Built on land donated by David Tobias Howard, one of the first African American millionaires, the David T. Howard Middle School was designed by A. Ten Eyck Brown and constructed in phases starting in 1923. Originally an equalization school, attendees and graduates of the school include Martin Luther King, Jr., Walt Frazier, Maynard Jackson and Olympian Mildred McDaniels. The school was closed in 1976, but ownership was retained by Atlanta Public Schools. After years of debate about whether the school should be used or torn down, the school system made the decision to rehabilitate the structure to once again serve students, a huge accomplishment for the school and community. The historic classroom building and gymnasium were sensitively rehabilitated while new classrooms, an auditorium, cafeteria and administration suite were added in a design that is complementary but distinct from the historic architecture. In the heart of Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, Howard Middle School serves as proof that preservation of significant historic resources can always be achieved, allowing tangible connections to the past to inspire new generations.

The building also received an award for Excellence in Rehabilitation.

The Marguerite Williams Award is presented annually to the project that has had the greatest impact on preservation in the state.

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Built in 1848, Zion Episcopal Church is a magnificent example of the Gothic Revival style that was popular during the 19th century. Beautifully maintained for decades, after the town’s population and church congregation dwindled, the historic wood structure became underutilized, suffering from neglect and lack of investment in maintenance. In 2011, the church was listed as a Place in Peril. Thanks to dedicated local volunteers, the Georgia Trust was able to acquire the church from the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta in 2019 and transfer ownership to a local non-profit organization set up to manage the church and its restoration. That same year, the group was awarded over $100,000 in grant funding to aid in the structure’s rehabilitation from the Historic Columbus Foundation. Fully restored in 2020, the site now operates as a multi-purpose facility with proceeds devoted to the care and upkeep of the structure.

The building also received an award for Excellence in Restoration.

The Chairman’s Award is presented at the sole discretion of the Georgia Trust Chairman of the Board of Trustees to recognize extraordinary efforts contributing to the preservation of Georgia’s historic resources.

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Built in 1919, the Hancock Branch Library and East Annex were originally the home of Fowler Motors, a first-generation “Main Street” car dealership that served the community until the 1980s. Once the dealership closed, the building was purchased by the City of Milledgeville and reused as city administrative offices. The building was completely altered for the programmatic change, and showroom spaces were subdivided into offices with dropped ceilings. When rehabilitation efforts began in 2019, investigations were done into what remained of the historic building’s original structure. Fortunately, most of the building’s early commercial style layout was intact. The rehabilitation preserved the original interior while accommodating the building’s new use as library space. The project included the reconstruction of offices for City workers and library staff and space for a business incubator. The spatial integrity of the historic showroom space was retained, and windows that had been boarded up were replaced in kind. This project redefined how public buildings can look in Milledgeville and complements the vision that the community has for its library—a historic institution that is well-positioned to meet modern needs.

The building also received an award for Excellence in Rehabilitation.

The Michael L. Starr Award was created in 2020 in memory of Mike Starr, former Board Chair of the Georgia Trust and the Georgia Cities Foundation. This award honors the rehabilitation of a downtown historic building which best exemplifies the highest standards of historic rehabilitation and has a significant impact on the downtown of the city in which it is located.

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Ever since the Rock Eagle 4-H Center was constructed in the 1950s, the Chapel has served as a gathering place for countless Georgia 4-H’ers as well as a popular wedding venue. Designed by Grady Smith, an architect with Cooper, Barrett, Skinner, Woodbury and Cooper, the Chapel was known for its native rock walls gathered from the surrounding property and its distinctive wooden roof trusses. In 2019, the Chapel was nearly lost to fire. With the walls still in place, the original 1953 blueprints were used to guide a full restoration. Douglas Fir from North Carolina was used to recreate the trusses and interior paneling. Several original light fixtures were restored and reused. The company that created the original stained-glass windows was able to recreate replacement windows. Attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year, and serving as one of Putnam County’s largest employers, the Chapel’s restoration is vital for the Rock Eagle 4-H Center.

Awards for Excellence in Restoration recognize exemplary restoration of historic structures. An accurate restoration project depicts the form, features and character of a historic building as it appeared at a particular period of time. Restoration requires sensitive upgrading of mechanical systems and other code-required work to make the site functional.

