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Building Preservation
Every day, more than 50 members of our Preservation Department work to save numerous historic
buildings on site. Over the past several years, the CHS Preservation Team has been honored with
awards from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the Historic Savannah Foundation.
In 2006, the Southeast Society of Architectural Historians awarded the Preservation Team top
honors with the Best of the South: Preserving Southern Architecture Award. In 2007, the Georgia
Trust for Historic Preservation recognized the Preservation Team with an award for Excellence in
Rehabilitation for work performed on the 1855 Tender Frame Shop.
Much of that work is funded by Chatham County Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) money.
Current information on several of our projects is listed below:
Savannah Battle Memorial Park | Wood Block Floors | Coach and Paint Shops | Turntable
Carpentry Shop | Tender Frame Shop | Workers' Garden | Compressor Room
Savannah Battle Memorial Park
On October 9, 1779, Georgia's bloodiest Revolutionary War battle took place in Savannah. The main focus of the battle was the Spring Hill Redoubt, an earthen fortification at the corner of the British lines (redoubt is an old word for refuge). In less than an hour, Allied forces made five frontal attacks on or near the Spring Hill Redoubt. Over 800 soldiers were wounded or killed, including Revolutionary War heroes Casimir Pulaski and Sergeant William Jasper.
The Coastal Heritage Society desired to construct an appropriate memorial to honor the brave soldiers that fought during the Siege of Savannah. After consulting with various experts and designers, the Society developed a plan for a park that would memorialize the historic battleground.
In 2005, construction of an earth redoubt and battle memorial was begun. The Coastal Heritage Society Director and Preservation Team designed and constructed the redoubt based on historical documentation and field engineering manuals of the period. The CHS Preservation Team began work on the memorial in the summer of 2005. It quickly became clear that a detailed archaeological study was required before we could build a storm sewer for the project. CHS Archaeologist Rita Elliott found remnants of the original redoubt proving conclusively where the fortification stood. After the archaeology project was completed, the preservation team cleared the site of trees and brush and tons of debris from the foundations of the meat packing buildings that once stood in the area. Contractors brought over 200 truckloads of soil to the site where they were compacted into the rectangular walls that is the redoubt. After working long days and nights, crews completed construction in four months.
Additional components of the memorial will include 800 granite stones arranged in 80 ranks of 10 stones each. These stones will represent the approximate size and shape of the attacking columns and will also represent the number of casualties. Donors to the project will each have the privilege of engraving the service record of a Revolutionary personage on one of the two foot square granite stones. A 55-foot flagpole has been erected that will fly the thirteen star flag that is of the type that was used by the American patriots at the time of the battle.
The memorial will be dedicated on October 9, 2007. A dawn battlefield memorial program will be held every October 9th at 7am.
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Spring Hill Before |
Spring Hill After |
SPLOST
The original wood block floors in the Roundhouse were installed shortly
after the 1926 expansion. Wood block floors were historically used in
workshops because they absorb grease and oil very well, are comfortable
to walk on, require little maintenance, and importantly, protect tools
and cast iron parts from damage when dropped.
Members of the Coastal Heritage Society (CHS) Preservation Team thoroughly
researched the origin and construction techniques of the wood block floors
before beginning the labor intensive process of restoring them. The
Preservation Team removed the tar used to lay the original woodblocks and
replaced it with an environmentally sensitive mastic, a cold application
adhesive used for reapplying the floor. Historically, coal tar pitch,
heated at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, was applied to the underlay and surface
of the floor to keep them in place, but this process is extremely hazardous
to workers and the environment. As an alternative, granulated cork was used
to fill spaces between the wood blocks, an innovative technique that was
formulated by the CHS Preservation Team. After the wood blocks were restored,
a sealant was applied to the surface to prolong the life of the floor.
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Wood Block Floors Before
Wood Block Floors After
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SPLOST
Historically used to repair and overhaul passenger cars, the Coach and Paint Shops were built in
1925 to replace two earlier Central of Georgia (CofGA) buildings destroyed in a1923 fire. Today
many projects related to the rehabilitation of the Coach and Paint Shops for adaptive use have
been taking place.
An environmental consultant was responsible for the remediation of contaminated soil and asbestos
from the Coach and Paint Shops from June 2005 to March 2006. During the remediation process, many
artifacts were unearthed, including a probable 19th century brick foundation and many concrete
footings related to the 1907 paint shop that preceded the 1920s construction.
The structural steel (columns and beams) located inside the Paint Shop are no longer produced anywhere,
so the CHS Metals Team used portions of the remaining columns to repair and replace the heavily
deteriorated ones, allowing CHS to preserve as many of the original columns as possible.
