SUMMER 2012
Honoring past & present
Annual awards include mid-century gems and a rebuilt masterpiece PAGE 8
Walks to remember
Fall brings a slate of new Athens Heritage Walks PAGE 14
Legion Pool
Once the largest pool in the region, its future is now uncertain PAGE 18
achfonline.org
ATHENS-CLARKE HERITAGE FOUNDATION Fire Hall No. 2 489 Prince Avenue Athens, Georgia 30601 706-353-1801 e-mail: achf@bellsouth.net www.achfonline.org Executive Director: Amy C. Kissane Welcome Center Director: Evelyn Reece Hands On Athens Administrator: John A. Kissane MISSION To be a proactive force in developing community-wide understanding of the value of historic buildings, neighborhoods, and heritage. VISION To become the leading advocate for the importance of historic preservation to the future of the Athens community. ACHF 2012-2013 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Tim Kelly, President Jan Levinson, President-elect/Membership Chair Tony Stringer, Treasurer/Finance Chair Erika Lane, Treasurer-elect JameĂŠ Fiore, Recording Secretary Bobbie McKeller, Parliamentarian/Welcome Center Chair Linda Davis, Revolving Fund Liaison/Preservation Issues Chair David Bryant, Education Chair Stephanie Crockatt Lauren Dye Adam Hebbard Michael Lachowski, Communications Chair Cheri Leavy, Special Events Co-chair Kristen Morales
Cullen O’Steen Janet Patterson Keith Plummer Victoria Prevatt Paul Trudeau Tom Wilfong Carol Williams Chip Wright
HERITAGE CREDITS Editor: Kristen Morales Communications Committee: Michael Lachowski (chair), Jennifer Lewis, Amy Kissane Design: Eleonora Machado Heritage Newsletter Logo: Chris Bilheimer Cover photo: The rebuilt Georgia Theatre includes a nod to its fiery destruction amid its rebuilt space. The storied Athens venue was among the winners in the 2012 ACHF Annual Awards. Photo by Lisa Dore.
THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL HERITAGE SPONSORS
Ionic Level ($2,500) Barber Creek Design Georgia Power Todd Emily of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Doric Level ($1,500) Aurum Studios, Ltd. Carson Advisory, Inc. ETL Construction Services Lindsay Transfer & Storage
fire hall from the
by Amy C. Kissane, Executive Director This summer I am fortunate to have Jameé Fiore, a UGA Master in Historic Preservation student, interning at the Fire Hall. In addition, Jameé’s 5-month old Boston terrier is also interning—Fire Hall Frank we call him. He’s especially good at eating dust bunnies and shredding paper; so, useful in his way. Jameé is working on what I call the Fire Hall Transformation Project, which involves sorting through 45 years of files and miscellaneous items donated to the Foundation. This process was started last year by volunteer Alana Cole Faber. We have also been working with Laura Carter, the A-CC Library Heritage Room librarian and past ACHF president and trustee, to determine appropriate final repositories for some of the materials we have, and we will be working with UGA Special Collections staff as well. In other words, we are making every effort to be sure that we do not throw away anything that might be of archival value and also that these materials are placed so that they are more easily accessible to the public. For example, we have a large collection of photographs, many of which are not labeled. Jameé will be working with local historians to figure out approximate dates, locations and names of people in the photographs. We will keep historic building photographs, or at least copies, in our building files. The bulk of these will be passed along to UGA or the A-CC Library.
in professional organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Association for State and Local History. In 1976 the Georgia Chamber of Commerce recognized the Foundation for its contributions to the American Bicentennial celebration through the Stay and See American in Georgia Program. In 1977 Mayor Upshaw Bentley signed a proclamation declaring April 29-May 8 Athens Preservation Week in acknowledgement of ACHF’s 10th anniversary.
One pleasant surprise has been the discovery of past honorary certificates affirming ACHF’s involvement in the community and our efforts to be a knowledgeable and strong partner in historic preservation. Certificates from the 1970s attest to early memberships
Forty-five years of history and a lot to be proud of, but even more important is the legacy of the Foundation’s past leadership and the drive of our current leadership to continue that legacy. Thank you for being a part of that legacy and the future of the Foundation.
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Certificates from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Section, from 1975 through 1988, acknowledge ACHF’s involvement in getting 11 local historic districts and one landmark property listed in the National Register of Historic Places, a monumental effort. Files from the 1980s and 1990s illustrate ACHF’s involvement in the efforts to save the Seney-Stovall Chapel, the Lucy Cobb Institute, and Fire Hall No. 1, now part of The Classic Center, as well as its role in planning Athens’ 2001 bicentennial celebration.
