Cultural Resources Survey of the Vinings Golf Club Tract, Cobb County, Georgia

In January 1999, Brockington and Associates, Inc. conducted a cultural resources survey of the proposed Vinings Golf Club. The 220 acre Vinings Golf Club tract is located between Pebblebrook Road and Nickajack Creek in Cobb County, Georgia. The majority of the survey tract parallels Nickajack Creek for approximately 2.1 km (1.3 miles), and extends southwest a maximum of 850 m (2, 789 ft). The project area is slated for development as a residential and golf community; however, this survey did not include those areas intended for residential development. The survey tract is comprised of areas delineated for golf greens, fairways, and tees, and green space. This project was conducted under contract with Dial Cordy and Associates, Inc. on behalf of their client, Easlan Capital of Atlanta, Inc. Cultural resources survey was required to comply with cultural resource management provisions of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations (33 CFR 320- 330), implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 USC 470, as amended) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1344, as amended). This project resulted in the identification of three cultural resources. The first, 9C0541, is the remains of a historic structure. This structure is shown on current topographic maps. Due to its lack of structural integrity, 9C0541 is recommended ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Site 9C0542 is the remains of an abandoned rail line. This resource consists of a segment of rail bed, a stone bridge, a stone culvert beneath the rail bed, and three intact brick piers for a trestle crossing Nickajack Creek. This site is recommended eligible for the NRHP. The third resource, site 9C0543, is a complex of relatively well preserved Civil War trenches. These trenches are associated with the Atlanta Campaign of 1864, and more specifically, the Battle of Ruffs Mill. This site is also recommended eligible for the NRHP. In addition, four previously recorded archaeological sites are located within the survey tract. Only one of these sites will be impacted by the proposed golf course construction. Site 9C0335, a historic camp, may contain Civil War trenches and was recommended potentially eligible for the NRHP. The portion of 9C0335 slated for impact will require Phase II testing to determine it full research potential and possible mitigation requirements. Design modifications and preservation efforts have been made to avoid disturbing the majority of these cultural resources; however, a Memorandum of Agreement will likely be required to finalize these mitigation options.