How you can help

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has constantly referred to professional standards and national register standards to others while they themselves roam freely doing as they please and using none of these standards.

Right-of-way issues

The GDOT, since this project's conception, has claimed 100 feet of right-of-way along the Norfolk Southern rail line with no documentation to prove it. Land has been condemned and acquired from several tax paying, law abiding citizens with no more evidence than hear-say. In a meeting between the GDOT and the Fowlers the GDOT was asked to produce documentation of this right-of-way and could not do so. The Fowlers had their documentation in hand at the time of this meeting. The GDOT still after condemnation can produce no documentation of 100 feet, only 50 feet. This leaves 50 feet, approximately 25 feet on each side of Norfolk Southern's 50 that is still privately owned. The GDOT is proceeding as if they owned it all. Ask for documentation and proof that this issue has been resolved.

Fort Attaway's Boundary

Fort Attaway's boundary was created by a GDOT archeologist in 2001. Fort Attaway is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in three different categories of a possible five total categories yet this boundary does not reflect its National Register status. The above right-of-way issue also involves land within the National Register eligible Fort Attaway. Ask for this boundary. Ask: does it meet National Register standards?  Ask for these National Register standards to judge for yourself.

Independent Evaluation

The GDOT historian in his efforts to clear paperwork for the GDOT's road building process, has produced a very bias, opinionated and distorted historical report that in the opinion of one of their own lawyers "deliberately tries to mislead its readers." (This GDOT lawyer offers to go to court.) The Department of Natural Resources - Historic Preservation Division (DNR-HPD) has suggested several times and finally formally requesting an independent historian due to the GDOT's bias misrepresentation of this resource. The DNR-HPD describes the GDOT's efforts "as the most extensive research project ever undertaken by the GDOT," yet only one archeological report accompanied by a hand drawn cartoon-ish map of Fort Attaway was done. Ask: why was so much effort and research put forth by the GDOT to just muddy the water, when an independent archeology report accompanied by an independent historical report would solve these issues for a fraction of the cost ultimately paid for with tax payers dollars?

Project moves forward, issues unresolved

This project started about 1984, joint responsibility shared with the City of Rome, Norfolk Southern Railroad, and the Georgia Department of Transportation. The City of Rome knowing about Fort Attaway, its boundaries, its ties to Rome's history has mysteriously disappeared from this project. Norfolk Southern, whose inadequate height and width, first offered to help pay for these inadequacies to be resolved. Norfolk Southern after correcting these inadequacies no longer offer monetary assistance and like the City of Rome have mysteriously vanished from this project. The GDOT now stands alone in this endeavor and continues to spend millions of tax payer dollars compiling one unresolved issue after another. The non-resolution of these issues is the sole responsibility of the GDOT and the twenty years of tax payer funds wasted up until this time solely rest on the shoulders of the GDOT. The lack of information, and the abandonment of Rome's Civil War history at Fort Attaway solely rest on the shoulders of the City of Rome. Norfolk Southern, a private company, will receive a new bridge and two thousand feet of railroad track solely on the shoulders of tax paying citizens. Ask: why about all the above.

The Fort Attaway Preservation Society has attempted to seek answers to the above unresolved issues and many, many more unresolved issues, and have had to acquire lawyers in the field of historic preservation as well as condemnation. Public participation in pursuing truthful answers is very much needed and would be greatly appreciated. The people listed below are overseers of this issue, whether it being within their city limits, state historical preservation districts, or as for the Attorney General should be apprised of citizens concerns involving laws governing historical resources being ignored.

Produced by:
 Fort Attaway Preservation Society, Inc.
1202 Desoto Avenue, Rome, GA 30165  (706)234-0537
f_marlin@bellsouth.net