Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed US 1 Industrial Park Toombs County, Georgia

From 30 January - 6 February 2001, Brockington and Associates, Inc., conducted a cultural resources survey for a proposed industrial park to be located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 1 and State Route (SR) 130, approximately 0.8 km (0.5 mi) north of Lyons, Georgia (Figure 1). The City of Lyons proposes to connect the development tract to city water and sewer systems via gravity pipelines running from Lyons along U.S. Highway 1. This survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 USC 470, as amended through 1992) and regulations implementing this law (36 CFR Part 800). Cultural resource investigations consisted of background research and field survey. Background research was conducted at the State Archaeological Site Files, Athens, Georgia, and at the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta. No previously recorded archaeological resources were identified within 0.8 km (0.5 mi) of the proposed project tract. Field survey identified one archaeological resource within the project tract. Site 9TS33 is a house site situated in the middle of a fallow agricultural field. The house appears on the 1970 [revised 1985] USGS quad along with an outbuilding. Modern garbage around the outbuilding remains suggests relatively recent occupation, while artifacts such as amethyst glass suggest an early twentieth century component. At any rate, the house has been completely razed and presents no further research potential. We recommend the site not eligible for the NRHP. Background research conducted through the HPD identified no resources listed on the NRHP within 0.8 km (0.5 mi); however, one previously recorded architectural resource was located adjacent to the tract, on the east side of US Highway 1. The Coursey-Baker House (TS-18), located at the intersection of US Highway 1 and Resmondo Road (County Road [CR] 334), was recorded by Brockington and Associates, Inc. during a cultural resources survey for proposed improvements along U.S. Highway 1 (Jordan 1996). The Coursey-Baker House was recommended eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) by Jordan (1996); however, they determined that proposed highway improvements would have no adverse effect on the property. The HPD concurred with these findings. Proposed developments will likely have an adverse visual effect on the NRHP eligible Coursey-Baker house. We recommend that the project planners consult with the HPD to discuss methods that will minimize potential adverse visual effects to the Coursey-Baker House.