Photo courtesy of Thomasville Landmarks Inc.George Donaldson stands outside his Dewey City home, which has a new porch and porch support beam.

THOMASVILLE — George Donaldson can once again enjoy the porch where he has spent many happy times throughout his life.

Donaldson inherited his grandmother’s house. Eventually, it developed ills.

“He’s lived in the Dewey City neighborhood for basically his entire life,” said Sophia Latz, Landmarks preservation program manager.

In 2018, the front porch of Donaldson’s house was failing because of rot exacerbated by wrought iron posts. A compromised beam was replaced, iron posts were replaced with columns, and the porch is safe.

In 2017, Tabala Brundage’s Crawford Street house needed paint and soffit and fascia replaced. With help from the Thomas University’s men’s swim team and women’s softball team during Hands on Thomas County Day in 2017, Operation CARE painted Brundage’s house a lively blue and removed damaged wood.

This year Operation CARE is working with Oak Street residents Mr. and Mrs. Larry Davis, who have lived in their house for 28 years.

Mr. Davis manages Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, which is next door to his home. A Vietnam War veteran, Davis has committed his adult life to betterment of the community, Latz said.

“For the past 15 years, he has worked with Good Shepherd’s community lunch program. Every weekday from January to March, he provides lunch to the surrounding neighborhood,” said Latz. “He says this program is his ‘heart and soul.’ “

Carolyn Davis is a seamstress and nurse who has dedicated her life to helping her town and family, Latz said.

Mrs. Davis’ grandfather built the house in 1934. The structure has undergone problems, culminating in an inefficient roof and a need for updated weatherization.

In its 22nd year, Landmarks’ Operation CARE helps elderly and low-income homeowners of historic properties make necessary exterior repairs to remain safe and secure, Latz said.

Monday, April 1, is the deadline for a 2019 Operation CARE applications. Applicants must be low-income, depending on the number of people in a household, or elderly, and own the house that needs repairs.

For more information, contact Latz at 226-6016 or go to www.ThomasvilleLandmarks.org.

“The house has to be 50 years old or older,” Latz said. “Today, that would be a house built in 1969 or before. We generally do manageable fixes. Work includes painting, window repairs and replacing rotten wood, among other needs.” 

Latz said a community thrives when neighbors are safe, and families are secure. A house in poor condition with a leaking roof, rotten siding and an unsustainable energy bill, she said, is not safe or secure, and it is not a home that breeds personal success.

“Safe, sustainable housing is one of Thomasville’s most pressing needs. In the past two decades, Thomasville Landmarks’ Operation CARE program has worked to keep elderly and low-income homeowners of historic properties in their homes at no cost to them through volunteer labor and donated funds and supplies,” Latz said.

“These houses are the smaller structures that create the backbone of our community — the shotguns, the bungalows, the ranches,” she added. “They are the overwhelming majority of our historic resources, and they have been forgotten, neglected and often allowed to deteriorate to a point beyond saving.”

More than 55 families’ houses have been repaired and painted by more than 1,500 volunteers, leveraging more than $185,000 committed in grants, donations, and in-kind services to result in more than $700,000 worth of critical home improvements, said Mary Lawrence Lang, Landmarks executive director. 

“With thanks to grants, local sponsors and the sheer hard work of volunteers, we strive to ensure every house we serve – the simple, the normal and the everyday – is deserving of the same respect as the grand and the opulent,” Lang said.

Landmarks officials want to double the program’s impact during the next year. Residents can get involved by donating supplies and tools, providing meals or snacks to volunteers and making financial donations.

 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820