group of Union soldiers and sympathizers has come to be known as Andrews’ Raiders.

Performances are now through Sept. 12, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. There is a Wednesday matinee at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 only. The play is recommended for ages 16 and up. Tickets are $24 to $33 and are available at the Theatre in the Square Box Office by calling (770) 422-8369 or online at www.theatreinthesquare.com. Discount rates for are available for groups of 10 or more by calling (770) 422-8369, x29.
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Observatory hosting GSU’s CHARA Array named important site in astronomical history

The Mount Wilson Observatory, a historic observatory operated from Georgia State University and which hosts GSU’s Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA), has been listed by the International Astronomical Union and the International Council on Monuments and Sites as a potential “heritage site of Astronomy and Archaeoastronomy.”

The Mount Wilson Observatory, founded in 1904, is located in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles and is where astronomers made revolutionary discoveries about the universe — including the realization that the Earth’s solar system is not at the center of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, and that our galaxy is only one among countless others in a vast and expanding universe.

The observatory was listed in “Heritage Sites of Astronomy and Archaeoastronomy in the Context of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention: A Thematic Study.” The report from the IAU and the ICOMOS was produced as part of the International Year of Astronomy in 2009.

The report was endorsed by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, the world body which administers the UNESCO World Heritage Convention that protects sites that are important to the cultural heritage of the world.

While this is not a formal nomination of the observatory as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Wilson is the only observatory in the United States presented among many case studies from around the world as potentially meriting such a designation on the basis of its historic scientific accomplishments.

CHARA Director and Regents’ Professor Harold McAlister, who is also CEO of the non-profit Mount Wilson Institute that has offices on the Georgia State campus, said he is delighted with this recognition of Mount Wilson Observatory.

“This is testimony to the unique role Mount Wilson played during the first half of the 20th Century. Its wonderful telescopes and talented scientists reinvented astronomy and awoke humans to the almost unimaginable scale of the Universe in which we live,” McAlister said.

“Astronomers all over the world are still searching for answers to questions first posed from Mount Wilson,” he further explained. “I am proud that Georgia State is playing an important role in preserving this wonderful site.”

The observatory includes two “tower telescopes” for studying the sun and two night-time telescopes, a 60-inch telescope completed in 1908 that is considered the first truly modern telescope, and the famous 100-inch Hooker telescope used by Edwin Hubble in the 1920s to measure the expansion of the universe.

Harlow Shapley used the 60-inch telescope before World War I to prove our location in the “suburbs” of the Milky Way galaxy rather than at its center. The observatory’s founder, George Ellery Hale, used the 60-ft solar tower telescope to discover strong magnetic fields in the sun and to determine the true period of the so-called sunspot cycle.

More modern is Georgia State’s CHARA Array, an array of six telescopes that bring individual beams of light to synthesize a giant telescope hundreds of meters across through a process called interferometry.

The CHARA Array is the most powerful telescope of its kind in the world and has produced for the first time extremely high resolution images of normal-sized stars, stars in binary systems that are exchanging mass with one another and surface features on other stars. More recently, CHARA produced images of the mysterious dark eclipsing companion in the binary star system epsilon Aurigae, whose eclipse happens only every 27 years.

The CHARA Array was built with support from GSU, the National Science Foundation, the W.M. Keck Foundation, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. It was dedicated in 2000 and became fully operational in 2004. It is operational funding is provided by the Division of Astronomical Sciences of the National Science Foundation and by the College of Arts and Sciences of Georgia State University.




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Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Presents 19 Statewide Preservation Awards at Ceremony in Rome

/PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation presented 19 awards recognizing the best of preservation in Georgia during its 33rd annual Preservation Awards ceremony in Rome on April 9.

The Dunlevie House in Allenhurst, Ga. received the Marguerite Williams Award, presented annually to the project that has had the greatest impact on preservation in the state. The vernacular style house also received an award in the Excellence in Rehabilitation category.

Through a partnership between the D.C. Miller Trust and the Georgia Land Trust, the Dunlevie House was rehabilitated into the Jan and Dennis A. Waters, Jr. Family Education and Welcoming Center, where the house and surrounding 1,500 acres of protected wetlands and wildlife area, are used as an educational and nature center. The site hosts local church groups, garden clubs, environmental programs, and 4-H groups.

The Trust also presented five awards for Excellence in Restoration, ten awards for Excellence in Rehabilitation, and two for Preservation Service.

The Trust also presented the Camille W. Yow Volunteer of the Year Award to Susan Starr; and the Mary Gregory Jewett Award for Lifetime Preservation Service was given posthumously to architect Lane Greene.

The Excellence in Restoration winners were the Ossabaw Island Boarding House, DeSoto Theatre in Rome, Arnold Hall in Savannah, the Andrew Low House in Savannah, and Grady Hospital's Goddard Chapel in Atlanta.

Excellence in Rehabilitation winners were: Dunlevie House, Allenhurst; Plumfield, Columbus; Health Sciences Building and Parks Memorial Building at Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville; Madison Town Park Cottage, Madison; MLK, Jr. Federal Building, Atlanta; Bartow County Courthouse, Cartersville; Brawner Hall, Smyrna; Newnan Carnegie Library, Newnan; Oglethorpe School at Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta; and the Smith-Benning House, Atlanta.

Michael Purser of the Rosebud Company was recognized with a Preservation Service Award for his lifelong dedication to restoring historic wood floors in buildings and residences throughout Georgia.

