1981
Following a mandate from the new national administration of President Ronald Reagan to cut the federal budget, consolidate offices, and reduce programs across the board, total federal grant allocations for historic preservation declined by 50%.
For Georgia, federal bricks-and-mortar grants were eliminated, survey and planning grants were cut, and staff and office operations were restricted. The total federal allocation from the Historic Preservation Fund to Georgia declined from just over $1,000,000 in 1980 to less than $500,000 in 1981.
Also, the activities of the formerly independent Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service -- created in 1977 to promote historic preservation and support the activities of the state historic preservation offices -- were absorbed into the Cultural Resources Division of the National Park Service.
Also, the activities of the formerly independent Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service -- created in 1977 to promote historic preservation and support the activities of the state historic preservation offices -- were absorbed into the Cultural Resources Division of the National Park Service.
HPS published its first regular newsletter entitled “FYI.”
Over the following years, the office’s newsletter was issued weekly, monthly, or quarterly, depending on budget and staffing circumstances.
GDOT’s first draft of “survey guidelines” for Section 106 compliance prepared.
These guidelines – shared with HPS – explained how GDOT would identify and evaluated historic properties in its project areas.
This evidenced GDOT’s new commitment to “up front” and “transparent” Section 106 compliance.
This evidenced GDOT’s new commitment to “up front” and “transparent” Section 106 compliance.
GDOT’s initial “Historic Bridge Survey” completed.
This was a “representative” survey of selected highway bridge types found in Georgia (metal truss, timber truss, concrete arch) – GDOT’s first step toward a comprehensive bridge inventory.
The survey was prepared by Stephen Goldfarb (GDOT consultant).
The survey was prepared by Stephen Goldfarb (GDOT consultant).
The national AIA (American Institute of Architects) conference held in Savannah.
HPS was invited to present at sessions on “significant architectural features” and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
Volume 1 of the “Georgia Archaeological Research Design” published.
This document provided guidance on standardized ways to identify, evaluate, and treat archaeological resources in the state.
It was prepared by the Georgia Archaeological Research Design Task Force (“GARD”) for the Office of the State Archaeologist and the state historic preservation office.
It was prepared by the Georgia Archaeological Research Design Task Force (“GARD”) for the Office of the State Archaeologist and the state historic preservation office.
1982
“Snow Jam ‘82” (January 12-15).
State offices closed for several days …
HPS office reorganized:
Elizabeth Lyon, Historic Preservation Section Chief, serving as State Historic Preservation Officer
Office Management and Information Services Unit (Carole Griffith)
National Register Unit (Survey and National Register) (Richard Cloues)
Planning and Technical Services Unit (Syd Janney)
Office of the State Archaeologist (Lewis Larson)
Office Management and Information Services Unit (Carole Griffith)
National Register Unit (Survey and National Register) (Richard Cloues)
Planning and Technical Services Unit (Syd Janney)
Office of the State Archaeologist (Lewis Larson)
4th annual national Conference on Historic Preservation and the Minority Community held at the King Center in Atlanta.
HPS served as the local “host” for the conference along with NPS, the City of Atlanta, the King Center, and others.
This was the last in a series of such conferences initiated by Carl Westmoreland from Cincinnati, Ohio, and held at various locations across the country. Although the conference was not directly related to specific activities in Georgia, it provided an opportunity to become part of a national movement to build support for the preservation of African American resources in the state.
This was the last in a series of such conferences initiated by Carl Westmoreland from Cincinnati, Ohio, and held at various locations across the country. Although the conference was not directly related to specific activities in Georgia, it provided an opportunity to become part of a national movement to build support for the preservation of African American resources in the state.
HPD held the first of what would become annual workshops for local historical societies and preservation non-profit organizations; co-sponsored with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
The goal was developing a better “dialog” among these local organizations, the state historic preservation office, and the Georgia Trust.
The University of Georgia established its master’s degree program in historic preservation.
1983
Georgia’s 1,000th listing in the NR celebrated:
The Lavonia Depot, included in the Lavonia “multiple-resources” nomination, was the 1000th listing.
As part of the day-long local celebration, local cooks served up 1,000 biscuits from locally milled flour.
Governor Joe Frank Harris and DNR Commissioner Joe Tanner attended along with HPS staff.
As part of the day-long local celebration, local cooks served up 1,000 biscuits from locally milled flour.
Governor Joe Frank Harris and DNR Commissioner Joe Tanner attended along with HPS staff.
The Georgia National Register Review Board adopted a policy of holding meetings throughout the state -- rather than just in Atlanta -- to become more familiar with “local” historic resources and develop closer relationships with local preservationists.