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Message from the President by Tim Kelly, President, ACHF
One of the perks of serving as President of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation is being able to present the President’s Award at the Annual Meeting and Preservation Awards. I could not have been happier to present this year’s award to Wilmot Greene, owner of the Georgia Theatre.
process to host and lead two tours for our very own Athenaeum Club. It was during one of those tours that Wil noted that the Theatre was a spot where young people in Athens have been gathering for well over a hundred years, and we wanted the result of his labors to be a building that would last 100, 200 more years and beyond.
When Wil bought the Georgia Theatre in 2004, he knew he was buying a piece of Athens history, what he didn’t know was that five years later he would see that history go up in flames. On June 19, 2009 Wil watched as the fire department extinguished a blaze that reached 2,500 degrees and left the Theatre a blackened shell. But as Wil said, the Theatre was “too important of a place to let go.” Immediately, Wil got to work on a plan to bring the Theatre back to Athens.
In an interview, Wil said “human beings have been getting around a fire and dancing for thousands of years. Seeing a show ... makes people happy and when I see that look again on people’s faces it will all be worth it.” Personally, I had been to many shows before 2009 and to many since the re-opening, spending more money on those shows than maybe I should admit, but I do not regret one cent — and from first-hand experience, I can say it has most definitely been worth it. I cherish the memories I have of the building before the fire and I look forward to the many more memories to come in the building that Wil has given to us.
Wil was quick to answer whenever ACHF called to find out more about how the rebuild was progressing. He took time out from the busy PA G E
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organized clean-up work at a site off Waddell Street and adjacent to the H. T. Edwards campus, near the African-American Bethel Cemetery that has become overgrown over the years. Athens Habitat plans new construction along Carter Street near the cemetery, and HOA would like to continue contributing to efforts of clearing debris and certain vegetation in the area to better recognize and protect the cemetery, certainly an important element that contributes to the neighborhood’s history. Lunches served to HOA volunteers during the spring work weekend were provided courtesy of College Pro Landscaping, First AME Church, Oconee Street First Methodist Church, Koons Environmental Design, and Raising Cane’s Chicken. The nearly 200 HOA volunteers were led in their efforts by several skillful local contractors, who donated their talents during the weekend and even on subsequent weekends as work was completed.
HANDS on ATHENS by John Kissane, HOA Administrator ACHF’s Hands On Athens program completed its 13th spring work weekend April 13-15. The 13th annual Hands On Athens spring work weekend kicked off Friday April 13, but it turned out to be a lucky three-day experience for 12 low-income Athens homeowners. HOA volunteers assembled at Fire Hall No. 2 each day to sign in, get a bite of breakfast, and receive work assignments. It was the usual routine, although the weekend had a few new aspects. One change for the better was that HOA was awarded an additional $6,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding this fiscal year, with the money put toward completely re-roofing two houses and carrying out much-needed roof repairs for three other homeowners. HOA hired Athens Roofing and Tip Top Roofing to carry out this work, and both companies gave the program substantial discounts on labor. Another new twist was that HOA
Find Hands On Athens on Facebook! Keep up with the latest Hands On Athens news via Facebook. “Like” our page at www. facebook.com/HandsOnAthens.
What’s next: HOA Survey Also ongoing this spring and early summer is work toward completing an inventory of owner-occupied dwellings in the Hancock Corridor, East Athens, and Newtown neighborhoods, undertaken by HOA administrator John Kissane and three volunteers from UGA’s Master of Historic Preservation Program. The basic information gathered during this effort will be used during program planning later in the summer and fall, as HOA endeavors to get a better grasp on the needs for its services and also target certain areas with concentrations of significant older houses. Inventory field work has also been a great opportunity to distribute HOA brochures and make more eligible homeowners aware of the program. H ERI T A GE
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Spring Fun-N-Friends
SPRING FUN-N-FRIENDS visits Buena Vista Heights By Jan Levinson Imagine being able to walk out your door, hop a streetcar and be at your office a few minutes later. That’s what life was like for the residents of Buena Vista Heights in the 1900s, when a state-of-the-art electric streetcar fueled development along Boulevard and the surrounding area.
Fall Fun-N-Friends
Thursday, Aug. 23 5:30-7:30PM Richard B. Russell Building for Special Collections Libraries, University of Georgia, 300 S. Hull Street, Athens, GA Featuring some of the most significant and treasured materials from the collections, the galleries of UGA’s Special Collections Libraries offer a glimpse into Georgia’s long and storied past. Explore interactive kiosks with access to oral history interviews, historical film, video, and sound recordings. Look for familiar faces from the state’s political history in Art Rosenbaum’s mural “Doors.” Marvel at documents and objects dating back to colonial times and beyond. Join the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation as we tour the galleries, meet the staff, and explore the collections at Georgia’s newest cultural destination.
