Continued from Pg. 13
and restore it exactly as it was
before.”
Repairing a house may seem
like a straightforward process, but
according to Steward, restoring a
structure like Hofwyl-Broadfield
requires a tremendous amount of
research and forensic study due to
the historic nature of the structure.
The workers strive to be “invisible
menders,” and if the job is done
right, you’ll never notice the
repairs.
“There are decisions that have
to be made about what period to
restore the house to, and we have
to do paint studies to determine
the formulation of paint used in
the home at the time period,” said
Steward. “You can’t buy the type
of paint that was used during
the time period the home was
constructed, so that means every
gallon of paint must be handmade
based on the formula determined
through the paint study.”
“This place is part
of Georgia’s cultural
identity, so it’s well
worth the effort
to maintain it so
future generations
can understand
the history that it
represents.”
-Geoffrey Steward, Owner, International
Fine Art Conservation Studios
From start to finish, the process is
overseen by DNR. Though it may
seem like an inordinate amount of
detail, according to Steward, the
effort is well worth it.
“Preserving historic structures
allows us to share the spaces and
environments of past generations,”
he said. “This place is part of
Georgia’s cultural identity, so it’s
well worth the effort to maintain
it so future generations can
understand the history that it
represents.”
Georgia’s history as a cotton
producing state is well known, but
many people may be unfamiliar
with the importance the rice
industry played in the state.
Hofwyl-Broadfield is one of the
last remnants of the rice plantation
industry that flourished in coastal
Georgia, but its success was a
direct result of the back-breaking
work done by a slave labor force
until the Civil War. Its preservation
allows it to serve as a reminder of
both the good and bad of Georgia's
history, and how far we have come
as a state, and a society.
Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation
is open to the public for tours
Wednesday through Sunday
each week. For more information
about the plantation, visit
http://gastateparks.org/
HofwylBroadfieldPlantation.
Tommy Turk, Regional Manager with DNR Parks and Historic Sites Division inspects
the water damage caused by Hurricane Irma to the entryway of the Hofwyl-
Broadfield Plantation house in Brunswick. Photo by Lisa Rodriguez-Presley.
Furnishings and art objects
dating back to the 1790’s
are displayed throughout
the home at Hofwyl-
Broadfield Plantation.
The artwork in particular,
which consists of original
oil paintings of generations
of the property’s owners is
irreplacable. Photo by Lisa
Rodriguez-Presley.
Centuries-old life aak trees inhabit the property. Their survival was a concern during Hurricane Irma. Photo by Lisa Rodriguez-Presley.
14
DISPATCH