HPS implemented the historic preservation provisions in a federal “Emergency Jobs Act” (a federal economic recovery initiative) which created a special bricks-and-mortar historic preservation grant program.
Georgia disbursed $675,441 for 18 rehab projects across the state by August 1984.
This funding also supported a temporary program coordinator, Karen Easter, who later served as the office’s Grants Coordinator/Preservation Planner and Planning Unit Manager through 1996.
This funding also supported a temporary program coordinator, Karen Easter, who later served as the office’s Grants Coordinator/Preservation Planner and Planning Unit Manager through 1996.
HPS met with NPS to discuss the new and controversial federal historic preservation planning requirements, known as the “Resource Protection Planning Process” (called “RP3”), now being implemented nationally through the state historic preservation offices.
June 1983 – HPS staff met with Vic Carbone (NPS) and Dr. Lewis Larson (state archaeologist) regarding the “RP3” planning process for Georgia.
July 1983 – HPS staff met with Dr. Larson and Ray Crook (Office of the State Archaeologist).
August 1983 – HPS staff met with Dr. Larson and John Knoerl (NPS).
July 1983 – HPS staff met with Dr. Larson and Ray Crook (Office of the State Archaeologist).
August 1983 – HPS staff met with Dr. Larson and John Knoerl (NPS).
Environmental Review staff met with Department of Community Affairs (DCA) staff to discuss information needed to expedite Section 106 reviews of federally funded community development projects.
Georgia State University initiated its master’s degree in heritage preservation.
By the end of 1983, an additional seven Georgia historic properties designated National Historic Landmarks. Again, many of these had been initiated during the Georgia Historical Commission era.
No more National Historic Landmarks would be designated in Georgia for more than a decade.
1984
J. Leonard Ledbetter appointed DNR Commissioner and State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO); Elizabeth Lyon, HPS Section Chief, designated Deputy SHPO (DSHPO). Mary Ann Eaddy joined the HPS staff as Planning and Technical Services Unit manager. (This office unit was also called the “tax unit” at the time.)
Historic Black Resources: A Handbook for the Identification, Documentation, and Evaluation of Historic African-American Properties in Georgia published by HPS.
This handbook was the first of its kind in the nation, providing information about the history and significance of historic African-American buildings and structures and guidance for their preservation.
It was compiled by Carole Merritt, former HPS Preservation Assistance and Review Unit Manager.
It was compiled by Carole Merritt, former HPS Preservation Assistance and Review Unit Manager.
Archaeology for the Restoration of the McCarthy-Pope House, Clinton, Jones County, published by HPS.
Principal author and investigator: John R. (“Chip”) Morgan (HPS staff archaeologist).
First office computer installed (free-standing … with the MS-DOS operating system).
Computerization initiatives began with archaeological databases, in conjunction with the NPS; Georgia was one of two pilot states.
“Uniform Act for the Application of Building and Fire-related Codes to Existing Buildings” (25-2-13) passed by the General Assembly
This Act authorized fire and life-safety code compliance alternatives for historic buildings and structures.
For purposes of code compliance alternatives, a “historic building or structure” was defined as “any individual building or any building which contributes to the historic character of a historic district, so designated by the state historic preservation officer pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Natural Resources, or as so designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 44, the ‘Georgia Historic Preservation Act.’”
Also authorized were special compliance alternatives for “landmark museum buildings” designated by the state historic preservation officer pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Natural Resources.
Effective April 1985.
For purposes of code compliance alternatives, a “historic building or structure” was defined as “any individual building or any building which contributes to the historic character of a historic district, so designated by the state historic preservation officer pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Natural Resources, or as so designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 44, the ‘Georgia Historic Preservation Act.’”
Also authorized were special compliance alternatives for “landmark museum buildings” designated by the state historic preservation officer pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Natural Resources.
Effective April 1985.
“Georgia Alliance of Preservation Commissions formed.
The Alliance promoted training and information sharing among the state’s local historic preservation commissions.
HPS and the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation co-sponsored Georgia’s first “heritage education” workshop.
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation held a public hearing – its first in Georgia -- on the proposed “Presidential Parkway” in Atlanta (the scaled-down version of the earlier proposed Stone Mountain Freeway extension into downtown Atlanta which would now also provide access to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library).
HPS Section Chief Elizabeth Lyon (in her role as SHPO) described the historic resources in the project areas that would be adversely affected by the project.
HPS staffer Richard Cloues organized a bus tour for the Advisory Council and former president Jimmy Carter.