On April 24, 2012 members of the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation took a few steps back in time during the Spring Fun-N-Friends event, venturing out on a walking tour of Buena Vista. Starting out at 194 Buena Vista Avenue, the home of Yvie and Bob Hernandez, attendees were greeted by ACHF President Tim Kelly and treated to light reception in the backyard garden. Tour guide (and Buena Vista neighbor) Kristen Morales introduced the crowd to a short history of the area before setting off.
(until the 1930s), made it an ideal place for blue-collar workers.
Nestled at the upper end of Boulevard, near downtown, Normaltown and UGA’s Health Sciences campus, the Buena Vista neighborhood was purchased by the Athens Park and Improvement Company in 1890. Prior to the purchase the area was sparsely developed as an African-American settlement with small vernacular housing. Homes quickly sprouted along the streetcar line, added in the early 1900s, but the development of Buena Vista Heights came a few years later when the Southern Manufacturing Company moved in just across the railroad tracks. As workers from this cotton mill began building homes nearby, this neighborhood, located just outside the city limits, grew. Its expansion was not only physical, but also welcomed a diversity of neighbors to the existing mill population: postmasters, grocery store owners, insurance salesmen and cobblers moved in. Its proximity to the State Normal School and the trolley line, but convenient distance from city taxes PA G E
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The original city limits can still be seen today, colloquially called “kudzu valley” at the stream and undeveloped area just east of Park Avenue. Visitors and homeowners alike notice the neighborhood’s interesting homes — mainly modest wood structures built for a mill worker or a shopkeeper and his family. And it’s that character, along with its place as one of Athens first streetcar suburbs, that residents today want to preserve. Much of the neighborhood is already listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and residents expect the Mayor and Commission to vote on the designation this fall. Attendees returned from their tour ready to mingle and could be heard discussing the charms of this area they had often overlooked. Buena Vista is being added as a new tour in this falls’ Athens-Clarke Heritage Walks. |
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Athenaeum Club
Athenaeum Club Gets Firsthand Look at Athens Landmark By Hollis Yates The Camak House at 279 Meigs Street offers itself as a convenient portal into the antebellum history of Athens and Georgia. ACHF’s Athenaeum Club was lucky enough to take a tour through the property, now up for sale, in March, guided by Smith Wilson who oversaw the 1993 renovation of the home.
in the state and the third in the nation. Camak would become the first president of the Georgia Railroad Company. Camak’s progressive notions transferred into the design of his house, too. In the Historic American Building Survey report from 1936, Camak himself is given architect and builder credit for the two-story, four-over-four room, central hall plan. Unlike other homes from this era, the elevated basement housed the kitchen (usually constructed as an outbuilding), interior closets were built between the front rooms and back rooms, and a well house/bathroom with a wheel well was constructed outside.
Smith took the group in through the back door and explained where the extended and enclosed porch was removed to return that façade to its original appearance. From there the group was allowed to explore the first and second floor rooms, many of which have maintained most of their original features, like the tall windows and the front door’s handle and locks. The basement has seen the most changes — one room was converted into a restroom and shallow tile flooring has been added in the main corridor. The wooden wall partition in the slaves’ rooms and the large kitchen fireplace still remain.
By the early 1900s, the front portion of the property was bisected by the creation of Meigs Street and the front lot sold to the Athens Coca-Cola Bottling Company. The Camak family continued to live in the house through five generations until 1947. The Mount Vernon Lodge No. 22 of the Masons purchased the house in 1949 for their use, making extensive changes to the floor plan, but otherwise leaving original detail work (such as cornices, moldings and mantles) in place. In 1975, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1979 the Athens Coca-Cola Bottling Company took ownership of the property.
The home’s original owner, James Camak, hailed from South Carolina. He moved to Athens in 1817 to teach mathematics at the University of Georgia, and then spent time in Milledgeville as a banker and an editor. He returned to Athens and married Helen Smith Finley (daughter of the UGA president, the Rev. Dr. Finley) in 1820. Athens became his permanent home and he became heavily involved in local business and politics, opening a textile mill, helped lay out Oconee Hill Cemetery, surveyed the Georgia-Tennessee border, edited Southern Cultivator magazine, served as town commissioner, and was instrumental in establishing the county’s first agricultural society in 1845.
In 1990 the Camak House and a .648-acre tract adjacent to it was brought into protection by the Athens Historic Preservation Ordinance, and the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation purchased the rest of the current lot in 1992. By December 1993 a local law firm renovated the house and used it as their office space until this past year.
