What do a 19th-century tabby landmark, CGHS’s archaeology lab, and a statewide preservation award have in common?
If you’re thinking of the Adam Strain Building in Darien, Georgia, you’re right.
It’s hard to believe it’s been six months since the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation held its annual Spring Ramble in our region, where preservationists, historians, and community advocates gathered to celebrate some of the state’s most important preservation success stories. Among the highlights during the Ramble was the prestigious Marguerite Williams Award, presented to the Savics for their preservation of the Adam Strain Building, which is today the Tabby House Brewing Company.
This is a big deal.
The Marguerite Williams Award is the highest honor the Trust gives, recognizing a project of exceptional merit in restoring or protecting a historic place. The Adam Strain Building, a 19th-century two-story tabby structure and historic landmark, certainly fits that bill.
And guess what? Our Society played a role.
Before I started working for CGHS, Dr. Nicholas Honerkamp, Myrna Crook, Carolyn Rock, James Morgan, and many other dedicated volunteers were already out there, trowels in hand, helping uncover and document the Stain building’s past. Their excavations unearthed insights into Darian’s historic waterfront, providing a foundation for understanding how the landscape and building developed over time, and why it matters.
But it doesn’t stop there.
Today, our archaeology lab houses the artifacts recovered from those excavations. We’re grateful for the Savics to allow CGHS to curate their artifacts in trust, and their recognition that it’s not just about saving buildings but also understanding and sharing the past through the careful and meticulous documentation of material remains through archaeology.
And thanks to the tireless efforts of the Savics, Myrna Crook, Wyck DeLong, Janis Rodriguez, and many others, there’s something everyone can experience: the Tabby House Brewing Company’s archaeology exhibit. I was glad to be part of the team that created it. This engaging exhibit showcases findings from the excavations, from Native American pottery and lithics to Euro-American ceramics, tools, personal objects, letters, as well as business receipts.