A collaborative effort between New South Associates, the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources, the Georgia Transmission Corporation, the Georgia Department of Transportation, and several architectural consulting firms was recognized with a Preservation Service Award for the publication "The Ranch House in Georgia: Guidelines for Evaluation," a guide that recognizes the Ranch House in Georgia as a significant architectural style and provides guidelines for determining it's eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places.

"This year's winners represent a tremendous dedication to restoring and revitalizing Georgia's historic buildings and communities," said Mark C. McDonald, president of The Georgia Trust. "We are proud to honor such deserving projects and individuals."

For more than 30 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 the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Founded in 1973, The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is one of the country's largest statewide, nonprofit preservation organizations. The Trust is committed to preserving and enhancing Georgia's communities and their diverse historic resources for the education and enjoyment of all.

The Trust generates community revitalization by finding buyers for endangered properties acquired by its Revolving Fund and raises awareness of other endangered historic resources through an annual listing of Georgia's "10 Places in Peril." The Trust helps revitalize downtowns by providing design and technical assistance in 102 Georgia Main Street cities; trains Georgia's teachers in 63 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.

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Georgia Trust's 26th Annual Preservation Gala to be Held Friday, March 19 at Atlanta's Goodrum House

/PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation will hold its 26th annual Preservation Gala, A Fine Feathered Fete, at the Goodrum House (also known as "the Peacock House") in Atlanta on Friday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.

The annual gala will feature cocktails, live entertainment from the band Kingsized, dancing and culinary edibles prepared by nine of Atlanta's favorite restaurants and caterers.

This year's chairs are Tamara and Ken Bazzle. The event will honor Elizabeth and Sheffield Hale, long-standing supporters of The Georgia Trust and preservation statewide.

While at the Gala guests will have the opportunity to explore and enjoy the Goodrum House and its extensive grounds, where peacocks once roamed. An outstanding example of the elegant English Regency style, the house was designed by notable Atlanta architect Philip Trammell Shutze in 1929 for May Patterson Goodrum. The house is also renowned for its interior murals by Athos Menaboni and Allyn Cox. The building was recently purchased and is being restored by the Watson-Brown Foundation.

Sponsors for this year's Preservation Gala include Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP; LexisNexis; SunTrust Bank; AAA Parking; Soiree Catering & Events; Jezebel Magazine; BNY Mellon; Lord, Aeck & Sargent Architecture; Wells Fargo Insurance Services; H.J. Russell & Company; Jackson Spalding; Ron Jones Photography; Parties to Die For; Vulcan Materials Company; Southern Seasons Magazine; Gunnin Graphics; Avante Catering; Carole Parks Catering; Jerry Dilts & Associates Caterers; Masterpiece Catering; Dennis Dean Catering; Sun in my Belly; The Atlanta Cupcake Factory; and Murphy's.

Tickets are $125 for members; $150 for non-members (includes membership to the Trust); and $100 for guests under 40. To purchase tickets, call 404-885-7812 or visit www.georgiatrust.org. All proceeds benefit The Georgia Trust.

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, 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.

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83 Percent of U.S. Adults Fail Test on Nation's Founding

/PRNewswire/ -- Who cares about the American Revolution? Should something that happened more than 200 years ago matter today?

These are among the questions raised by a recent national survey, sponsored by The American Revolution Center, which revealed an alarming lack of knowledge of our nation's founding history, despite near universal agreement on the importance of this knowledge.

The report, conducted in the summer of 2009 among a demographically representative random sample of U.S. adults, is the first national survey of adult knowledge of the American Revolution and its ongoing legacy. It reveals that Americans highly value, but vastly overrate, their knowledge of the Revolutionary period and its significance. Asked to grade themselves on their knowledge, 89 percent believed they could pass a basic test on the American Revolution. However, 83 percent failed when tested on the beliefs, freedoms, and liberties established during the Revolution.

"The American Revolution defined what it means to be an American. It forged those principles that unite us as a nation," says Dr. Bruce Cole, president and CEO of The American Revolution Center. "Unfortunately, those principles are fading from memory." This is alarming, Dr. Cole explains, because rights and values undefined and misunderstood cannot be defended or taught to future generations. "Knowledge of the ideas upon which our nation is built is essential, to maintain the relevance and vibrancy of our government," he says. "Many people are unaware that the everyday freedoms and liberties they enjoy - reading newspaper editorials, expressing a dissenting opinion while attending a public meeting, or worshipping at a religious institution of their choice - are the legacy of the American Revolution. For future generations to continue to enjoy these freedoms, we must know and preserve the promise of the American Revolution."

Some noteworthy findings from the report, titled "The American Revolution. Who Cares? Americans are Yearning to Learn, Failing to Know," include the following:

-- Many more Americans remember that Michael Jackson sang "Beat It" than
know that the Bill of Rights is part of the Constitution.
-- 60 percent of Americans can correctly identify the number of children
in reality-TV show couple Jon and Kate Gosselin's household (eight),
but more than one-third do not know the century in which the American
Revolution took place (18th). Half of those surveyed believe the
Civil War (1861-1865), Emancipation Proclamation (1863), or War of
1812 occurred before the American Revolution (1775-1783).
-- More than 50 percent of Americans surveyed wrongly attributed the
quote, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his
needs" to George Washington, Thomas Paine, or President Barack Obama,
when it is in fact a quote from Karl Marx, author of "The Communist
Manifesto."


Fortunately, the survey revealed that more than 90 percent of Americans - across all major demographic groups - think it is important for U.S. citizens to know the history and principles of the American Revolution, and that this knowledge be taught in schools.

