The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation (GTHP) has awarded a major matching grant to Georgia Writers Museum (GWM) for historic preservation through its Callahan Incentive and the 1772 Foundation Grant programs.
Georgia Trust staff reviewed grant applications and selected 13 projects based on criteria including organizational capacity, realistic budget, community support, and immediacy of need.
“These grants reflect the Georgia Trust’s unwavering commitment to preserving the historic places that define our communities and tell Georgia’s diverse stories,” GTHP President and CEO W. Wright Mitchell said.
In Spring 2024, GWM launched a capital campaign to raise funds for the comprehensive renovation and restoration of its historic building in downtown Eatonton. Renovations to the interior infrastructure were completed this summer, with assistance from the Georgia Council for the Arts’ Cultural Facilities grant, the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, the Watson Brown Foundation’s Junior Board, and private donors.
Next steps include a build-out of new permanent exhibits and restoration of the building’s historic façade. Planned renovations include repairing brick and masonry, full-paint restoration, restoring safe and accessible entryways, and reopening windows currently encased in cement blocks and bricks. Funding for the façade is critical to preserve the historical integrity of the building itself, while simultaneously providing safer access to GWM.
County archives date the GWM building to an 1841 sheriff’s auction, 38 years prior to Eatonton being incorporated. Little more is recorded until the early 20th century, when Chandler’s Five-and-Dime Store, which occupied the original space, advertised promotions in The Eatonton Messenger, such as: “Chandler to give a valuable prize in Xmas Writing Contest.” (Today, GWM continues the tradition of encouraging children to write and send letters to Santa on special stationery when visiting the museum.)
Georgia Writers Museum opened in 2014, initially renting the subdivided space at 109 S. Jefferson Ave. In 2019, GWM purchased 109, 111, and 113, bringing the original Chandler property back under one owner. At that time, the building’s only remaining historic element was the nearly 200-year-old exterior walls.
“We are committed to historical integrity and efforts that honor the remarkable legacy of the city of Eatonton,” GWM Executive Director Melisssa Swindell said. “And the Georgia Trust has been a valuable partner in supporting our mutual goals.”
Restoration is already underway.
—Contributed