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Constructed by students in 1911, this log chapel was the first chapel built on the Berry College campus. Designed by local architect John Barnwell, the chapel was used by students in the Martha Berry School for Girls, which opened in 1909. Although previously restored, Barnwell Chapel had deteriorated over the decades and was in a serious state of disrepair. Cracks had appeared in the foundation, and large sections of the log exterior were rotted, exposing the interior to the elements. An assessment of the chapel was done in 2016 and served as the basis for the restoration project that began in 2019. All of the original windows were in poor condition, but parts that could be salvaged were used as templates to craft replacements. Gutters were installed to prevent damage from rainwater, and a proper drainage system was put in place to direct water away from the building. Throughout the project, every effort was made to follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Restoration and to save historic fabric in the effort to restore the building to its 1911 appearance. The chapel, which was on the brink of collapse, can be used once again by the Berry College community.

Awards for Excellence in Restoration recognize exemplary restoration of historic structures. An accurate restoration project depicts the form, features and character of a historic building as it appeared at a particular period of time. Restoration requires sensitive upgrading of mechanical systems and other code-required work to make the site functional.

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The Neighborhood Church is the merger of Druid Hills United Methodist and Epworth Methodist at the site of the historic Epworth Church in Atlanta’s Candler Park neighborhood. The funds from the sale of the Druid Hills church property were invested in the two extant Epworth structures, which date to the 1920s and 1950s. The transformation of the dated buildings now provides unique worship experiences, childcare, and spaces dedicated to community partnerships. Rehabilitation focused on repair of double-hung windows and custom replacement of damaged eaves, cornices and woodwork. The colored glass windows in the mid-century sanctuary were also preserved. A new glass-enclosed connector was constructed between the structures to provide an architecturally differentiated but compatible addition. Overcoming initial doubt that the buildings could be saved and reused in a cost-effective manner, the rehabilitation of the Neighborhood Church illustrates how aging structures nestled in the City’s old neighborhoods are capable of being transformed into community assets with new life.

Excellence in Rehabilitation Awards recognize projects that make compatible use of a building through repair, alterations or additions while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value.

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Built for R.C. Henry in 1898, this elegant two-story Queen Anne building became Dublin’s first bank. Over the years the building housed numerous professional and retail businesses and underwent numerous alterations that included the removal of many architectural features. A rehabilitation led by the Curry family, whose business had its first offices in the building in 1902, began in 2017. Work involved restoring and matching many of the building’s historic materials. The signature turret—removed in the 1950s due to repeated lightning strikes—was meticulously reconstructed and returned to its rightful place atop the building. The original granite archways that had been chiseled away for a modern retail storefront were repaired with granite from the same quarry that sourced the original. With assistance from both state and federal historic tax credits, the Henry is now home to four businesses and serves as the cornerstone for downtown Dublin.

Excellence in Rehabilitation Awards recognize projects that make compatible use of a building through repair, alterations or additions while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value.

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The Mercer Music at Capricorn project consists of four interconnected buildings that stretch along Macon’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. The buildings are a rock-and-roll landmark, housing the recording studios of Capricorn Records starting in 1969. Listed as a Places in Peril site by the Georgia Trust, the entire block was in danger of being lost to neglect. In 2015, a partnership between Mercer University, NewTown Macon, Sierra Development and Southern Pines Plantations announced plans to fully restore the original studio space. Many of the historic details had been removed, making the retention of the remaining historic materials a high priority, particularly the intact original studio space. Now open as Mercer Music, the four-building remodel includes a small bar and lounge, a museum, a music incubator space, rental office space, and two full recording studios. The musical legacy of Capricorn Studios lives on.

Excellence in Rehabilitation Awards recognize projects that make compatible use of a building through repair, alterations or additions while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value.

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Terrell Hall was built in 1909 as a dormitory for Georgia Women’s College, now known as Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. Its recent rehabilitation, including careful demolition to uncover historic fabric, focused returning the building to its former glory while updating its functionality. The wood paneling in the central hall was painstakingly returned to its original splendor. Interior plaster was restored and original lounge spaces on each end of the building were opened to restore light and visibility while returning the spaces to their original configuration. The building’s signature and striking exterior elements, the Georgia College dome and arcade roof, were restored to the original floral pattern design. Skilled copper craftsmen were able to bring the complicated and beautiful copper dome pattern back to the iconic arcade. The building now houses the Communications Department at the college.

Excellence in Rehabilitation Awards recognize projects that make compatible use of a building through repair, alterations or additions while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value.

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