It is fitting that Camak’s biggest endeavor took place shortly after the construction of his 1833 Federal-style home on Meigs Street. There on March 10, 1834, Camak assembled a group of men to sign the contract that established the Georgia Railroad, the first successful railroad company
Though its future owner is yet to be determined, given its versatility and durability the Camak House will continue to keep watch over its block for years to come. Hollis Yates is a Master’s candidate in the UGA Preservation program
Want to stay updated? Find the Athenaeum Club on Facebook for announcements and upcoming events. H ERI T A GE
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2012 Annual
Meeting On June 4, the AthensClarke Heritage Foundation members and trustees began their annual meeting with warm welcomes for new trustees to the board, the elected officers, and a thank you to those who finished their terms on the board. The Foundation said thank you and goodbye to five trustees leaving the Board: Bill Bracewell, Kyle Campbell, Lisa Wilson Dore, Jennifer Lewis, and Chris Peterson. Cheri Leavy, Nominating Committee Chair, presented the new officers for the coming year, which starts July 1: Tim Kelly, president; Jan Levinson, president-elect; Tony Stringer, treasurer; Erika Lane, treasurer-elect; Jameé Fiore, recording secretary; Bobbie McKeller, parliamentarian; and Linda Davis, revolving fund liaison. The Foundation is also pleased to have the following new trustees joining the Board: Jamee Fiore, Adam Hebbard, Erika Lane, Kristen Morales, Cullen O’Steen, Victoria Prevatt, Paul Trudeau, Carol Williams, and Chip Wright. Congratulations officers and new trustees.
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By Jameé Fiore, ACHF Summer Intern
Stewards fo 2012 ACHF Preservation Awards honors the people who make our iconic buildings great More than 150 members, honorees, and friends came to recognize award winners at the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation’s 43rd Annual Preservation Awards and Annual Meeting on June 4 at the historic Morton Theatre. ACHF President Tim Kelly and Executive Director Amy Kissane started the annual meeting with a presentation reviewing
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From rubble and ash, the Georgia theatre was reborn and opened again in 2011 after a devastating fire claimed most of the historic structure in June 2009. The awards ceremony made sure to address this rebirth of a local landmark by giving Wilmot Greene, owner of the Georgia Theatre, the President’s Award. This award is to recognize the dedication and efforts put into the theater so that a community, whether musical or local, could have one of its favorite landmarks back.
r our community the year’s accomplishments. Every year, ACHF recognizes property owners who have exceeded in caring for or fixing up their historic properties by giving out preservation awards for outstanding historic rehabilitations, restorations, and stewardship. Other awards include outstanding new construction in historic areas (commonly referred to as infill) and outstanding publications and programs. This year, ACHF handed out 19 awards. Congratulations everyone and thank you for putting preservation on your to-do lists. Also, a thank you to those who were able to attend! Want a more in-depth look at the winners? All award-winning projects can be found online at achfonline.org/awards. H ERI T A GE
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ACHF’s 2012 Preservation Awards winners: Jeanné M. Downs Community Spirit Award Ben Epps Memorial Committee Lee Epting Outstanding Publication or Program Emily Doster and Gary Doster, “Athens: A Postcard History Series” Outstanding Publication or Program Ashley Callahan, “Georgia Bellflowers: The Furniture of Henry Eugene Thomas” Grassroots Preservation Award UGA Student Historic Preservation Organization PA G E
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Excellence in Community Revitalization Travis Burch, Jessica Rothacker, and Jimmy Wilfong, Heirloom Café (815 N. Chase St.) Outstanding Rehabilitation Friends of Oconee Hill Cemetery, Oconee Hill Cemetery Bridge Outstanding Rehabilitation Clarke County School District and the Heritage Committee of Athens High & Industrial School/BurneyHarris High School, H. T. Edwards Complex (440 Dearing Extension)
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Outstanding Rehabilitation Brian Holloway and Chris Holloway, The Volstead (351 E. Clayton St.)
Outstanding Stewardship Georgia Power (1001 Prince Ave.)
Outstanding Rehabilitation Hill Street Holdings (588 Meigs Street) Outstanding Rehabilitation Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department, Morton Theatre (195 W. Washington St.)
Volunteers of the Year Greta Covington, Michele Griffin, Kristen Morales, and Cathy Wegel Trustee of the Year Lisa Dore
Outstanding Achievement Jim Barsness and Didi Dunphy (189 Fortson Circle)
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President’s Award Wilmot Greene, the Georgia Theatre (215 N. Lumpkin St.)
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Name: Michael Lachowski Age: 56 Profession: Public relations at the Georgia Museum of Art, artist, musician, designer How did you come to be involved with ACHF? I got involved with ACHF because I am not aware of any other local agency that strives to have a proactive voice for the built environment of our city. I don’t see how we can expect that the character of Athens can be maintained unless we, as a community, have a vision of what sort of city we want to live in — and have the fortitude to realize that vision.
