Archeological and Historical Investigations of the Proposed Riverwalk Project, Columbus, Georgia

Archival and archeological research were conducted for the proposed Riverwalk Project to be located along the Chattahoochee River in downtown Columbus, Georgia. These investigations were conducted for Jordan, Jones and Goulding, Inc., Project Engineers. Proposed project plans call for the construction of a sewer line and a walkway to parallel the river starting at 12th Street and extending south to the old City Wharf near 8th street. The project will be restricted almost entirely to the slope between the river's edge and the top of the bluff that overlooks the river. The project is close to, but not in, the Columbus Historic Riverbank Industrial District, and the southern portion of the project area is in the northwest comer of the downtown Columbus Historic District. Archival research examined two birds-eye views of Columbus (1872 and 1886), the series of Sanborn Insurance Maps starting in 1885, historical works on the industrial development of the area along the Chattahoochee River, and coring data associated with the project. We conclude that the project area, which is mostly restricted to a 30 m (100 ft) wide corridor along the river's edge, has been substantially altered and in-filled during the twentieth century, and never contained significant historic structures, other than possible bridge piers. During the nineteenth century, the bank was undeveloped and sloping. One portion of a brick wall or pier, probably related to 1850s repairs of an 1840s covered bridge built by Horace King and John Godwin is located underneath the Dillingham Street bridge. The brick wall and the location of the 1840s bridge (which is now the location of the 1907 Dillingham Street Bridge) is considered an archeological site and has been assigned the site number 9Me288. While associated with a famous bridge builder, we conclude that this fragmentary remnant of the former bridge does not possess sufficient integrity to warrant inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Likewise, it cannot be considered a contributing structure to either of the two Historic Districts. In addition, the wall is about 15 m (50 ft) from the proposed pipeline and will not be affected by project construction. It is our recommendation that 9Me288 is not eligible to the National Register of Historic Places, that the proposed sewer line and walkway will not impact any significant cultural resources, and that, in regard to cultural resources, the project be granted clearance to proceed. In response to the draft version of this report (August 29, 1991) the Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, concurred with our recommendations, but the State Historic Preservation Office did not concur, feeling that the brick feature was eligible to the National Register at the local level of significance under criteria c and d. Thus, at present the eligibility status of the site is unknown. Regardless of eligibility status, we recommend that the site (in particular the brick wall/pier) be preserved and protected. Toward this end a management plan to insure both short term (during construction) and long term protection of the brick feature is submitted herein as Appendix B. If this management plan is implemented, the brickwork at 9Me288 will not be impacted by the project.