Historic Augusta added to its Endangered Properties list Tuesday at a press conference at the old Academy of Richmond County building.
This year four new properties were highlighted including the Modjeska Theater, 813 Broad St.; Tubman Home Cottage, 2340 Milledgeville Rd.; Sibley Mill Tenement housing 1901 Broad St.; and Heavenly Bound Church of God in Christ, 1005 Druid Park Ave.
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The first Modjeska was destroyed by the 1916 Fire, and the current building was erected later that year. It was designed by G. Lloyd Preacher. It served as a theater until 1977. It was rehabbed in the 1980s, but it closed in 2015, according to Robert Mauldin, Historic Augusta Preservation committee chairman.
The Tubman home is the last of eight cottages that were built in 1907 as homes for the indigent. They served that purpose until 1972. It’s been used by the YMCA and is managed by the Trustees of the Academy of Richmond County, Mauldin said.
The Sibley Mill Tenement Housing was built in 1882 to provide homes for Sibley Mill workers. There are several buildings in the area near the Kroc Center that have been used over the years as apartments, but they are currently vacant. Their owner is not local and doesn’t have a stake in the community, he said.
The Heavenly Bound Church of God in Christ’s was built in 1925. It was constructed by members of a breakaway group from Curtis Baptist Church. It’s been used by multiple congregations over the years.
According to Historic Augusta executive director Erick Montgomery, this is the 17th year the organization has highlighted properties in an effort to draw attention to and hopefully gain resources for sites with historic significance and keep them from being lost.
With the four new sites, the list total rises to 92. Of those, 31 have been saved; 15 lost and the others are “somewhere in the middle.”
“One listed last year we are in today,” said Montgomery of the old Academy of Richmond County.
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The former school that spent many years as a museum is more than two centuries old, and while it is not in danger of the wrecking ball, it does need a permanent or long-term occupant to preserve its history for generations to come, Montgomery said.
“There have been quite a bit of upgrades including painting and electrical,” he said.
The only caveat for the tenant wanting to utilize the space is any program must have an educational or nonprofit tie to it.
Other structures Montgomery highlighted include the Cumming Grove Baptist Church in Sand Hills which was listed in 2020 and was torn down by the Augusta Country Club earlier this year. It’s now a parking lot. The Thomas-Clay House, also known as Cloister Garth, on Milledge Road was in 2022 and was purchased earlier this year by a family who wants to rehab it.
The old Congregation Children of Israel Synagogue at 525 Telfair St. was listed in 2014 and is deemed as having progress made.
Montgomery made the distinction that this structure is the oldest synagogue in Georgia. He said that Savannahians were up in arms when that distinction was first made, but “they have the oldest Jewish congregation; we have the oldest building.”
When it comes to competing with Savannah’s history, “we take what we can get,” he said.
While the actual synagogue has not been rehabbed yet, it is part of the Augusta Jewish Museum’s future phases. The organization has already refurbished and is using the space next door.
The Dr. S.S. Johnson House at 1420 Twiggs St. has been moved to the saved list. It was first listed in 2009 and has been turned into two apartments.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