After a successful “dry run” the previous day, the tour bus became stuck between road construction barricades that had been relocated during the night, bringing out swarms of Secret Service officers, black SUVs, and a helicopter …
HPS staffer Richard Cloues organized a bus tour for the Advisory Council and former president Jimmy Carter.
After a successful “dry run” the previous day, the tour bus became stuck between road construction barricades that had been relocated during the night, bringing out swarms of Secret Service officers, black SUVs, and a helicopter …
Federal district court ruled in favor of the state claiming jurisdiction of the sunken USS Nashville (a Civil War gunboat) in the Ogeechee River.
1985
The Certified Local Government (CLG) program implemented in Georgia; the first nine cities “certified.”
Six cities were initially certified followed by three more later in the year.
Georgia was the first state in the nation to implement its CLG program!
Expansion of the CLG program beyond HPS staff capacity led to federally-funded cooperative agreements first with the Atlanta Urban Design Commission and then with the School of Environmental Design at the University of Georgia to administer the program through its Office of Preservation Services.
Pratt Cassity was hired as a part-time intern at HPS (starting in 1984) to help develop and implement the new program. He then administered the program through a contract between HPS and the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, and later he managed the program for HPS under contract at the University of Georgia. In 2009 the program was re-absorbed into the state preservation office.
Georgia was the first state in the nation to implement its CLG program!
Expansion of the CLG program beyond HPS staff capacity led to federally-funded cooperative agreements first with the Atlanta Urban Design Commission and then with the School of Environmental Design at the University of Georgia to administer the program through its Office of Preservation Services.
Pratt Cassity was hired as a part-time intern at HPS (starting in 1984) to help develop and implement the new program. He then administered the program through a contract between HPS and the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, and later he managed the program for HPS under contract at the University of Georgia. In 2009 the program was re-absorbed into the state preservation office.
The NCSHPO and state preservation offices across the country reported workload frustrations and delays due to reduced federal funding (since 1980) and pending new NPS “comprehensive planning” requirements (“RP3”).
“RP3” was the controversial “Resource Protection Planning Process” developed by NPS and to be implemented by state historic preservation offices.
NPS carried out its first-ever on-site State Program Review:
A comprehensive (exhaustive … ) multi-day programmatic review of the state preservation office’s operations to confirm compliance with NPS standards and requirements for receiving HPF funds.
Georgia was “approved” but advised to give more attention to “comprehensive planning” and prepare a written “comprehensive preservation plan.” In response, HPS formed a “comprehensive planning committee” to deal with these recommendations. (See 1988 for results.)
Georgia was “approved” but advised to give more attention to “comprehensive planning” and prepare a written “comprehensive preservation plan.” In response, HPS formed a “comprehensive planning committee” to deal with these recommendations. (See 1988 for results.)
The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation initiated planning for a Heritage Education program. HPS is represented on an advisory committee.
This initiative focused on offering resources and training to K-12 teachers in using historic properties in the classroom curriculum, not only in history but in language arts, science, and the arts as well.
A formal heritage education program commenced in 1991 under the banner “Talking Walls.”
A formal heritage education program commenced in 1991 under the banner “Talking Walls.”
“Submerged cultural resources” defined in state law; protected by asserting state ownership and stewardship responsibilities (OCGA 12-3-80/83).
DNR was authorized to issue “exploratory permits.”
Permit regulations were issued 1986-1987.
Permit regulations were issued 1986-1987.
NCSHPO held its fall board meeting in Savannah.
HPS was the official “host” for the meeting.
HPS held the first of what would be many Section 106 environmental review consultations with GDOT regarding the proposed “Fall Line Freeway” connecting Columbus and Augusta through Macon.
HPS co-sponsored a “rural conservation” conference (called a “seminar”) with the Altamaha-Georgia Southern regional planning office.
Oracle database software installed by NPS on HPD’s computer for recording archaeological site data and archaeological assessment reports.
Grant funds awarded to the University of Georgia to create and maintain a computerized inventory of the state’s archaeological site file data.
In November, HPS co-sponsored a two-day conference on “Rural Conservation: Issues in Georgia” at the Forrest Hills Mountain Resort in Dahlonega.
Co-sponsors included the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the University of Georgia School of Environmental Design, the Georgia Power Company, the Citizens and Southern Bank, the Standard Telephone Company, and virtually every Area Planning and Development Commission in the state.
Conference proceedings were compiled by Dale Jaeger (Jaeger and Associates) and published in May 1986.
Conference proceedings were compiled by Dale Jaeger (Jaeger and Associates) and published in May 1986.