Dalton Observes Historic Preservation Month

Tuesday, May 17th, 2022

The City of Dalton is rich in history and links to our community's past are visible throughout the city. Preserving those links to our history is an important goal. The month of May is Historic Preservation Month and on Monday night, the Mayor and Council observed the month with a proclamation and an honor for a project that has restored for tomorrow one of those links to Dalton's yesterdays. 

At right: Mayor David Pennington shakes hands with Katrhyn Sellers as Cathy Snyder looks on after the reading of a mayoral proclamation

Mayor David Pennington proclaimed Historic Preservation Month in the City of Dalton by honoring the work of the Dalton Historic Preservation Commission. Kathryn Sellers and Cathy Snyder accepted on behalf of the commission and also made a presentation of their own. Snyder presented the commission's annual award for the 2021 Outstanding Preservation Project to Barrett Properties for their work to restore the Belk Gallant Building on Hamilton Street and convert it for use as an apartment building and mixed use space. The building was originally opened in 1941 as a Belk department store in downtown and the project restored the building's facade to look much as it did in those days. The project was in development for several years. 

Mayor Pennington's proclamation reads:

WHEREAS, the National Trust for Historic Preservation established May as Historic Preservation Month in 1973, as a way to promote historic places for the purpose of instilling community pride, promoting heritage tourism, and showing the social and economic benefits of historic preservation; and

WHEREAS, Historic Preservation helps maintain community character while enhancing livability and gives citizens a deeper understanding of their diverse heritage and a greater appreciation of our unique historic and natural resources; and

WHEREAS, Historic Preservation is an effective tool to build awareness with the concerns of neighborhood history, the city’s heritage, and the economic benefits realized by initiating improvements and restoring a community to a thriving condition.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, I, David Pennington, Mayor of the City of Dalton, Georgia hereby proclaim May 2022 as “HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH” and proudly recognize our local Historic Preservation Commission for their dedicated efforts so that historic resources in our city can be preserved for future generations.

Below: Cathy Snyder presents the 2021 Outstanding Preservation Project Award to representatives of Barrett Properties in honor of their work on the Belk Gallant building restoration on Hamilton Street