HomeMy Public PortalAboutCOTI_PR_THS_20080416.pdfMAYOR
Jason Buelterman
CITY COUNCIL
Wanda Doyle
Charlie R. Brewer
Barry Brown
Eddie Crone
Dick Smith
Paul Wolff
CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND
CITY MANAGER
Diane Schleicher
CITY CLERK
Vivian Woods
CITY ATTORNEY
Edward M. Hughes
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
PRESS RELEASE: Contacts: Jason Buelterman
For Release April 16, 2008 (912) 786-4573, x108
Tybee Receives Excellence in Restoration Award
Tybee Island, Ga. – (April 15, 2008) The City of Tybee Island is proud to announce receipt of a
Georgia Trust Historic Rehabilitation Award for the restoration of the Fort Screven Guard House. This
effort was a joint project requiring support from City staff and Council, the Tybee Historical Society,
Savannah Restoration, and preservation consultant Sarah Pierson-Jones. The Guard House, listed in
the National Register as a contributing building of the Fort Screven National Historic District, has
acted as a Community Center for the Island since the 1940s and is even more popular today,
generating additional use fees for the City. Located on Van Horne Street at the end of North
Campbell Street, it sees heavy traffic as visitors pass by this building on their way to Fort Screven
buildings, the Tybee Lighthouse and Historical Museum, and the North Beach. It stands as an
example of how preserving historic buildings and artifacts can contribute to community pride and
economic development.
Once the City Council had made a commitment to this preservation project, the City used the Special
Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds to finance the project . Councilman Eddie Crone championed
the project from the City Council, making sure the funds were made available as needed. Ralph
Anderson, owner of the general contractor, Savannah Restoration, took a personal interest in
overseeing the project, and Sarah Pierson-Jones’ expertise was directed at making sure existing
materials were preserved when possible and that accurate details were provided when restoration or
repair was required. The involvement of Cullen Chambers, execu tive director of the Tybee Historical
Society, ensured the planning was executed in keeping with the Island’s other commitments to
historic preservation.
This unique version of a design widely used for the US Army was initially created as a military jail.
However, the use of local building materials, pressed tin walls and ceilings and wrap-around porch
added to a pleasing aesthetic for such a functional building. Also unique for a barrier island building,
the Guard House was outfitted with a basement. Having survived two major fires and decades of
public use after decommissioning, the beautiful wood floors, tin ceilings, and original colors have
been restored at a cost of $440,000. This investment represents Tybee’s on-going commitment and
dedication to our history in a way that promotes continued utility while preserving its beauty and
elegance.
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
Incorporated in 1887 and currently home to about 3,400 permanent residents, Tybee Island is
steeped in history, having been a strategic defensive location for the Savannah River from colonial
times through the Civil War to the World Wars. For more information about the City of Tybee Island,
visit us online at http://www.cityoftybee.org.
The Tybee Historical Society is housed on the grounds of the historic Tybee Island Lighthouse, which
is also its best known restoration. THS has been involved in other restoration projects within the
lighthouse grounds, as well as on a variety of buildings that were part of the facilities of Ft. Screven.
In addition, Tybee’s unique, raised-cottage architectures and older public buildings receive the
attention of THS. Learn about their activities at http://www.tybeelighthouse.org.
The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is the country’s largest statewide, nonprofit preservation
organization with more than 8,000 members. Committed to preserving and enhancing Georgia’s
communities and their diverse historic resources for the education and enjoyment of all, The Georgia
Trust generates community revitalization by finding buyers for endangered properties acquired by its
Revolving Fund; provides design assistance to 105 Georgia Main Street cities and encourages
neighborhood revitalization; trains Georgia’s teachers to engage students in 61 Georgia school
systems to discover state and national history through their local historic resources; and advocates
for funding, tax incentives and other laws aiding preservation efforts. The Georgia Trust is a recipient
of the Trustees Award for Organizational Excellence from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
More at http://www.georgiatrust.org.
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