The findings are a call-to-action for The American Revolution Center and for its efforts to address this "historical amnesia." The non-partisan, not-for-profit organization plans to construct The Museum of the American Revolution in historic Philadelphia. This will be the first national museum to tell the entire story of the American Revolution and its enduring legacy. The organization already has launched a website with informational resources on the American Revolution, offering lesson plans and other educational materials.

For more information about the survey, or about the mission and activities of The American Revolution Center, visit www.AmericanRevolutionCenter.org.

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Colonial Williamsburg Opens America's Only 18th-Century Coffeehouse

/PRNewswire/ -- More than 200 years since Americans gathered to discuss political and social issues in an authentic 18th-century coffeehouse, Colonial Williamsburg formally dedicates the R. Charlton Coffeehouse, the Historic Area's newest exhibition building and the first major reconstruction on Duke of Gloucester Street in more than 50 years, at 4 p.m. Nov. 20.

"The reconstructed R. Charlton's Coffeehouse is a major architectural and educational addition to the Historic Area," said Colin G. Campbell, president of Colonial Williamsburg. "It adds a new dimension and vibrancy to our understanding and portrayal of life in Williamsburg on the eve of the American Revolution. We are extremely grateful to Forrest and Deborah Mars for enabling Colonial Williamsburg to create a fuller picture of social and political life during that tumultuous era. This project will be of great interest to guests, scholars and artisans alike."

The opening begins with re-enactment of the memorable event of 1765 when an angry crowd threatened Virginia's appointed administrator of The Stamp Act until he was rescued and escorted to safety by the royal governor.

Following the opening ceremony, a walk-through open house of the building is available. The open house continues 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21-22.

R. Charlton's Coffeehouse will open daily for interpretive tours Monday, Nov. 23 when guests will learn about the pre-Revolutionary significance of this establishment before concluding the experience with the opportunity to enjoy a sample tasting of period coffeehouse beverages - coffee, tea or chocolate. The newest exhibition site in the Historic Area will reflect its 18th-century role as a gathering place for the politically connected as well as for the socially ambitious. The reconstruction will provide an exciting new venue for Historic Area programming.

Archaeological evidence recovered from the coffeehouse site reflects the importance of fine dining as well as the consumption of tea, coffee and chocolate. Charlton offered an epicurean menu that included fish, shellfish, meat and game, even peacock. A Cherokee pipe fragment suggests the presence of Indians who may have been part of an official delegation.

Coffeehouse furnishings include carefully researched reproduction furniture, ceramics, glassware, hardware and other items representing the variety of activities that took place there. Hand-printed wallpapers will cover the walls of the well-appointed private meeting room and the north room, both based on microscopic study of original building fragments.

R. Charlton's Coffeehouse is built on its original foundations with 18th-century construction techniques.

Reconstruction of R. Charlton's Coffeehouse is possible through a $5 million gift from Forrest and Deborah Mars.

Williamsburg is located in Virginia's Tidewater region within an hour's drive of Richmond and Norfolk, and 150 miles south of Washington, D.C., off Interstate 64. For more information about Colonial Williamsburg, call 1-800-HISTORY or visit Colonial Williamsburg's Web site at www.history.org.

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The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Announces Its 2010 List of State's 10 'Places in Peril'

/PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released today its 2010 list of 10 Places in Peril in the state.

Sites on the list include: Central State Hospital in Milledgeville; Paradise Gardens in Summerville; Morris Brown College in Atlanta; Canton Grammar School in Cherokee County; Leake archaeological site in Cartersville; Dorchester Academy in Midway; Old Dodge County Jail in Eastman; Ritz Theatre in Thomaston; Herndon Plaza in Atlanta; and, Capricorn Recording Studio in Macon.

"This is the Trust's fifth annual Places in Peril list," said Mark C. McDonald, president and CEO of the Trust. "We hope the list will continue to draw attention to a broad range of 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.

The Trust will provide on-site preservation assistance to each of the 2010 Places in Peril through its Partners in the Field program, funded by grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a number of charitable organizations in Georgia.

Sites that have been placed on previous years' lists have included: the Wren's Nest, home of folklore writer Joel Chandler House in Atlanta; Pasaquan, an internationally acclaimed visionary art site in Marion County near Buena Vista; Andalusia, the home of Flannery O'Connor outside of Milledgeville; Cockspur Island Lighthouse off the coast of Savannah; Bibb Mill, a historic textile mill destroyed by fire in Columbus; and the University of Georgia Marine Institute Greenhouse and Administration Building on Sapelo Island. Updates on these sites and others can be found at www.georgiatrust.org.

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.

The Georgia Trust is a recipient of the Trustees Award for Organizational Excellence from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Summary Information on each Places in Peril Site

Central State Hospital, Milledgeville

Once the nation's largest mental hospital and second largest in the world, the campus of Central State Hospital has grown and changed just as much as the study of mental health. Built in 1842, Central State Hospital was Georgia's first psychiatric hospital, chartered by the legislature in 1837 with the intent of providing Georgians with mental illness a safe and humane environment.

Some of the buildings have been vacant for years and are suffering from neglect. Many roofs have collapsed, leaving the buildings structurally unstable. Without immediate repairs, deterioration is imminent.

Paradise Gardens, Summerville

In 1961, Howard Finster began his 30-year creation of Paradise Gardens, a folk art site consisting of a maze of buildings, sculptures and displays. The setting is a four-acre swampland that Finster drained by building numerous canals around the property. He built his folk art from found objects and recycled materials ranging from bottles, bathtubs and toilets to bicycle frames and cast-off jewelry.

