Intensive Survey of Historic Properties Navy Supply School Athens

The purpose of this project is to conduct an intensive survey for National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligible properties at the Navy Supply Corps School (NSCS) in Athens, Georgia. This survey was conducted in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (as amended) and OPNAVINST 5090.1A, Chapter 20. This survey focused on properties meeting the "50-year" rule and also buildings, structures, and sites which may have significance in the Cold War (1946-1989). The intensive architectural and historical survey of the NSCS identified 45 buildings and structures constructed from the late 19th century to the present. Seven of these properties were constructed from 1897 to 1917 on the campus of the State Normal School. This school was created in 1891 by the Georgia legislature to provide training for the state's teachers. The old Rock College campus in Athens was chosen to be the site for this school and over the next several decades over a dozen buildings were constructed. Many of these were imposing, Neo-classical style brick buildings containing classrooms, administrative offices, and dormitory space. In 1932, the administrative and teaching roles of the State Normal School were moved to the nearby University of Georgia and most buildings converted to dormitories. With the expansion of the university over the next two decades, the State Normal School buildings were no longer needed by the state and they were declared surplus property. The availability of the State Normal School site led state officials to seek other uses for this property. At the same time, a permanent site for the Navy Supply Corps School was also under consideration. Discussions were held between the Navy and the state resulting in the acquisition of the Navy's acquisition of the State Normal School campus in 1953. In addition to acquiring the existing buildings on the campus, the Navy constructed dozens of buildings over the next several decades. The NSCS is the only school in the Navy with the specific mission of training Supply Corps Officers. The Supply Corps is responsible for overseeing many of the Navy's basic needs of food service, payroll disbursement, materiel inventories and other day to day operations. As a training center the NSCS contains a variety of classrooms, dormitories, married housing units, and administrative and industrial buildings. The expansion of the NSCS resulted in the demolition of several of the original State Normal School buildings but seven buildings associated with this campus remain. Due to their architectural significance and association with the development of the Georgia educational system, all seven buildings were included in the Oglethorpe Avenue Historic District. This historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on 5 November, 1987. Included within this historic district is the Carnegie Library which was individually listed on the National Register on 11 November, 1975. With the exception of the State Normal School buildings, the rest of the NSCS property is composed of post-1953 buildings and structures. Constructed within the past fifty years, none of these properties were identified as possessing exceptional significance to meet National Register criteria. These buildings and structures were built for training and educational purposes and these types of properties are not considered to be exceptionally significant within the context of the Cold War. The buildings reflect common designs of their period of construction and none appear to possess notable or innovative architectural designs or plans of exceptional significance. In addition to the architectural inventory, a literature search and review of archaeological resources was also conducted at the NSCS. This archaeological analysis was conducted by the Atlanta firm of Garrow and Associates. This study found that one archaeological site known as the "Kissing Rock" site has been previously identified on the property. This site (9CA19) consists of a cluster of boulders along Prince Avenue on the northeastern boundary of the property. It was excavated in 1951 by William Sears, who recovered Native American pottery, lithics, and burned human remains. Because 9CA19 has been excavated, it is likely that little if any intact remains have survived. However, with modern excavation and data collection techniques, it is possible that further information may be gained from this site. Therefore, given the unique nature of this site type, the Kissing Rock site (9CA19) is recommended as potentially eligible for the NRHP; the area in and around these boulders should be protected from future construction.