ATLANTA — A Georgia society is working to raise awareness about sites that hold historic significance in the state but are in dire need of rehabilitation and upkeep. They've named 10 locations that should be the focus of next year.
Two metro Atlanta locations have been named on the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation's 2024 list of "10 Places in Peril."
The list works to highlight "Georgia’s significant historic, archaeological and cultural resources," that are threatened by demolition, public policy or have been neglected.
"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 reuse, reinvest and revitalize historic properties that are in peril," the organization said in a news release.
Georgia's 10 "Places in Peril"
Atlanta Constitution Building, Fulton County
Known as “The Heart of Atlanta” because of its proximity to downtown Atlanta’s historic railroad junction, the Atlanta Constitution Building has been home to two iconic Georgia institutions and has become a landmark. Constructed in 1947, it was home to the Atlanta Constitution newspaper during Ralph McGill’s term as editor. When the Atlanta Journal and Constitution consolidated and moved out of the building in 1955, Georgia Power occupied the building until 1972. It has been vacant ever since.
The building has withstood previous proposals for demolition, while recent efforts toward redevelopment have yet to materialize.
Piney Grove Cemetery, Fulton County
A historic African-American burial ground in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, the cemetery’s founding dates to the 1800s and has over 300 burials, some of which are believed to be burials for enslaved individuals. It also contains numerous unmarked burials. Piney Grove Cemetery is one of the last vestiges of the several African-American communities that once thrived in the area, including Piney Grove, Lynwood Park, Bagley Park, Johnsontown and Armour.
In the early 2000s, a residential developer acquired the property and sought to remove the cemetery to develop the land. After opposition by the descendants, the land was sold to a commercial developer with conditions for access and maintenance as part of the City of Atlanta zoning conditions. Ultimately, a condominium complex was built adjacent to the cemetery. It has become overgrown and inaccessible with headstone damage from falling trees, vegetation and trash.
Pine Log Mountain, Bartow County
Pine Log Mountain is a privately owned wilderness area in Bartow County. It is a site of historic resources representing three significant phases of Georgia’s history: a Woodlands Era rock wall and more than two dozen burial cairns, all built by indigenous peoples; four 1840s-era stone iron furnaces used for mining before and after the Civil War; and the remains of the Sugar Hill Convict Labor Camp, where events that took place served as a catalyst for the Georgia Legislature ending its convict lease system in 1909. Remnants of complicated Southern history exist throughout Pine Log Mountain, and this space serves as a frame of reference for understanding Georgia’s history.
Today, the historic sites that rest on Pine Log Mountain are threatened by demolition. The private property is up for sale following the end of a lease to the Department of Natural Resources, according to the preservation society. Bartow County plans to rezone much of the property from agricultural to low-density housing, high-density housing and industrial mining.
Broad Avenue Elementary, Dougherty County
Broad Avenue Elementary was built in the 1930s. Dougherty County Schools obtained ownership of the building in 1963 and served the community until the property was sold in 2005.
Now, it is under threat of condemnation and demolition due to its deteriorated condition. A local non-profit, SOWEGA Rising, took ownership of the building in 2019 and continues to work toward the goal of rehabilitating the property as a Rural Innovation center that will provide opportunities for students and entrepreneurs in the region. Significant fundraising is required to bring this vision to reality while preserving and revitalizing this historic structure.
Cedar Grove, Columbia County
Named after the cedar trees planted in the front of the home, Cedar Grove was built in 1851. Following the end of the Civil War, the house was owned by several prominent residents of Columbia County. In 1964, Our Savior Episcopal Church bought the property, converting part of the house into a sanctuary and hosting community meetings and events. From 1970 to 1980, the house functioned as Cedar Grove Kindergarten, serving as the first integrated kindergarten program in Columbia County.
Over the decades, the congregation has used the property as it best fits the needs of its mission. The recent discovery of mold and ongoing maintenance costs threaten the continued use of the building as the needs and capacity of the congregation have changed.
Church of the Good Shepherd, Thomas County
Built-in 1894, the Church of the Good Shepherd in Thomasville "is an example of an enduring commitment to African American religious expression, education and social enrichment in the South," according to the preservation organization.
It holds a classroom and library that functioned from 1896 to 1964 and was also the site of Thomasville’s first African-American Boy Scout troop. Today, it serves the area with vital social services by maintaining a food pantry, soup kitchen and community garden.
Neighborhood disinvestment and demographic shifts have left the Church of the Good Shepherd without its large congregation to support the upkeep of the church and its valued social services, according to the society. Major repairs on the site have been deferred, and the historic buildings have begun to deteriorate, leaving all three buildings in peril.
Grace Baptist Church, McIntosh County
Grace Baptist Church is located on Vernon Square, one of the four original squares in Darien, which was laid out according to the Oglethorpe plan. During Reconstruction, the church’s location on Adams Street was home to African-American professionals and many formerly enslaved, first-time homeowners.
The head of the church, Rev. Edward Brawley, assisted in ending the 1899 Darien Insurrection by brokering peace among Black residents. One of the founding trustees of the church, W.H. Rogers, was elected as a Georgia state legislator, serving from 1902-1907.
The congregation disbanded in the 1990s, and the building fell into disrepair. In April 2022, an oak tree fell on the building, heavily damaging the roof and structure. In May 2023, the City of Darien issued a citation that may lead to the demolition of the property.
Hogg Hummock, McIntosh County
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, the Hogg Hummock community on Sapelo Island faces a renewed threat to its historically significant design and cultural heritage. Home to one of the last remaining Gullah Geechee communities in the U.S., Hogg Hummock was established by direct descendants of West Africans who were enslaved on the plantations of coastal Georgia. Following the Civil War, these formerly enslaved peoples settled on Sapelo Island and purchased over 400 acres of land. As with other Gullah Geechee communities, Hogg Hummock developed a distinct, interconnected culture of subsistence and cooperative living due in part to the relative isolation from communities on the mainland.
Like many areas in the Gullah Geechee corridor, Hogg Hummock faces persistent pressures that threaten the historic fabric of their community. Recent rezoning will allow homes to be constructed that double the size of the current limits, which can contribute to land value increases that could further force the removal of the indigenous population, according to the preservation society.
Old First Baptist Church, Richmond County
Constructed in 1902, the historic First Baptist Church building in downtown Augusta is situated on land with a rich religious history. The Baptist Praying Society was established on the site in 1817, and the Southern Baptist Convention was founded in 1845. It was also listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
The privately owned property is in a state of disrepair, with particular peril for the historic sanctuary space. Local advocates continue to work with the owner to identify viable reuse opportunities, development partners and financial incentives that can be used to bring the space back to its former glory.
Sugar Valley Consolidated School, Gordon County
Built-in 1927, the Sugar Valley Consolidated School operated as a public school for the children of Gordon County. Built of indigenous Knox Chert and known for its unique construction, the Sugar Valley Consolidated School became an enduring symbol of the town’s dedication to learning. The school was established by an act of the Georgia Legislature, written specifically to benefit Sugar Valley and eliminate independent school systems. It operated for almost 50 years before closing its doors in 1974. Gordon County now owns the property and has most recently operated as a community center, voting precinct and events space.
Deemed unsafe by the County, the Board of Commissioners has announced a plan to demolish the school to construct a fire station. Despite the alumni association’s commitment and earmarked SPLOST funds for repairs, efforts appear to be redirected to other county projects.