What Athens landmark sparks your passion for historic preservation? I don’t have to a landmark philosophy — that is, celebrating particular “trophies.” I feel that it is the holistic whole of variety, texture and organically derived features that comprise a rich sense of place. There are some buildings that I love, however: the building that Thrasher’s Grocery and White Tiger have occupied, the Snow Tire building that was transformed into Ted’s Most Best, the old telephone company building at 224 E. Clayton Street where I used to have an office and a store (Candy). And to feature one building in particular, I’d have to choose the house where I’ve lived in an upstairs apartment for over 25 years. The c. 1897 house that ACHF member Marjorie Newton owned, now managed by her family, has allowed me to live in a manner I’ve enjoyed in a handful of Athens houses since moving out of a UGA dorm. The combination of a simple kitchen and bathroom, space heaters, no air conditioning, big, airy, open, bright rooms, lots of windows, sturdy construction and big, basic symmetry is what I love. This summer I’m listening to the cicadas and katydids with the moonlight shining through tall windows; it’s perfect!
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Be a part of
Athens by being a part of ACHF. Since 1967, the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation has been the leading advocate for not only preserving the history in Athens, but also looking towards its future. There is value in keeping historic structures — not only as a historical resource, but also as a living, breathing landmark that gives back to the community with everyone who walks, bikes or drives by.
What does my membership do?
It works on many levels. It provides funding for educational and community programs that happen throughout the year all around Athens, including programs in schools, classes for scout badges and the ever-popular series of Heritage Walks, which showcase different historic neighborhoods around town. Your membership dollars also support ongoing programs that are a part of the fabric of Athens, such as the Athens Welcome Center, Classic City Tours and Hands On Athens — all programs that also support the local economy while fostering neighborhood spirit.
How can I join?
Turn to Page 23 (the inside back page) for a membership form, or visit ACHF online at www.achfonline.org. H ER I T A GE
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The Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board recently granted $2,000 to Athens Heritage Walks to continue filming the tours. From left is Sam Derochers, Amy Kissane, Lisa Dore, Michele Griffin, Tim Kelly, Glenn Reece and Shannon Hays.
A Walk to Remember
By Michele Griffin, chair, Athens Heritage Walks
Athens Heritage Walks was once again awarded a grant by the Athens Chapter of the Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board of Trustees. The $2000 award was given to ensure the AHW filming project of the heritage walks continues, so that each walk, with its tour guide’s invaluable information and cultural flavor, will be archived in local libraries: always remembered by future generations to come. The 2012 AHW series will conduct eight tours this season, and we are excited to introduce two new tours: Buena Vista National Register District with tour guide Kristen Morales and South Campus (UGA) with tour guide Janine Duncan. Morales’ tour will highlight the Buena Vista Heights neighborhood, adjacent to the Boulevard Local Historic District, which is seeking its own local historic district status. Duncan will discuss UGA’s plans for the South Campus area academically and architecturally, as well as inform on its historical past. PA G E
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The fall slate of Athens Heritage Walks tours is set to kick off on Sept. 8, when Buck and Diane Adams lead a tour of the West Cloverhurst/Springdale Historic District. September tours also include two in the Boulevard area — one, on Sept. 16, covers the Buena Vista Heights neighborhood located across Prince Avenue from the new University of Georgia Health Sciences Campus (for more on this neighborhood, see Page 6), while a tour on Sept. 18 goes through the campus of the former Navy Supply Corps School. October will bring the much anticipated Oconee Hill Cemetery tour with Charlotte Marshal on Oct. 12, and the fourth annual Halloween tour kicks off on Oct. 26. A new riding haunted history tour may be introduced on Oct. 26, too, to showcase the nationally known ghost stories of our classic Milledge Avenue. Please check the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation website at www. achfonline.org for the current AHW schedule. All walks are rain or shine and $12 for ACHF members, $15 for nonmembers. We also offer a 10for-10 special: reserve 10 walks and each walk is $10. We look forward to educating and bringing historical awareness to our Athens’ communities, so reserve your walk to remember today! H ER I T A GE
