Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed Metal Container Substation and 115 kV Loop, Floyd County, Georgia

In July of 1992, Southeastern Archeological Services conducted an intensive cultural resources survey of a 0.2 ha tract for a proposed substation and 3.2 km (2.0 mi) of proposed transmission line corridor. The project is in Floyd County, about 12 km northeast of Rome. Intensive surface inspection coupled with the excavation of 30 shovel tests failed to locate any archeological sites. The proposed line will be within possible view of two potentially historic structures. The Big Pleasant Grove School, a log structure dating to ca.1945, is recommended eligible to the National Register of Historic Places at the local level of significance, even though it is not 50 years old. The proposed transmission line will be 30 m (100 It) from the structure leaving a 19 m (62 It) wide, heavily wooded buffer. It is our opinion that this wooded buffer and the distances of the power line and poles from the structure will shield the line from view both from the structure and from the open area immediately fronting the property on the east. The poles will, however, be visible from Highway 53, within a distant (ca.200 m) view shed of the structure. Other elements within this view shed include the highway itself, other utility lines, the intersection of three highways and an adjacent modern concrete church. Overall, the proposed line will have no appreciable further impact on the setting of the structure. In sum, the undertaking will have an effect upon the visual character of the property, but this is so minimal that it will not constitute an adverse effect. The second structure, the Ward farm house, is recommended not eligible to the National Register because the structure and property around it have lost a great deal of integrity. The transmission lines have been routed to avoid a third historic structure, the Rush House, which is clearly eligible for inclusion in the National Register. It is the opinion of the principal investigator that no historic properties (i.e. cultural resources eligible to the National Register of Historic Places) will be adversely affected by the construction and maintenance of the proposed substation and transmission lines.