Since then, Paradise Gardens has attained international pop icon status. Finster and his folk art has been the subject of numerous articles and documentaries. Images of the site can be seen on cover art and in music videos from groups like REM and Talking Heads. Finster and his Gardens were also featured on NBC's The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

The site was built from often fragile materials and is located in the damp climate of a former swamp. Continuous dredging is needed to maintain the canals Finster dug throughout the property. Constant damage from the elements has harmed many of the dozen or so structures.

Morris Brown College, Atlanta

Morris Brown College was the first educational institution in Georgia under sole African American patronage. Built in 1882 to educate freed slaves, Fountain Hall was the first building constructed on campus and is now a National Historic Landmark.

The College educated many outstanding alumni including Isaac Blythers, former President of Atlanta Gas Light Company; Eula L. Adams, Executive Vice President for First Data Corporation; Albert J. Edmonds, Retired Lieutenant General of the United States Air Force; the late Reverend Dr. Hosea Williams, civil rights leader; Thomas J. Byrd, actor of television, film and stage; and James A. McPherson, Pulitzer prize-winning author.

Due to an embezzlement scandal in 2002, the school lost its accreditation and conducts classes online, leaving the buildings vacant and subject to deterioration and vandalism.

Canton Grammar School, Canton

Built in 1914, the Canton Grammar School is one of the few remaining Neoclassical Revival style schools in Georgia. The school housed grades 1-11 until 1924 when Canton High School was built across the street. The Grammar School building continued to be used as a school until 1974, when a new facility was constructed. The Cherokee County Board of Education reopened the building in 1976 as part of the Bicentennial Celebration.

The school is vacant. The Cherokee County Board of Education does not have plans for the building's use, although discussions have included possible demolition. Occasional maintenance has occurred over the years, but there has been little, if any, preservation work.

Leake Archaeological Site, Cartersville

Located in the Etowah Valley Historic District in Bartow County, the Leake site is a prehistoric archaeological site dating as far back as 300 BC. The site contains the remnants of at least three earthen mounds and a vast moat; midden deposits with artifacts from everyday and ceremonial activities; former structures; and human burials.

The site began as a small domestic village that developed into one of the most important sites in the Southeast, both as a ceremonial and political hub.

The Leake site extends along many different property parcels, some of which have already been industrially or commercially developed. The area surrounding the site is growing rapidly, so the unoccupied tracts of land in the archaeological site are in imminent danger of being destroyed.

Dorchester Academy, Midway

Founded in 1871 to educate freed slaves, Dorchester Academy provided the only educational opportunity for African American children in Liberty County for many decades.

The only remaining building on the campus is a brick two-story Colonial Revival style structure built in 1934 as a boys' dormitory. Earlier this year, the school was listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King held a meeting at the dormitory to plan the Birmingham march, which would bring international attention to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

Significant and widespread failure of the roofing system has resulted in extensive damage to the property, leaving the building structurally unstable. The Dorchester Improvement Association has provided loving care for the building over the decades, but its aging membership coupled with limited resources have made it impossible to make necessary repairs.

Old Dodge County Jail, Eastman

Built in 1897, the Old Dodge County Jail is an elaborately detailed building that served the county for 70 years. Originally, the building had a central three-story tower, which was removed when the roof was replaced. Most of the interior details are intact, including a "hanging room" with a trap door, metal loop for rope, and lever. The jail closed in 1973, when its replacement was built beside it.

The building is suffering from lack of maintenance and funding as the window and roofing systems continue to deteriorate.

Ritz Theatre, Thomaston

Prominently located on the courthouse square in Thomaston, the Ritz Theatre was built during the height of Thomaston's economic growth.

Throughout its history, the Ritz Theatre has served Thomaston and surrounding towns as a home for the arts as well as an anchor on the downtown square. The Ritz Theatre continues to show first-run movies and serves more than 24,000 patrons annually.

A leak in the front parapet wall has contributed to water penetrating the Art Deco facade. This water damage is causing tiles to deteriorate, posing a threat to the structure and to pedestrians on the sidewalk below.

With the popularity of home entertainment and multiplex theaters, smaller historic theaters are at risk of becoming obsolete.

Herndon Plaza, Atlanta

For more than 50 years, Herndon Plaza was the headquarters of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, which was founded by Alonzo Herndon, a former slave and Atlanta's first African American millionaire.

The plaza consists of two adjoining buildings. The main building was built as a residence in 1892. In 1918, Atlanta Life moved into the building to set up their headquarters. In 1936, a second annex building was constructed, matching the Neoclassical style of the original building. Atlanta Life built a new building in 1980 and moved out of the Plaza. It stood vacant for many years, but in 1997 Atlanta Life sold the building to the Historic District Development Corporation (HDDC).

The buildings have been vandalized over the years and suffer from a lack of maintenance. Custom wood awnings, door frames, marble floors, and hallways are in danger of disrepair. The HDDC is in the process of hiring an architect and contractor for the project and is applying for Historic Preservation Certification to receive federal tax credits.

Capricorn Recording Studio, Macon

During the 1970s, Macon's Capricorn Recording Studio was a mecca for Southern Rock music legends such as the Allman Brothers Band, Charlie Daniels Band, Dixie Dregs, and the Marshall Tucker Band.

