A Community Partnership: Renovating the Sallie Ellis Davis House
In late 2008, Georgia College & State University President, Dorothy Leland, and Carolyn Thomas, Chair of the Sallie Ellis Davis Foundation, announced that GC would be embarking on an exciting partnership to renovate one of Milledgeville's historic homes. The Sallie Ellis Davis House was the former home of a local educator who touched the lives of hundreds of African-American children.
In October 2008, the House became one of ten sites on the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation's 2009 Places in Peril. Coinciding with this designation was Georgia College's announcement to form a partnership with the Sallie Davis Foundation – comprised of a group of the educator's former students – to renovate the House and open it as a cultural center.
This project provides Georgia College with a unique opportunity to build further the relationship between the university and the local community.
A special thank you goes to Garbutt-Christman Construction Corporation for the continued support and leadership of this project.
UPDATE - The stabilization phase of the Sallie Ellis Davis House has been completed. During this phase the inside of the house was cleaned and removed of debris, new brick piers were constructed, new steel work at the foundation was completed and the existing chimneys were removed to be rebuilt.
The focus is now on the second phase of the renovation of the house. This stage will concentrate on the roofing, foundation work, framing, exterior carpentry, the construction of the rear addition, painting, plumbing and electrical work.