A Cultural Resources Survey for the Everett Cell Tower, Wayne County, Georgia

Cypress Cultural Consultants conducted a cultural resources survey for Nextel Communications in order to determine if any historic properties eligible for or listed on the National Register of Historic Places would be affected by the proposed Everett telecommunication tower construction in order for the Federal Communications Commission to fulfill its responsibility to consider the effects of the issuance of a permit under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The proposed tower site consists of a 50 foot by 50 foot square and an APE of l.5 miles. The project area has been impacted by historic activities. These activities including a l00 foot tower used by the railroad located 1000 ft (30m.) to the southeast, the expansion of U.S. Highway 341 into a four lane divided highway, and multiple electric and pipe lines. One historic, site 09WY33, exists across the tower site. The site has been determined ineligible for the National Register. Site 09WY34 consists of a prehistoric lithic and ceramic scatter and a historic school site which have been borrowed. This site has also been determined ineligible for the National Register. Five historic structures and one cemetery were identified within the APE. Only Akin Memorial Methodist Church is potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The construction of the Everett Telecommunication Tower will adversely effect the church. Other visual effects have also occurred, however, in the form of road widening, overhead utilities, and two towers which already exist in the area. A 300 foot telecommunication tower exists 5000 ft to the northeast. In addition, a l00 ft tower used by the railroad exists 1000 feet to the southwest. These have created both visual and audio impacts. Shrubs planted around the base of the tower could help minimize the visual impact to the church.