Capricorn Recording Studio filed bankruptcy in 1979. In 1986, the building reopened and operated under several music labels before being purchased by Mercer University in 1999. In 2008, MLK Properties, LLC purchased the former studio with plans to rehabilitate it. On November 3, 2009, the building was foreclosed upon.

The property is located within sight of downtown Macon's tourism and museum district, but the surrounding area appears depressed and unsafe due to numerous vacant lots and boarded-up buildings covered with graffiti.

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Congress Allocates $9 Million to Preserve America's Endangered Civil War Battlefields

/PRNewswire/ -- The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) applauded members of the U.S. House and Senate for including the largest ever single-year allocation for the federal Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Interior Appropriations Act Conference Report (H. Rept. 111-316).

The conference report, scheduled for a final vote in both chambers later this week, includes $9 million for the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program, a mechanism that utilizes government matching grants and private funds to permanently protect historic Civil War battlefields throughout the nation.

"This is tremendous news that could not come at a more critical time," said CWPT President James Lighthizer. Each day 30 acres of our remaining Civil War battlefields are paved over and lost forever. This money will allow us to preserve thousands of acres of historic land that would otherwise be lost to urban sprawl."

Since its creation in 1999, the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program has been used to protect more than 15,000 acres of hallowed ground at 60 sites in 14 states. The program targets priority Civil War sites outside National Park Service (NPS) boundaries. Grants from the program are awarded by the American Battlefield Protection Program, an arm of NPS.

Among the sites saved as a result of this program are historic properties at Antietam and South Mountain, Md.; Champion Hill, Miss.; Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Manassas, Va.; Chattanooga and Fort Donelson, Tenn.; and Harpers Ferry, W.Va.

Although numerous members of the House and Senate have played important roles in ensuring the program's continued success, the following individuals were pivotal in securing this year's unprecedented federal commitment to battlefield preservation: Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairs Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Norm Dicks (D-WA); Senators Jim Webb (D-VA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Jeff Sessions (R-AL); and Congressmen, Bart Gordon (D-TN), Steve Israel (D-NY), Gary Miller (R-CA) and C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger (D-MD). In addition, 16 Senators and 29 Member of Congress signed letters of support for the program earlier this year.

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St. Vincent's Annual Historic Tour of Homes and Tea on October 17

St. Vincent’s Academy Annual Historic Tour of Homes and Tea to benefit the historic preservation of the original 1845 Convent building will be presented by St. Joseph’s/ Candler on Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Often referred to as “the best tour in Savannah,” this self-guided tour of homes will encompass nine residences in the Savannah Historic District. The Convent will also be host to a tea. St. Vincent’s Academy students will serve a delicate repast of tea, homemade confections and traditional tea sandwiches.

The tour hours are 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 17. You can purchase tickets online starting August 1, 2009 until noon on Friday, October 16 at www.svatourofhomes.com or by calling 912.819.7780. The tickets will be held at Will Call to be picked up on the day of the tour at the Tour Ticket Office (Walsh Hall at St. Vincent’s, located at the corner of Lincoln and Harris Streets in downtown Savannah). Tickets can also be purchased at any of the following businesses:

The Savannah Bank
– Downtown (25 Bull St.)
– Mall (400A Mall Blvd.)
– Whitemarsh Island (4741 E. Hwy. 80)
– Medical Arts Shopping Ctr.
– Garden City (100 Chatham Pkwy.)
– Skidaway Island (The Village)
– Richmond Hill (Bryan Bank & Trust)

E. Shaver, bookseller, 912.234.7257
(326 Bull St., behind the Hilton Savannah DeSoto)
Saints & Shamrocks, 912.233.8858 (309 Bull St.)
St. Joseph's/Candler Gift Shop, 912.819.2064 (11705 Mercy Blvd.)
As a final option, tickets will be available on the day of the tour at the Tour Ticket Office between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted.

Tickets are $40 per person (includes Tea at the Convent) plus handling charge for online and phone orders. Tickets purchased by October 7 are just $35.

For more information, please visit www.svatourofhomes.com or contact Melissa Yao at 912.644.6431 or myao@savannahvisit.com.

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Hampton Hotels Heads to Mayberry to Fix Up The Andy Griffith Show’s Old City Jail

(BUSINESS WIRE)--In 1960, the first episode of The Andy Griffith Show aired, and Sheriff Andy Taylor, Deputy Barney Fife, Opie, and Aunt Bee won over the hearts of viewers everywhere. The quaint, fictional town of Mayberry felt like home for many. Now, fans can visit familiar Mayberry landmarks in Mount Airy, N.C., Andy Griffith’s hometown. The historic Old City Jail is one such place, and today local volunteers from Hampton Hotels’ Save-A-Landmark program (www.hamptonlandmarks.com) will help to restore this historic site. The jail is the 48th landmark to be refurbished in the 39th state through the Save-A-Landmark program.

More than 20 volunteers gathered from local Hampton Hotels throughout North Carolina to help preserve the site in time for the town’s annual Mayberry Days festival. The work included general cleaning of the facility, painting, and landscaping. Hampton Hotels’ Save-A-Landmark program will donate $10,000 to the Old City Jail for future refurbishment efforts including renewed flooring at the site. Hampton also surprised the local Jones Intermediate School of Mount Airy with a check for $5,000 to help buy new books and supplies for the school’s library. Spokesperson Chris Epting, author & pop-culture historian, also spoke to the 4th grade class at Jones Intermediate School about the importance of preserving their local community.