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Schedule 2012 ACHF Walking Tours Saturday, September 8 at 10 AM West Cloverhurst/Springdale Historic District (Buck & Diane Adams) Sunday, September 16 at 2 PM Buena Vista National Register District (Kristen Morales) Tuesday, September 18 at 7 PM Navy Supply School/Normal School and UGA Health Sciences Campus (Danny Sniff) Sunday, September 30 at 2 PM Southern Piedmont Farming Tour (Smith Wilson) Saturday, October 6 at 10 AM Boulevard Historic District (Pratt Cassity) Sunday, October 7 at 2 PM South Campus (Janine Duncan) Saturday, October 13 at 10 AM Oconee Hill Cemetery (Charlotte Marshall) Sunday, November 11 at 2 PM Henderson Avenue Historic District (John Whitehead)
Halloween Tours
1. Friday, October 26 at 7:30 PM 2. Sunday, October 28 at 7:30 PM (Sat., Oct. 27th Georgia/Florida game) SUMME R
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Welcome Center Update
by Evelyn Reece, Welcome Center Director
Tourism is a BIG part of the state’s economy (second only to agriculture) and visitors to Athens contribute approximately to $220 million in spending each year. At the Welcome Center, our volunteers help make the most of this economic impact by contributing the equivalent of $12,000 in donated hours each year at our information desk, which is open 362 days a year. On June 20, the Athens Welcome Center honored its many volunteers with its Annual Volunteer Reception at the ChurchWaddel-Brumby House. For this we thank volunteers Creighton Cutts, George Granade, Brittany Gunter, Glenn Reece, Cal Seaquist, George Watson, Paula Williams, and Evelyn Wright for a job well done! A very special component of our Volunteer Reception was the unveiling of the Brumby-Barrow Garden Gate. This beautiful antique cast iron gate was once part of the Brumby House landscape on Hancock Avenue. In the 1960s it was given it to the Barrow Family and was ‘transPA G E
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planted’ to the home of Judge and Mrs. James Barrow on Dearing Street, amidst an ivy hedge. Last month, the beautiful gate was rededicated to the Church-Waddel-Brumby House in honor of the longtime friendship between the Barrow and Brumby Families. Our staff, friends, beloved volunteers, and patrons were delighted to welcome the Barrow family through the gate with a friendly ribboncutting during the reception. We are thankful to all who attended to acknowledge both our volunteers and the Barrow’s gift! Please stop by to see the beautiful iron gate. The Athens Welcome Center recently hosted the annual Antebellum Trail Pilgrimage, as headquarters for this 100mile trek back through time encompassing seven Georgia cities, from Athens to Macon. With the blessing of delightful spring weather, visitors came from as far as Oregon, Canada, and the UK. As always, the Athens Historic House Museum Association pulled out all the stops, with a flute concert at the |
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Lyndon House, refreshments by the Junior League of Athens at the Taylor-Grady House, praline candy making at the Brumby House by Epting Events, and tours of the Founders Memorial House and Garden with professor John Waters and curator Maureen O’Brien. This year’s AthFest was amazing, and Classic City Tours’ Music History Tours were well attended. Athens music historian Paul Butchart covered special stops, including the first 40 Watt Club, sound checks at music venues, the Murmur Trestle, and more. Paul never stops researching and continues to unearth music history dating to the early 20th century. If you missed it, fear not: Call 706-353-1820 and let us customize a Music History Tour especially for you. We are delighted to announce that the Church-Waddel-Brumby House recently received a $4,000 Watson-Brown Foundation Grant. This fall, antique wrought iron locks will be purchased for the second-floor doors and English decorative artist, Derick H ER I T A GE
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Tickle will continue faux grainpainting in the upper hall. The artist’s resume includes years of finish restoration at the Biltmore House in Asheville, N.C. Our continuing restoration work is tied to evidence found in our Historic Finishes Analysis, where nearly every inch of the house’s original finishes were examined and documented.
ANNOUNCEMENT: We congratulate volunteer Brittany Gunter on her recent promotion at Epting Events, though it means she will be dearly missed as our dedicated Thursday afternoon volunteer. With that, the Athens Welcome Center announces that one VOLUNTEER POSITION is available on Thursday 1-5 pm. If you know and love Athens, would enjoy meeting people from all over the world, and are willing to help visitors explore all there is to see and do in Athens, consider serving in an ambassador’s role! Our location, the Church-WaddelBrumby House Museum, is Athens’ oldest residence and was home to two UGA presidents, which serves as a key attraction in the heart of Athens’ boutique hotel district. Call or email Evelyn Reece at 706-353-1820 / athenswc@negia.net to learn more about this fun opportunity in a beautiful setting.
