A Cultural Resource Survey of a Historic House Site (9TA171) Located at 341 North Washington Avenue, Talbotton (Talbot County), Georgia

Southern Research, Historic Preservations Consultants, Inc. conducted a phase one cultural resource survey of a portion of a 2.13 acre lot with a standing structure on it in downtown Talbotton, Georgia. Talbotton, which is the county seat of Talbot County, is located in west central Georgia just northeast of Columbus, Georgia (Figure 1). This work was performed for Valley Healthcare System, INC. of Columbus, Georgia. Valley Healthcare System has requested capital improvement funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). These funds are to renovate and expand the structure at 341 North Washington Street in Talbotton, Georgia, which is currently a dentist office operated by Valley Healthcare System. The expansion of the dentist office will allow Valley Healthcare Systems, INC. to co-locate their medical services program that now operates elsewhere in Talbotton. By consolidating their dental and medical services at the same place they will be able to provide all of their dental and medical care services at a central locality. These medical services are offered at affordable costs for individuals lacking health insurance or having inadequate health insurance coverage. The work performed by Southern Research is to satisfy Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the federal funding that Valley Healthcare System INC. is requesting for this undertaking. The cultural resource survey consisted of shovel testing around the house in the immediate yard and an assessment of the house/office building located at 341 North Washington Avenue (Highway 41) on Parcel TABLB17 02 of land lot 275, of the 16th land district in Talbot County. The structure on the lot began as a residential home, but was converted to a dentist office probably sometime within the last ten or so years. The property is located approximately three blocks north of the Talbot County Courthouse, which is at the intersection of Highway 208 and its intersection with Washington Avenue (Figure 2). The project study area is located in a mixed commercial and residential area of Talbotton. Figures 3 and 4 are general photographic shots of the house and lot landscaping. A total of ten shovel tests were excavated with nine positive and one shovel test containing no cultural materials. The cultural materials were determined to be mid to late twentieth century and were found in a mottled soil that is possibly fill brought in to raise the ground level for the house;, or the mottled soil was caused by disturbances to the soil from modifications to the house. The site was given the official state archaeological site number 9TA171 (see form in Appendix II). The archaeological site is not recommended as eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The appraisal report on the property stated that the house was constructed in 1865. The structure was assessed for its historical importance and integrity. The actual age of construction for the building was not determined, although its outward appearance does not suggest such an early construction date. The interior has been so completely remodeled that there are no original interior features evident in the house. The house is thought to have a construction date in the 1920s or 1930s. Due to heavy modifications to the house, both on the exterior and the interior the house is not recommended as eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.