“The Andy Griffith Show is truly a representation of American life in the 1960s,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president of global brand marketing for Hampton Hotels. “I can still remember watching the show with my family as a child and feeling a connection to those characters and the town of Mayberry. Hampton Hotels’ Save-A-Landmark program is helping to ensure that the Old City Jail and the spirit of Mayberry are carried on for future generations to enjoy.”

Old City Jail was home to Mount Airy’s real jail for many years and served as its Municipal Building, which housed many city offices and the local police department. Several years ago, the offices moved to a new Municipal Building and the town re-created the Old City Jail. Mount Airy is Andy Griffith’s hometown and is reflected in many ways in The Andy Griffith Show’s town of Mayberry. Every year, fans can celebrate Mayberry’s charm during Mount Airy’s annual festival, Mayberry Days. Mayberry Days is held September 24-27 and offers activities for the whole family, such as tribute actors like “The Deputy” and “Floyd the Barber,” local bands playing The Andy Griffith Show theme songs, and old-fashioned soda pop for all to enjoy.

The Old City Jail is Hampton’s seventh landmark to be restored in 2009 as part of the “All-American Landmarks” campaign. This year, Hampton is devoted to restoring sites that represent what it means to be American, just like Mayberry’s Old City Jail as well as others like the Steamboat Belle of Louisville in Louisville, Ky. and the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nev. Each site that Save-A-Landmark will refurbish reflects the individual personalities of the states and their residents and signifies defining moments in the country’s past.

Communities across the country showed their American spirit by casting thousands of votes to help elect the nine landmarks that will be restored this year. The public voted for their favorite “All-American Landmarks” in nine states, including Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Over the years, Hampton has worked to preserve 47 other historical, fun and cultural landmarks from the Carousel Gardens in New Orleans, La. to the historical National Monument to the Forefathers in Plymouth, Mass. During this time, the program has helped research landmarks in need, promoted landmark sites and their importance, facilitated tens of thousands of volunteer hours, donated several tons of supplies and worked with matching grants – all at an investment of more than $3.5 million. Uniting its hotels together in the communities they serve, Hampton employee-volunteers work hand-in-hand on the landmarks while Hampton provides the financial support to refurbish selected sites. The Save-A-Landmark program has already successfully refurbished a landmark in 38 states, continuing on with the ultimate goal to “save” a landmark from each of the 50 states by the end of 2010.

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Oak Hill to Offer Historic Bike Tours Beginning June 20

Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum will offer Historic Berry Bike Tours every third Saturday of the month beginning June 20 at 10 a.m. Tours are free and open to the public. Reservations are encouraged but not required. Participants must furnish their own bicycles, and helmets should be worn by all riders. Call 706-368-6775 for more information or to RSVP.

Tours of the main campus will begin at Hermann Hall and will include such notable landmarks as Roosevelt Cabin, the Berry College Chapel, the “Log Cabin” campus and Berry’s famed Ford Buildings. Optional tours of the mountain campus will be offered as well.

The main-campus loop is approximately three miles in length and features a mostly flat surface with a few rolling hills. The ride is appropriate for both children and adults.
In the event of rain, tours will be canceled.

Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum is a popular attraction and the former home of Berry College founder Martha Berry (1865-1942). It is located at the intersection of Georgia Loop 1 and U.S. Highway 27 in Rome, Ga. More information is available via the Web at www.berry.edu/oakhill.

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Indian Burial Site Sheds Light on Prehistoric Indian Culture

The recent excavation of a prehistoric American Indian burial site on Ossabaw Island revealed cremated remains, an unexpected find that offers a glimpse into ancient Indian culture along Georgia’s coast.

State archaeologist David Crass of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said prehistoric cremations were rare, particularly during the early time in which preliminary evidence suggests this one occurred, possibly 1000 B.C. to A.D. 350. The remains also mark the first cremation uncovered on Ossabaw, a state-owned Heritage Preserve about 20 miles south of Savannah.

“This interment broadens our knowledge about … the kinds of belief (involving) death within the Woodland Period,” Crass said. “This is not something we have seen before on Ossabaw Island. Similar cremations on St. Catherine’s Island may point to this practice being more widespread than we have believed up to now.”

Crass said during this time American Indians in Georgia moved to the coast in the winter for shellfish, then inland in the spring for deer hunting and into uplands in the fall for gathering nuts. “This site may have been a winter season camp,” he said.

Erosion from natural causes exposed the burial on an Ossabaw bluff earlier this year. Scientists from the DNR Office of the State Archaeologist, the non-profit Lamar Institute and the Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns worked under the council’s direction to excavate the roughly 6- by 6-foot pit. As required by state law, Crass informed the council about the situation and organized the excavation at the group’s request.

The work on Georgia’s third-largest barrier island revealed a cremation pit that had been lined with wood and oyster shells. The body had been placed on top of the wood and the contents of the pit burned. The human remains recovered were primarily from extremities, indicating that the deceased had been disinterred after cremation, possibly to be reburied elsewhere.

The charcoal will be submitted for carbon 14 dating, but preliminary analysis of the pottery recovered from the pit suggests the cremation may date to the Refuge-Deptford Phases in the Woodland Period, c.a. 1000 B.C. to A.D. 350. A ground-penetrating radar survey showed many prehistoric American Indian features in the general area, Crass said. The bluff apparently had long been a focal point of prehistoric Indian life.

After analysis, the remains will be reinterred in a secure location under the auspices of the Council on American Indian Concerns. Crass expects the carbon 14 dating results and details on the radar survey by early next year.

