Donation protected
The goal of this project is to protect and preserve an important part of history and community in Madison County, Georgia.
Threlkeld Grocery is located in the Paoli community of Carlton, Georgia. The general store at this location dates back to the 1850s with the current structure being built in 1910. It was the heart of the local community until the late 1970s, serving as a post office in the early years, a grocery store and a service station. Can you imagine how important it was as a post office during the civil war with families waiting for news from the soldiers? There is so much history in this little store!
We purchased the property including the store and the neighboring home in 2019. In 2020 we engaged the Historic Preservation department at the University of Georgia to assess the physical condition of Threlkeld Grocery and provide recommendations for rehabilitation (listed below). The property is a contributing structure in the Paoli Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
Since then many people have stopped by to introduce themselves and share stories and memories of Threlkeld Grocery. It has been a joy to hear what an important part of the community this little store was through the years. It has a rich history dating back to the 1850s and has been a seat of the Paoli and Madison County community through many historic events.
We would like to not only preserve the building for historic posterity, but hopefully restore it for potential use that would benefit the community in some way. Below are the recommendations from the UGA preservation team.
All monies contributed here will be used to repair and restore the general store as much as possible. We hope those that are interested will not only donate, but also share stories here to be collected and kept with the store. And please stop by sometime, we would love to meet you! I hope you will consider helping us #SAVETHESTORE !
Sincerely,
Chris and Shannon Scheels
Follow our progress on Facebook - CLICK HERE
Post with interior photos of the store: - CLICK HERE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRESERVATION
Immediate Threats
- Remove vegetation that is within two feet of the building to prevent further water damage, vegetation stains, and potential mechanical damage.
- Rebuild porch.
- Replace north elevation wall including fiberboard gable wall to match original boards.
- Replace wood boards on original gable wall that are compromised. This will ensure no further intrusions from the elements to the roof structure.
- Remove items and debris from interior rooms. While this is not an immediate threat, further work cannot be completed unless rooms are cleared.
- Repair fire and water damage at southeastern corner. Compromised boards should be replaced along wall and floor structure. Replacement and removal of exposure to the outside will reduce the chances of further damage.
- Removing the salt from contact with the wood floor structure will remove the chances for further salt defibration damage. If desired, salt can be placed inside replacement wood container as it was used in the historic use of the building.
- Remove owl nest from roof structure. Recommend that a temporary owl barn is placed near the structure to encourage safe relocation of the bird.
- Repair fire and water damage at southeastern corner. Replace roof lath and joists that have been compromised. Included is replacing or covering the exposure the room below. This will ensure no further water damage to the interior roof structure and the room below.
LONG-TERM CONSERVATION
Structure
- Add stone pier under the unsupported scarf joint on the southwest side of the structure.
- Raise structure as needed to level. At this time, examine the rear structure to assess damage. Repair and replace portions of the sill and studs as necessary using epoxy or a dutchman.
- Add concrete footings extending one foot below piers.
- Replace concrete block piers and wooden posts with stone piers that are approximately 1’4” by 2’.
- Repair and reinforce existing stone piers with similar stone.
- Replace back girder under room 102 and replace or sister floor joists under room 102.
- If the building will be used for a commercial or public use, reinforce existing floor joists. This can be done by adding additional joists in between existing joists so that there is no more than 12 inches between each joist or install mid-span support beams on each side of the girder. Mid-span support beams will be a less expensive option.
- Remove termite damage on western sill and front porch sill. If a substantial amount of wood remains, you may epoxy the remaining wood. If a substantial part of the wood must be removed, that section may be removed and replaced with a dutchman. For prevention in the future, a copper barrier can be added between masonry piers and wood sill and monitored annually.
- Repair and replace studs and sill affected by fire damage in southeast corner of building.
- Expand ceiling hatch along north wall and install permanent ladder for roof access.
- Assess ceiling joists and structure after recommendations for the foundation have been addressed.
Exterior
- Repair and replace rotted and missing clapboards. If rot on a board is not extensive, the rot can be scraped out. After allowing the remaining wood to dry, a coat of oil-based paint can be applied to stop further rot. Then, epoxy can be used to fill in remaining areas. Where board rot is extensive, a section of the board can be removed and a dutchman added.
- Clean remaining clapboards. Cleaning for areas of Class I paint damage (e.g. cobwebs and dirt) can be done with a light spray from a garden hose or diluted household detergent and a soft-bristled brush for resistant stains. Cleaning Class II paint damage (e.g. vegetation, rust stains, and crazing) can be done with a water and alcohol solution. Each of these cleaning methodologies is described in National Park Service Preservation Brief 10 in the bibliography.
- Remove items from under structure.
- Remove and reinstall granite steps after pouring proper concrete foundation.
- Replace porch. New posts should be wooden columns, as the ca. 1960s photograph shows. The shape of the columns in approximately 5” square and should be chamfered, like the interior columns in room 101. The porch will also require new stone piers with concrete footings.
- Reopen the rear windows. Sash may still be existing. This would make room 102 much more usable.
- Repaint Threlkeld sign as in ca. 1970s photograph.
- Repair porch benches.
- Add appropriate steps to side doors.
Interior
- Remove and clean animal debris from attic. This will ensure no further damage to original wood.
- Contract an electrician to assess the electrical work in the building. It is recommended that historic electrical work be removed, and new wiring installed. The extent of the wiring depends on the future use of the building. The building could benefit from lighting in both rooms regardless of use.
- Remove carpet covering to reveal original flooring. Assess linoleum coverings and determine if they need to be removed. Outside of compromised areas, the original floor can still be used. Removing these floor covering will allow further inspection of the floor.
- Assess original items reported in the interior such as the original counters and display cases. Restoring and keeping these items with the building maintains historic fabric.
Organiser
Shannon Scheels
Organiser
Carlton, GA