Timeline 1990-1995

Tourism and historic preservation promotional tours around Georgia on the “New Georgia Railroad.”

Sponsored by the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade, and Tourism and HPS.

HPS was an active participant with a railroad car devoted to the office’s exhibits. HPS staff spoke about heritage tourism at many of the stops. The state historic preservation office also produced a children’s coloring book, “Georgia on the Line: A Railroad History Coloring Book,” which was distributed to children at the Whistlestops.

“Whistlestops” included Albany, Andersonville, Gainesville, Jesup, Macon, Rome, Thomson, and Waycross.

The 1992 tour featured the Olympic Flag Transfer.

It also brought about reorganization of the state historic preservation office – and with it, a new “higher-status” name.

Management and Information Unit (Carole Griffith)

Survey and National Register Unit (Richard Cloues)

Planning and Local Assistance Unit (Karen Easter)

Technical Services Unit (Mary Ann Eaddy)

Office of the State Archaeologist (now administratively affiliated with the state preservation office) (Lewis Larson)

The downturn in the national and state economy led to the largest reduction of state employees and budget in Georgia’s history during the summer and fall of 1991… OHP lost three full-time positions and its state subgrant funding… The budget for the Office of the State Archaeologist was cut 25 percent.

Cynthia Byrd hired as Grants and Budget Coordinator in the Management and Information Unit; she served as the office’s Budget Coordinator until 1999 when she became the state preservation office’s liaison within the DNR budget office.

Required state-agency assessments of proposed project effects on historic properties; calls for state historic preservation officer reviews.
Strengthened protections for abandoned cemeteries and archaeological sites.

Required state agencies to prepare environmental assessments --including consideration of historic properties -- for proposed actions that impact the environment in these geographical areas.

This resulted, in 1994, in the establishment of the Georgia Heritage 2000 grant program.

The Georgia Living Places project, begun in 1989, provided a broad “historic context” – a comprehensive framework -- for identifying and evaluating historic residential properties in the state. It identified the major historic residential architectural styles and house types in the state – with emphasis on their character-defining features -- along with associated landscaping and domestic archaeological resources. It also provided clear guidance for applying the National Register “criteria for evaluation” to residential properties being considered for National Register nomination or involved in Section 106 environmental review projects, and it provided similar guidance for local historic designations and other historic preservation activities. This was a precedent-setting state historic preservation office production which received national acclaim.

The Georgia Living Places project was privately funded through a generous donation and was carried out by state preservation office staff and several private-sector consultants.

(in cooperation with the Georgia Office of Energy Resources)

This federal legislation included federal matching funds for state transportation-related historic preservation projects including rehabilitation of historic transportation-related buildings and structures (funds became available in 1993).

Funded activities involving historic buildings, structures, landscapes, and sites were subject to Section 106 “environmental reviews” including consultations with the state historic preservation office regarding project effects.

Declared that buried human remains are part of the “cultural heritage” of the people of Georgia -- not property to be owned by the person or entity with title to the land – and as such require “respectful treatment.”

Authorized local governments to preserve and protect abandoned cemeteries and to issue permits prior to any disturbance of burials.

This conference was the culmination of a series of workshops about “Georgia’s Living Places” started in 1990.

The conference was held at Augusta’s Sacred Heart church.

The focus of conference was preserving historic places of worship.

Four posters featuring historic African-American properties in Georgia.

Funded in part by the Georgia Power Corporation.

Three staff positions lost (two were vacant at the time): secretary, CLG/tax programs coordinator, preservation planner.

Funded in part by the Georgia Power Corporation.

Established policies for archaeological investigation of burials, skeletal remains, funerary objects, public display, buying/selling artifacts, and repatriation; also included procedures for notifying law enforcement agencies regarding disturbances.

The amendments also required Federal agencies to internalize preservation planning into their programs and project planning and to withhold Federal assistance in cases of anticipatory demolition by other parties.

These projects involved the rehabilitation of historic income-producing historic buildings.

This was the last of the “Whistlestop” heritage tourism train tours initiated in 1990.

Elizabeth Lyon, State Historic Preservation Officer and OHP Section Chief, was appointed as an advisor, and Michael Miller, OHP staff architect, provided technical advice regarding historic preservation.

The commission was charged with researching and commemorating sites in Georgia associated with the Civil War – including but not limited to battlefields.