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Legion Pool: An urban escape By Ashley Baker Pruitt Resting in a lowland on the west side of Lumpkin Street, Legion Pool has long stood as a place for recreation, relaxation, and an escape from the sweltering heat of the Georgia summer. The 77-year-old pool continues to open every summer for use by University of Georgia students, faculty, staff and their guests; however, recent approval by the state Board of Regents to replace aging Bolton Hall has resulted in an uncertain future for nearby Legion Pool. On a map released by the University outlining the proposed construction of a new dining hall in UGA’s Northwest Precinct, Legion Pool is quietly absent. The pool began as the dream of the Allen R. Fleming Post No. 20 of the American Legion. In the midst of the Great Depression, Legionnaires wanted to provide Athenians with a community center. They envisioned the community center as a multi-faceted park complete with a playground, swimming pool, and a cabin for hosting Legion meetings and events. According to a 1936 article in the Athens Banner-Herald, the Legion began a 10year fundraising effort, hosting a series of entertainment programs to raise money for the “playground fund.” In 1933, the Legion identified a suitable spot at an old waterworks property on Lumpkin Street. Resting in a natural bowl, the location was perceived to require very little grading or alteration to the site. The only significant physical obstacle on the site was a small stream that required realignment. The land was acquired and cleared, and by 1934, concrete had been poured and the erection of a swimming pool was underway. Though not fully complete, the pool was open for swimming by the following summer at a cost of 10 cents for children and 25 cents for adults. That year, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration agreed to furnish labor and a portion of the building materials to complete the swimming pool and additional structures, provided the Legion could raise the additional $12,500 necessary. In all, the federal government provided $18,000 of aid toward the completion of the project. The city of Athens and private residents gave additional contributions. Finishing touches were put on the property in 1936. These included tiling the pool, completing the bath PA G E
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houses, and landscaping the grounds. On Jan. 7, 1936, a gala was held to celebrate Legion Pool’s official opening. The elaborate program was reportedly attended by some 2,000 people and included remarks by Miss Gay B. Shepperson, the WPA Administrator for the State of Georgia, and Athens Mayor T.S. Mell. The remarks were followed by swimming and diving demonstrations from local high school state champions, University of Georgia swimming stars, and Olympian and gold medalist Harrison Glancy. Touted as the largest and most beautiful swimming pool south of Richmond, Va., the Legion Pool and associated facilities were designed by architect C. Wilmer Heery of Atlanta and erected at an approximate cost of $75,000. The pool was 75 feet wide by 175 feet long, ranging in depth from 2.5 feet to 9 feet, and held 475,000 gallons of water. On the east side, a 100-foot-long pavilion shielded onlookers from the glaring sun. The pavilion was flanked at each end by rooms used for registration and concessions. Bath houses more than 130 feet long spanned the north side of the pool and provided space for changing, showering, and storing personal belongings. The pool area was surrounded by a 4 foot concrete deck and a 6-foot turf deck as well as a high metal fence. The state-of-the art pool also was equipped with 10-foot and 5-foot diving boards and a 10-foot diving tower, plus underwater lights for nighttime swimming. The pool was also heralded as the most sanitary — it included a modern filter as well as automatic showers and antiseptic foot baths in the bathhouses. For a short time during World War II, Legion Pool and the surrounding property was conveyed by the City and Legion Post No. 20 to the University of Georgia for use by the Navy PreFlight School. The Navy Pre-Flight School conducted training exercises throughout the week. During this time, the University continued to hold intramural swimming meets H ER I T A GE
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at the pool, though general student access was limited to weekends. This arrangement ceased in 1944 when the Navy erected a field house and pool elsewhere on the UGA campus. The pool continued to be owned by the American Legion, but run through a lease held by the city, until 1952 when it sold the property to the Regents of the University System of Georgia for $75,000. The property was formally deeded to the Regents in 1954, though it continued to be run through a lease by the city until the mid-1970s. Since opening in 1936, the pool has continued to play a unique role in campus and community life. In addition to general recreation, the pool has hosted swimming meets and a variety of student events including swimming parties, barbecues, and concerts. Legion Pool has undergone several renovations and refurbishments over the years, though it retains much of its original form. Renovations include re-grouting, leak repairs, replacement and removal of damaged lighting fixtures, expanding the concrete deck surrounding the pool, and the removal of the original tile surface, which was ultimately resurfaced with cement. The price of admission has also changed over the years, rising to the current rate of $3.50 for students. Though University officials have yet to confirm the demolition of the swimming pool, they have cited constant water leakages and difficulty finding replacement parts as the primary challenges affiliated with extending the life of historic Legion Pool. Captions (from top to bottom) 1: An advertisement for Legion Pool from 1937. Today it costs $3.50 to swim at the historic pool. CREDIT: The Red & Black 2. An image from April 14, 1983, heralds the opening of Legion Pool for the summer. CREDIT: The Red & Black 3: The pavilion adjacent to Legion Pool is similar to how it looked when it was built in 1936. 4: Legion Pool as it’s seen today. It’s seen some changes in its 77-year history, including an expanded concrete deck and tiles replaced with cement.
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The 1901 building plaque on the east faรงade of the Fire Hall.
