Intensive Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed and Alternative Levee Alignments, Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia

Between 10 and 21 January 2005, Brockington and Associates, Inc., performed an intensive cultural resources survey (Phase I) of two proposed levee alignments for the City of Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia. Two separate corridors (Corridors A and B), totaling 11.26 kilometers (7.0 miles), are being considered for the levee construction although they overlap at the southern end. The width for either of these is expected to be 41 meters (135 ft). Additionally, a 122 hectare (76 acre) proposed borrow area was surveyed at the southeast end of the levee. Field survey involved examination of the landscape, vegetation, and ground surface, as well as excavation of screened shovel tests at 30 meter (100 ft) intervals within the two corridors and borrow area. The survey was conducted under contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. Survey tasks were completed in compliance with criteria defined under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended), by personnel qualified under the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards (36CFR Part 61), and Section 205 (Flood Control Act of ' 1948). Section 205 provides small allotments for flood control projects not specifically authorized by Congress. This study follows U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations (USACE 1990a) developed to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act. The goal of this cultural resources survey was to obtain information on previously known as well as potential archaeological and historic resources within the project tracts. This information will provide a necessary step in the planning for new flood control construction in Albany. Background research was conducted at the Georgia State Archaeological Site Files (University of Georgia) in Athens to determine if any previously recorded archaeological sites were present in the project's Area of Potential Effect (APE) within the project area. No previously recorded archaeological sites were identified within the project corridors or borrow area. However, 24 archaeological sites (9DU3, 9DU10, 9DU11, 9DU22, 9DU29-31, 9DU39, 9DU77, 9DU78, 9DU98, 9DU100, 9DU119, 9DU123-125, 9DU127, 9DU128, 9DU139, 9DU144, 9DU149-152) have been recorded within 1.6 km (1.0 mi) of the APE. Sites 9DU29 and 9DU100 have been recommended eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Sites 9DU77, 9DU119, 9DU123-9DU125, 9DU27, 9DU28, 9DU39, and 9DU44 were recommended ineligible for the NRHP; no NRHP recommendations were made for the remaining 13 sites. The present investigation resulted in the recording of four (4) previously unrecorded archaeological sites (9DU154, 9DU155, 9DU156, 9DU157). Sites 9DU154 and 9DU157 are extensive, high-density lithic scatters dating to the Early and Late Archaic periods, respectively. The soils at both sites are sandy and relatively undisturbed. 9DU155 consists of a small, low-density lithic scatter. It is located in a clear-cut area adjacent to Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. The soils are wet and disturbed. No phase of occupation has been determined for 9DU155. Site 9DU156 is an extensive, high-density lithic and ceramic scatter dating to the Mississippian period. The soils are relatively undisturbed, despite the fact that the site was briefly submerged by the Flood of 1994. Based on the results of these investigations, only one of the four archaeological sites (9DU155) is recommended not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The proposed construction of a flood control levee will have no adverse effect on any significant cultural deposits within this site. Sites 9DU154, 9DU156, and 9DU157 represent extensive, high-density artifact scatters located within the APE and are recommended potentially eligible for the NRHP. These three sites have research potential in that they may retain intact archaeological contexts, such as culturally or temporally diagnostic artifacts and/or features associated with the site occupation. Land disturbing activities within the site area should be avoided. If avoidance is not feasible, additional archaeological investigations will be necessary to make a final NRHP determination. The historic resources survey consisted of background research and pedestrian reconnaissance of the two separate corridors and its surrounding view shed to identify properties exceeding 50 years in age that might be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The background research was conducted at the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) of the Department of Natural Resources in Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Archives and History (GDAH) in Atlanta, and the Dougherty County Public Library in Albany. The project historian visited the Thronateeska Heritage Center and the Civil Rights Movement Museum, both located in Albany. Background research identified 49 previously recorded properties within the project boundaries. Many of these, however, have been destroyed by urban renewal activities and the 1994 flood. Field survey identified 26 properties fifty years of age or older in the project boundaries, 14 of which were previously recorded. Of the 26 resources identified during field survey, we recommend 18 eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as the Harlem Historic District, and one cemetery, Oakview, as individually NRHP eligible (Table 1). On 17 February 1981, the Keeper of the National Register determined properties located at 303-328 Whitney Avenue, and 217-319 Jackson Street, in the proposed Harlem Historic District are NRHP eligible. Additional properties in the area were also identified and determined eligibe, but were beyond the scope of this investigation. Ten NRHP listed resources are located within a one-half mile radius of the project area, but none are physically located within corridor boundaries. The NRHP listed Mt. Zion Church is located within the boundaries of the proposed Harlem Historic District. Additional properties within the potential Harlem Historic District may be individually NRHP eligible for architectural or historic significance. Oakview Cemetery was determined NRHP eligible in a 1996 study conducted by Woodward Clyde Federal Services. One potential historic district (Harlem Historic District) and one individually eligible resource (Oakview Cemetery) fall within the physical boundary of Corridor A. Within the potential Harlem Historic District, five contributing resources are physically within the boundary of Corridor A. In addition, one contributing resource within the potential historic district is immediately adjacent to the Corridor A boundary (Table 2). No properties of potential historic or architectural significance were identified within the boundaries of Corridor B, although Oakview Cemetery is located adjacent to the northern end of Corridor B. In summary, our goal was to determine if there were any significant cultural resources present which would be affected by the construction of a flood control levee. Of the two separate corridors being considered for the levee construction, we recommend avoidance for Corridor A. Corridor A contains significant architectural and historic resources, including two locally designated historic districts (Albany Heights Historic District and Washington Heights Historic District), one historic district recommended NRHP eligible (Harlem Historic District), and one NRHP eligible cemetery (Oakview Cemetery). Oakview Cemetery is also adjacent to Corridor B, but physical impacts could be avoided if the improvements do not stretch west to cross over Washington Street into the cemetery. Corridor B does not appear to impact any other architectural or historic resources, and would have the least impact on significant cultural resources. For the scope of the current project, the architectural survey evaluated only impacts to the resources that lie physically within or immediately adjacent to the boundaries of the project area. The project area is defined as a corridor extending 41 meters (135 feet) from the centerline of the existing roadway. Since design specifications for the levee were unknown at the time of investigation, we did not evaluate buildings outside this corridor for view shed impacts. Due to the nature of the project, viewshed impacts are likely to be significant, especially if Corridor A is chosen. Assuming Georgia Historic Preservation Division concurrence with our recommendation, completion of an assessment of effects (AOE) will be necessary once design plans have been finalized. The AOE will identify potential adverse effects to each NRHP listed or eligible cultural resource. With this information, the design could be adjusted to lessen impacts to historic properties.