Cultural Resources Survey of the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport Study Area

From March 20 through April 3, 2009, Brockington and Associates, Inc. conducted Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport in Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia (Figure 1.1). This survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended). The 160-acre project area consists of two tracts, one partially developed 80-acre tract {the north tract) and one undeveloped but partially disturbed 80-acre tract {the south tract). The survey was conducted to determine if cultural resources are located within the project Area of Potential Effects (APE). The project APE consists of the project area and the project viewshed, which in some areas extends up to 0.5 mile (0.8 Km). This project was conducted in preparation for the construction of a new airport passenger terminal building which would be located on the north or the south project tracts. If the north tract is chosen the passenger terminal building would be located immediately west of the existing terminal building. If the south project tract is chosen the terminal would be located in the south central or north central portion of the tract. However, the northern tract is the preferred location for the new passenger terminal

The cultural resources survey consisted of both background research and fieldwork. Background research focused on documenting previously recorded archaeological and architectural resources within the project APE. Research was conducted at the Georgia Historic Preservation Division (HPD) in Atlanta, the Georgia Archaeological Site File in Athens, the Dougherty County Tax Assessors Office, and the Dougherty County Public Library, Main Branch, Albany, Georgia.

At the HPD, the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) files and Dougherty County survey file were reviewed to determine if any NRHP eligible, nominated or listed resources are within the project APE. At the Dougherty County Public Library, main branch county histories, and cemetery records were reviewed The Georgia Natural, Archaeological. and Historic Resources GIS (NAHRGIS) database was also reviewed to determine if any previously recorded archaeological sites are located within the project APE. At the Georgia Archaeological Site File, survey reports associated with previous archaeological investigations in and near the project area were reviewed

Background research revealed that there are no previously recorded NRHP eligible, nominated, or listed buildings, structures, or objects in the project APE. However, there is one previously recorded archaeological site within the project area, 9DU40, a prehistoric artifact scatter. This site is recommended eligible for the NRHP {Figure 1.2, Table I.I). There are also six previously recorded archaeological sites located within one mile (1.6 km) of the project area but outside the project APE. Five of these sites are prehistoric lithic scatters and one site is a historic and prehistoric artifact scatter. Five of these sites have unknown NRHP eligibility and one is recommended not eligible for the NRHP (Figure 1.3, Table I.I).

During the cultural resources field survey we encountered the NRHP eligible archaeological Site 9DU40 and e Southwest Georgia Regional Airport complex was surveyed. No additional archaeologicalsites were identified in the project area. However, a portion of the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport complex is over 50 years old and is recommended eligible for the NRHP. The eligible portion of the complex, designated DU-SWR-1, consists of three large hangars constructed in the 1930s. Just prior to and during World War II, the airport facility was part of Darr Aero Tech, a military flight training school for American and British cadets After the war, the facility returned to civilian use and has become an important commercial air facility for Albany and the southwest Georgia region.

It should be noted that if the preferred location for the proposed terminal building in the north project tract is chosen, the existing passenger terminal building would be demolished after the completion of the new passenger terminal. However, while the existing passenger terminal building is over 50 years old (constructed 1958-1959) it has lost integrity due to numerous non-historic alterations and additions, and is recommended not eligible for the NRHP. Therefore, it should not be considered a contributing element to the DU-SWR-1 complex.

In addition, we identified 12 previously unrecorded architectural resources outside the project tract but within the project APE. These resources are early twentieth century bungalows, an early twentieth century general store building, and mid-twentieth century Ranch Houses. Four of these resources are recommended eligible for the NRHP. There is also one mid-to-late- twentieth century cemetery located north of the project area and the airport property. This resource is recommended eligible for the NRHP (Figure 1.2, Table 1.1).

Avoidance of Site 9DU40 is recommended. If avoidance is not possible then an ''Assessment of Effects" document should be prepared and a mitigation plan developed. In addition, avoidance ofDU-SWR-1, the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport complex is recommended. If avoidance is not possible then an “Assessment of Effects" document should be prepared. While visual effects to NRHP eligible resources in the project viewshed are possible, a more thorough assessment can take place once plans for the terminal building and its location are further developed.