Human history runs deep on Ossabaw. Shell mounds and other artifacts here date to 2000 B.C. More than 230 archaeological sites have been recorded. Spanish records indicate the island probably had an early Guale Indian village, according to The New Georgia Encyclopedia. But long before the first European contact on Ossabaw, possibly through the Spanish in 1568, small pox and other diseases unwittingly introduced by the Spanish in Mexico and South America had swept north, devastating populations of native Americans.

Crass said it’s not known what Indians were on the island when the cremation pit was used. But because of its discovery thousands of years later, more will be learned.

Access to Ossabaw is limited to approved research projects and hunts managed by the DNR’s Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. Details at www.georgiawildlife.com. Information on visiting the island for research and educational purposes is also available from The Ossabaw Island Foundation’s Jim Bitler, jim@ossabawisland.org.

The Wildlife Resources Division works to protect, conserve, manage and improve Georgia's wildlife and freshwater fishery resources. The division’s mission also includes managing and conserving protected wildlife and plants, administering and conducting the mandatory hunter safety program, regulating the possession and sale of wild animals, and administering and enforcing the Georgia Boat Safety Act.

The Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia DNR serves as Georgia’s state historic preservation office. The Historic Preservation Division’s mission is to promote the preservation and use of historic places for a better Georgia. Programs include archaeology protection and education, environmental review, grants, historic resource surveys, tax incentives, the National Register of Historic Places, community planning and technical assistance. For more information, call (404) 656-2840 or visit www.gashpo.org.

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NASA Television Commemorates Apollo 8 Christmas Eve Broadcast

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA Television will honor the 40th anniversary of the historic Christmas Eve broadcast by the Apollo 8 crew with special programming Dec. 24 and 25 on the NASA TV Public Channel (101).

Forty years ago, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders became the first humans to visit another heavenly body as they successfully orbited the moon in their Apollo 8 spacecraft. On Dec. 24, 1968, the three astronauts devoted one of their mission's six live television transmissions to reading from the biblical book of Genesis during what has since come to be known as the Christmas Eve Broadcast.

To commemorate the anniversary, NASA TV will air the following special programs:

"The Annual John H. Glenn Lecture -- An Evening with the Apollo 8 Astronauts," a panel discussion with Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders recorded Nov. 13, 2008, at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Former U.S. senator and NASA astronaut John Glenn provided their introduction.

"The Apollo 8 Crew Remembers Historic Mission, Live from the Newseum," a panel discussion with the Apollo 8 astronauts moderated by Nick Clooney and recorded Nov. 13, 2008, at the Newseum in Washington.

"De-Brief Apollo 8," an historical documentary of Apollo 8, narrated by Burgess Meredith (1970).

"Apollo 8 Christmas Video," a 10-minute documentary featuring Apollo 8 astronauts describing their historic mission. (Excerpts from the John H. Glenn Lecture recorded Nov. 13, 2008.)

"Apollo 8 -- December 21, 1968," a NASA Manned Space Flight Film Report on the Apollo 8 mission (1970).

The NASA Television Video File also will include footage documenting the Apollo 8 mission's Christmas Eve broadcast. For program times and listings, consult the NASA Television schedule online at:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

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The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Announces its 2009 List of State's 10 'Places in Peril'

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released today its 2009 list of 10 Places in Peril in the state.

Sites on the list include: the Mary Ray Memorial School in Newnan; the Crum & Forster Building in Atlanta; the Rock House in Thomson; the Campbell Chapel AME Church in Americus; the archaeological remains of Fort Daniel in Buford; Metcalf Township in Thomas County; Battery Backus at Tybee Island; the Sallie Davis House in Milledgeville; the John Berrien House in Savannah; and, Bibb Mill in Columbus.

"This is the Trust's fourth annual Places in Peril list," said Mark C. McDonald, president and CEO of the Trust. "We hope the list will continue to draw attention to a broad range of 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.

This year, the Trust will provide on-site preservation assistance to each of the 2009 Places in Peril through its Partners in the Field program, funded by grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a number of Georgia charitable organizations.

Sites on the Trust's 2008 list, which was announced in November 2007, included: the Meriwether County Jail in Greenville; the A.L. Miller Senior High School for Girls in Macon; the Old Clinton Historic District in Gray; the Spencer House in Columbus; the UGA Marine Institute Greenhouse and Administration Building on Sapelo Island; the Trinity C.M.E. Church in Augusta; the Adam-Strain Building in Darien; the Sunbury Historic Colonial Town Site in Liberty County; the Cockspur Island Lighthouse in Chatham County; and, The Castle in Atlanta. Updates on these sites can be found at www.georgiatrust.org.

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.

The Georgia Trust is a recipient of the Trustees Award for Organizational Excellence from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Summary Information on each Places in Peril Site

Mary Ray Memorial School, Newnan-Coweta County


Built in 1909, Mary Ray Memorial School served the community of Raymond for educational purposes, public meetings, public worship, and entertainment. By 1950 the school had closed, and the building became the Raymond Community Center. Diminishing interest in the building contributed to its neglect and lack of maintenance.

Recently, a group of concerned citizens installed a new roof, made foundation repairs, and cleared vegetation from the property. The school has been stabilized and is now in need of assessments and a preservation plan to help guide future work.

Crum & Forster Building, Atlanta

Built in 1928 as the southern branch of the Crum and Forster Insurance Company, this office building is a rare example of classically designed architecture in Midtown Atlanta.