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Fire Hall gets a facelift By Amy C. Kissane The Foundation’s offices are located in historic Fire Hall No. 2, c. 1901, on Prince Avenue. After the building was decommissioned by the city as a fire station in the late 1970s, ACHF offered to raise money to renovate the building in exchange for having its offices there. After a $30,000 fundraising effort and considerable interior work that left intact all original materials, such as the firemen’s lockers, a historic coal fireplace, and, of course, the brass fire pole, ACHF moved in in 1981. Over the years ACHF has replaced carpets and made repairs, but the downstairs in particular has gotten pretty bedraggled. This past spring Kyle Campbell, ACHF trustee and president of UGA’s Student Historic Preservation Organization (SHPO), initiated a campaign to begin making improvements. Thanks to Kyle’s leadership, the downstairs walls and trim have been completely repainted. The SHPO paid for the wall paint and also provided volunteers to help with the painting. A very special thanks goes to two businesses, without whom the work would not have been possible: Tony Parramore of Gainesville Paint and Design Center (770532-3146) for donating the supplies for the project; and Ellen Stinchcomb of Rainbow Painting (706-254-6129). Ellen and her coworker not only spent an entire week at the Fire Hall painting, but also paid for the trim paint. Next on the list is replacing the downstairs carpet and lighting. We are hoping to get carpet donated and are working with House Electric on Baxter Street to develop, we hope, an affordable lighting plan. If you are interested in donating to these efforts, please contact Amy Kissane. H ER I T A GE
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Ivy may lend patina to a building, but it is very bad for masonry joints. As part of ongoing improvements to the Fire Hall, crews removed ivy from the side of the building.
Ellen Stinchcomb, owner of Rainbow Painting, paints a stairway banister as part of interior improvements at the Fire Hall.
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SUMMER Athenaeum Club Events: Check Facebook or send e-mail to athenaeumclub@gmail.com for upcoming dates. DAY DATE See Page 14 Thursday Aug. 23 September September Friday Sept. 28 TBD November Sunday December 2
NAME PLACE Athens Heritage Walks Summer Fun-n-Friends UGA Special Collections Library Look for membership renewals in the mail Preservation Matters: Lecture TBD Tin Roof Music Benefit 40 Watt Club 3rd Annual Historic Pub Crawl Downtown Athens Heritage Holiday Gala
Have you met Fire Hall Frank? Fire Hall Frank, a 4-month-old Boston Terrier, is a new member of ACHF and will be interning with his mom, Jamee Fiore, at the Fire Hall for the summer.
Look for updates from Frank on the ACHF Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/ Athens-Clarke-Heritage-Foundation/ 107236842630698 PA G E
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Membership Rates
All members receive the Basic Membership Package including: free admission to Athenaeum Club and other membership events; discounts on tours, events, and rentals of Fire Hall No. 2; the Heritage newsletter; and much more.
I would like to become a member at the following level: $30 Student $50 Individual $75 Family I would like to increase my support by joining at a higher level:
$250 Donor [Basic package plus a 10% discount at the Athens Welcome Center Gift Shop]
Heritage Education
Athens Area Realtors Workshops Athens Heritage Walks Guided Tours Heritage Newsletter Historic Property Owners Workshops Local Lore Girl Scout Badge
Tour of Homes
Historic Properties and Museums Athens Historic House Museum Association Church-Waddel-Brumby House Museum Historic Fire Hall No. 2 Ware-Lyndon House Museum
Athenaeum Club Fun-n-Friends Heritage Holiday Gala Annual Meeting
Ongoing Programs
$1,000 Patron [Above plus two tickets to Heritage Holiday Gala]
Looking to volunteer?
[Above plus two Classic City Tours tickets; one ticket to Heritage Holiday Gala]
$2,500 Preserver
Athens High & Industrial School Marker Ben Epps Commemorative Statue Buena Vista Local Historic District Initiative Navy Supply Corps School Transfer
Athens Welcome Center Classic City Tours Façade Easements Hands On Athens Historic Preservation Revolving Fund Annual Historic Preservation Awards
$500 Supporter
Community Engagement
Membership Events
$100 Sustainer
These programs depend on your support‌ thank you.
[Basic plus 10% discount at Welcome Center Gift Shop; four Classic City Tours tickets & four Heritage Gala tickets]
Check here if you would like to talk to someone at ACHF about volunteer opportunities such as membership, special events, education, tours, Hands On Athens, preservation awards, PR/ marketing, fundraising, newsletter, mailings, etc.
To join, complete the following information and return with payment to:
ACHF, 489 Prince Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30601 Name Address E-mail Phone
Payment Type:
Enclosed Check
Credit Card
Card number
Expiration Date
Name on Card Contact us at 706-353-1801 or achf@bellsouth.net
Thank you for Protecting the Past for the Future.
THANK YOU
on making a donation, contact us at 706.353.1801 or achf@bellsouth.net. ACHF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations are tax-deductible.
FOR INFORMATION
making an additional donation to support the Foundation’s positive contributions to the Athens community.
PLEASE CONSIDER
for being a member of the AthensClarke Heritage Foundation! Your membership dues support our many ongoing programs such as Preservation Matters, Hands On Athens, Athens Heritage Walks, Annual Preservation Awards, and the Athens Historic House Museum Association.
Fire Hall No. 2 489 Prince Ave. Athens, Georgia 30601 706-353-1801 www.achfonline.org
Athens, GA
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INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN ACHF MEMBER? PLEASE CONTACT US AT ACHF@BELLSOUTH.NET