In 2005, the Preservation Team removed the original easternmost door of the Paint Shop to use as a
prototype for the repair and restoration of all 12 of the prominent "barn" doors at the north side
of the Coach and Paint Shops.
The building's 72 steel sash windows are a significant characteristic of the historic building.
During 2005, the steel sash of one Coach Shop window opening was repaired, serving as a prototype
for future efforts.
Other projects related to this building include brick wall repairs, removal of non-historic paint
from the exterior of the building, and installation of new roofing, including the use of tongue &
groove pine decking milled to match that originally used. The building materials used in the
restoration process are meticulously researched to reflect the significant original elements as
sympathetically as possible. Modern technology for interior environment related to new uses and
weatherproofing will be incorporated into the building as sensitively as possible.
Paint Shop
SPLOST
The 75' turntable was added to the site in 1923 to accommodate larger engines and was later extended
to 85' in 1945. In 2003, the large tapered roller bearing that allows the turntable to rotate finally
gave out after years of service, rendering the turntable inoperable.
To remove the 5000 pound bearing, the entire turntable was jacked up and maneuvered using three chain
hoists - all within a five foot wide space. The bearing was sent to St. Louis for repairs, and many
of the other parts were fixed with local volunteer labor and in-kind donations.
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Turntable Bearing After |
Turntable After |
SPLOST / Save America's Treasures
Built in 1853, the Carpentry Shop is one of the original 1850s buildings within the railroad shops complex. Here,
most carpentry work related to the construction of passenger cars, furniture and architectural elements along the
Central of Georgia line was performed. Unfortunately, the Carpentry Shop has suffered from two fires, one in 1923
and the last in 1987; all that remains of the building today is a shell.
Since 2003, the CHS Preservation Team has been working to stabilize and protect what is left of this significant
building, which has been designated a Save America's Treasures Official Project. When the reconstruction is complete,
the building will become part of the Georgia State Railroad Museum.
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Carpentry Shop, 2004 |
Carpentry Shop After |
SPLOST
Originally constructed to house offices for the Master Mechanic and space for building locomotive
tenders, the Tender Frame Shop was completed in 1855. A second story was added in 1899 to provide
space for blueprinting and drafting.
Repointing historic masonry joints on the building was the first project undertaken by the CHS
Preservation Team, which was formed in 2003 by CHS Curator of Buildings, Stewart Dohrman. Since
then, the Preservation Team has completed several other restoration projects within the building,
including masonry rebuilding and consolidation, repairs to structural wood timbers, paint analysis,
window restoration and roof repair. Rehabilitation of the building into office space for the growing
preservation staff was completed in 2006. The Historic Savannah Foundation awarded the Preservation
Team in 2006 for their work on the Tender Frame Shop. In 2007, the Georgia Trust for Historic
Preservation also recognized this project with an award for Excellence in Rehabilitation.
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Masonry Repairs on the Tender Frame Shop |
Tender Frame Shop After |
Trustees Garden Club and SPLOST
Created around the turn of the century, the Workers' Garden is typical of those created
by employees throughout the Central of Georgia System and other railways, and is perhaps
one of the oldest and last surviving gardens of its type. Following the closure of the
Savannah Shops Complex in 1963, the garden pathways and fountain were bulldozed.
Through the efforts of many CHS employees and volunteers, including Kathrine Clark, John
Stafford, Gail Whalen, and the CHS Preservation Team, the original layout of the garden
quadrants, pathways and fountain were determined through careful research, survey and
archaeology.
With aid from the Trustees Garden Club of Savannah, the restored garden, pathways and
fountain were completed in the spring of 2005. Since its completion, both the Historic
Savannah Foundation and Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation have recognized the
Preservation Team for its efforts on the Workers' Garden.
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Workers' Garden During Restoration |
Workers' Garden After |
SPLOST
Completed in 1855, the Compressor Room originally served as a lumber storage area for
the carpentry activities in the adjacent Carpentry Shop. Concurrent with the electrification
of the railroad shops in 1907, the building was converted into a power house. Located
inside were transformers, dynamos and a compressor that distributed electricity and
compressed air throughout the entire complex.
Since 2004, the Preservation Team has performed critical structural repairs to stabilize
the masonry walls and conserve as much original material as possible from the structural
roof timbers. Deteriorated areas of the brick parapet have been recently rebuilt, and
massive heart pine roof girders have been restored using traditional methods. Restoration
of the monitor and roof was completed in 2007.
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Compressor Room During |
Compressor Room After |
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