The Georgia Tech Foundation purchased the Crum and Forster Building in 2007. In May 2008 the Foundation applied for a Special Administrative Permit to demolish the building.

After several well attended public meetings and the circulation of a petition signed by over 2000 people opposing the building's demolition, Atlanta's Bureau of Planning denied the Georgia Tech Foundation's request. Recently, the Crum and Forster Building was nominated as a local landmark building, which would further protect it from demolition. Both actions currently are under appeal.

Rock House, Thomson

Built in the 1780's, the Rock House is recognized as the oldest surviving stone house in Georgia. The house remained privately owned until 1966, when the Wrightsborough Quaker Community Foundation purchased and restored the house with the intention of using it as a museum.

Now the house is closed, vacant and unstaffed. Located in rural McDuffie County with no occupied houses near it, there is a minimal amount of security. Vandalism and a lack of funding available for maintenance have added to the overall threat to this historic structure.

In December 2007, the Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board issued an emergency grant for the repair of windows, historic sashes and doors, but the house is still in need of a solid overall preservation plan that addresses use, maintenance and security.

Campbell Chapel AME Church, Americus

Campbell Chapel AME Church has served Americus' oldest black congregation since 1920. This Romanesque Revival Church with Queen Anne style details was designed by Georgia's first registered African American architect Louis H. Presley.

The church's structural integrity is threatened by a lack of maintenance. The twisting and sagging of interior trusses and beams are the result of deteriorated mortar and faulty flashing at the bell tower. Recently the 700-pound bell collapsed from its rotted ceiling members and crashed to the ground floor.

The small, elderly congregation recently raised funds for roof repairs, but the high cost of restoration remains the church's biggest obstacle to preserving their historic church.

Fort Daniel, Buford

Built in the late 18th century, the archaeological site of Fort Daniel was once a frontier fort located on Hog Mountain in Gwinnett County. Archaeologists have unearthed artifacts such as historic pottery, black bottle glass, musket balls, musket flint, wrought nails, and an 18th-century Spanish coin.

The property and its surrounding lots are currently for sale. A developer has already sought a zoning change to allow commercial development, which would destroy this significant archaeological site.

A group of interested parties have formed with the intention of purchasing the archaeological site. With support from the community and at the county level, this group plans to purchase the property and create an archaeological park that would include a museum, lab, and classroom space.

Metcalf Township, Thomas County

Established in the late nineteenth-century, the town of Metcalf was once a center for commerce and trade of agricultural products during the railroad era. The town has many examples of late 18th-century commercial and residential Victorian-era, Romanesque Revival style, and vernacular architecture.

Since the 1920's, Metcalf has endured being unincorporated, the loss of rail transportation and the installation of a large loud lumber operation. Recently it has caught the attention of developers, due to its low cost of land and proximity to Tallahassee.

The possibility of new inappropriate development threatens a town already suffering from neglect, inappropriate infill, lack of building codes that address mobile homes, and no sewer system.

Thomasville Landmarks and the Thomas County Commission have agreed to support any preservation efforts and seek to protect the historic integrity of this small, rural, south Georgia township.

Battery Backus, Tybee Island

Built in 1898 as part of Fort Screven, Battery Backus played a vital role in the U.S.'s coastal defense system, protecting the entrance to the Savannah River against enemy vessels.

Currently Battery Backus is privately owned and threatened with development. Three of the six batteries along Tybee Island are unrecognizable following the construction of private residences on top of the batteries.

The Fort Screven Preservation Organization, The Tybee Island Historical Society, and other groups are working to ensure public access to the batteries; however, development pressure looms over this seaside property.

Sallie Davis House, Milledgeville

The Sallie Davis House is the 1890 home of African-American education pioneer Sallie Ellie Davis, who taught academics as well as life skills to African-American children in Milledgeville. Davis owned the house from 1912 until her death in 1950. The house was continuously used as a residence until 1989, when the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia purchased it. Since then, the house has been vacant and suffering from neglect, weathering and vandalism.

In 2003, a Certified Local Government grant was awarded to the City of Milledgeville for the Sallie Davis House, which funded an assessment and rehabilitation plan. Recently, several involved groups have met to discuss possible future uses of the Sallie Davis House.

John Berrien House, Savannah

The Berrien House is a federal style building in Savannah built circa 1800 for Revolutionary War officer Major John Berrien.

Located on Savannah's main commercial street, the Berrien House has been vacant for more than twenty years as several demolition permits have been sought and denied. Lack of maintenance and failed rehabilitation efforts have left the severely deteriorated building at risk of demolition by neglect.

Historic Savannah Foundation holds a preservation easement on the house and has invested $70,000 in roofing and structural repairs and has established a task force to seek strategies for the rehabilitation of this important building. A mortgage foreclosure has left the house in the ownership of a bank that is currently exploring and evaluating the economic feasibility of the building's rehabilitation.

Bibb Mill, Columbus

During the early 20th-century, Bibb Manufacturing expanded this 1898 mill and developed the surrounding community of Bibb City for its mill workers.

Following the company's bankruptcy in the mid 1990's, Bibb Mill was purchased by a private developer. The current owner has been searching for a way to rehabilitate the mill and has rehabilitated several historic buildings on the site as a conference facility. However, several warehouses have been demolished and last fall the owner received a demolition permit for most of the main mill, a 676,000 square-foot structure.

The owner has met with The National Trust, The Georgia Trust, and other advisors to explore feasible development options and demolition alternatives, but its immense size makes rehabilitation a multi-phase, complicated project.

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