The project was an offshoot of a national commemorative effort begun under President George H. W. Bush and directed by Holly Robinson, a Georgia historian at the Marist School in Atlanta.

OHP provided office space for two commission staff.

Founding agencies: OHP, Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Forestry Commission, the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, and the Georgia EMC (representing rural electrical membership corporations in Georgia).

First annual awards meeting held in Macon in March 1993.

The state historic preservation office would play an increasingly strong role in managing the program beyond its initial responsibilities for reviewing applications and identifying qualifying farms.

“ISTEA” -- the 1991 federal “Intermodal Surface Transportation Enhancement Act” -- mandated that 10% of states’ federal transportation funds authorized under this act be spent on “enhancement” projects including the preservation of transportation-related historic buildings and structures. $83M would be allocated for Georgia projects between 1993 and 1998.

GDOT established an ISTEA advisory committee, chaired by Georgia’s state historic preservation officer, with representatives from preservation, conservation, and planning agencies and organizations.

GDOT also funded additional OHP staff positions through a cooperative agreement to help manage enhancement projects involving historic buildings, structures, and sites and to expedite required Section 106 environmental reviews for all enhancement projects.

Four new OHP positions were supported: archaeological reviewer, architectural/structural reviewer, associate planner, and program coordinator.

This survey was carried out by a consultant under the direction of OHP.

Products included survey data sheets and a publication (“Held In Trust: Historic Buildings Owned by the State of Georgia”).

The project goal was to assist state agencies in complying with the Georgia Environmental Policy Act by identifying “up front” many state-owned historic buildings and structures.

A Georgia Humanities Council grant project to enhance African-American historic preservation initiatives -- carried out cooperatively with the Georgia African American Historic Preservation Network (GAAHPN) and OHP. Products included:

“African-American Historic Places and Culture: A Preservation Resource Guide for Georgia” produced by OHP and GAAHPN;

Updated slide show of Georgia’s African-American historic places (OHP);

Video production (based on OHP’s slide show) of Georgia’s African-American historic places (video production compliments of the Georgia Power Corporation);

Heritage education materials (GAAHPN and OHP);

Workshops held in Savannah, Valdosta, and Bartow County (GAAHPN and OHP).

After several years of advocating for a higher and more independent status for the State Historic Preservation Office by influential historic preservationists (many associated with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation), the state historic preservation office was elevated from a “Section” within the Parks, Recreation, and Historic Sites Division to an independent “Division” within the Department of Natural Resources, reporting directly to the Commissioner’s office.

This elevation in status was conferred by the Department of Natural Resources Board with the governor’s approval.

While giving the state historic preservation office more visibility in state government and having the head of the office upgraded from Section Chief to Division Director, reporting directly to the Commissioner, all other personnel and administrative positions remained the same. HPD now assumed full responsibility for budget, personnel, accounting, reporting, etc., as a division but without additional staff or funding for these new administrative responsibilities. Office staff remained at the same classification levels as well.

Management and Information Unit (Carole Griffith) Survey and National Register Unit (Richard Cloues) Planning and Local Assistance Unit (Karen Easter) Technical Services Unit (Mary Ann Eaddy)

The Office of the State Archaeologist remained affiliated with the state historic preservation office as well (Lewis Larson).

Federal Historic Preservation Fund monies supported specific state historic preservation office programs mandated by the National Historic Preservation Act.

State monies supported administration and management, state-authorized programs, and new programs including archaeological initiatives and African-American activities.

Some special projects and activities were supported entirely by federal funds with matching state funds elsewhere in HPD’s overall state budget.

“State Discretionary Grants” for specific preservation-related projects authorized by the General Assembly were to be administered by the Historic Preservation Division starting in 1995.

Editorial note: The state historic preservation office retains its Division status (as of 2017). However, this timeline ends with 2010, corresponding to a major internal restructuring of the Division.

A “Preservation Celebration,” sponsored by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, Georgians for Preservation Action, and HPD, was held at the Georgian Terrace Hotel in Atlanta on July 29, 1994, to celebrate the elevation of the state historic preservation office to Division status within DNR, to promote awareness of a new state grant program and funding, and to commemorate Dr. Elizabeth A. Lyon’s two-decade career at the state historic preservation office.

Proceeds from the event were transferred to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation to establish the “Elizabeth Lyon Fund” for scholarly research contributing to the practice of historic preservation.

Marguerite Williams (of Thomasville) also received the “President’s Award” for her lifetime accomplishments in the private sector.

This new state grant program focused on threatened community landmark buildings owned by local governments or non-profit organizations.

$135,000 was appropriated this first year.

The Historic Preservation Division staff – particularly John R. “Chip” Morgan, HPD’s staff archaeologist -- advised the Council’s staff (Billy Townsend in the Parks Division) on archaeological issues.

The result was a re-design of the proposed golf course to avoid impacting Native American archaeological and burial sites.

Compiled damage assessments, conducted site visits, and requested and received emergency federal funding assistance through Georgia’s Congressional delegation.

Received requests for assistance and administered special “flood grants” for flood recovery activities including stabilizing historic buildings, assessing damage to archaeological sites, disseminating “how to” information regarding repairing flood-damaged historic buildings, and providing other technical assistance as needed.

Grant-funded flood recovery activities would extend for several years.

“After the Flood: Rehabilitating Historic Resources” (publication)

“After the Flood: Rebuilding Communities through Historic Preservation” (publication and video)

These grants were the largest historic preservation grants ever administered by the state historic preservation office.

Grant-funded flood recovery projects would continue over the next half decade.

The community claimed it had “no history” and therefore the widening of US Highway 25/341 through their town should be allowed to proceed without further environmental concerns.

After GDOT completed the appropriate historical and environmental studies, the highway through town was widened – with little or no impact to local historic buildings and structures.

This was one of the Council’s regularly scheduled meetings.

HPD was not formally invited to attend; however, Mark Edwards (Division Director) participated in events associated with the meeting and other HPD staff attended meetings.

HPD occupied the 3rd and 5th floors.

This location supported local preservation efforts in this part of downtown and was HPD’s first location in a historic building.

This allowed HPD to continue to participate in the national preservation program and receive federal Historic Preservation Fund grant funds to support its preservation program.

Accompanying the state preservation plan was “A Citizen’s Guide to Historic Preservation Planning in Georgia,” also prepared by HPD.

three new full-time positions:

• architectural reviewer
• grants coordinator
• environmental review specialist

and two new hourly positions:

• grants assistant
• receptionist

and a National Register “specialist” position (upgraded from a former clerical position).

Also: The “Archaeological Unit” created within HPD.

HPD staff served as the program’s “historic and archaeological resources” team, checking historic property surveys and archaeological inventories, participating in meetings and site visits, recommending policies and actions to preserve river-related historic and archaeological resources, and writing the sections of the project report dealing with historic and archaeological resources.

DNR’s “Rivercare 2000” report was published in 1998.

The Act authorized protection and non-dissemination of records containing information about archeological sites and historic properties if disclosure would create substantial risks to the resources (sub-section (a) (14)).

The fundamental questions were how to apply the historic preservation “Standards for Rehabilitation” to affordable housing rehabilitation projects in a cost-effective manner … or whether there should there be a separate set of “preservation” standards for these projects.

The workshop proceedings were published as “Community Conservation and Affordable Housing in Georgia – An Agenda for the Future.”

Conclusions: (1) historic public housing, if reasonably intact, is likely eligible for the National Register; (2) the prospects for rehabilitating and “modernizing” public housing consistent with the Secretary’s Standards for Rehabilitation are slight in light of current federal housing standards and prevailing conditions in many public housing projects; and (3) historic public housing should be photographed and documented prior to major alterations or replacement.

(See 1994 for notes about the original $135,000 appropriation.)

Later revised in an expanded edition and published by University of Georgia Press.

Three are still in public highway service; seven serve as local landmarks or for pedestrian/bicycle service.

The workshop focused on ways to provide access to and within historic museum buildings while maintaining their historic architectural character.

Co-sponsored by HPD, the Georgia Trust, the Georgia Department of Education, Georgia State University, and the Society for Georgia Archaeology.

HPD presented its heritage education slide show “Historic Places: Georgia History Comes Alive.”

Hickory Log is a prehistoric site which had been occupied by Native Americans as far back in time as 6,000 B.C. Proposed development required a federal wetlands permit, thereby triggering a Section 106 environmental review. Archaeology at the site identified four major periods of Native American occupation.