Feds: Dobbins Mine Eligible for National Register of Historic Places
The Keeper of the National Register ruled the Cartersville site in the path of the proposed U.S. 411 Connector is significant due to its archaeological features and role in manganese ore production.
Coalition for the Right Road reps say Dobbins Mine's eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places likely will require the Georgia Department of Transportation to select another route for the proposed U.S. 411 Connector.
The mine on land owned by a Rollins-family company is in the path of Route DV-E, GDOT’s selection for the proposed U.S. 411 Connector. The four-lane highway through Cartersville would connect U.S. 411 at U.S. 41 toward Rome with Interstate 75 near Highway 20.
Although not likely to provide researchers with new information, Dobbins Mine is the oldest and once was the most productive manganese mine in Georgia, according to the notification of eligibility provided to Cartersville Patch by the public relations firm representing CORR and attached to this article. The mine was used heavily during World War I and World War II.
While the U.S. Department of the Interior determined Guyton Ore Bank is ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places, it says Dobbins Mine could be included due to its archaeological features.
"The historic resources associated with historic mining along Dobbins Mountain constitute a mining landscape historic district eligible for listing in the National Register...for its association with late 19th and early 20th century mining operations and for the role this area played in producing large quantities of manganese ore for the manufacture of steel," according to the letter signed by the Keeper of the National Register.
It says an application for inclusion in the register is required, and the determination that Dobbins Mine is eligible for it "assures that the values that make [the mine] significant are considered in the planning of projects in which the federal government is involved."
Since the feds have granted funding for GDOT to build a 411 Connector, the final decision on Route DV-E would come from the Federal Highway Administration, the letter says.
The Rollins family, which now leads CORR, have opposed Route D for years and filed a 1993 lawsuit that sent GDOT back to work evaluating other routes. GDOT later proposed Route D-VE, which also would run through Dobbins Mountain.
Previous developments in the most recent battle over the route include:
- GDOT Rep: Route D-VE Still the Plan
- State Certifies Dobbins Mountain Wildlife Refuge
- GDOT Awaits Testing, Reviews
- GDOT Rep: No Plans to Change from Route D-VE
- GDOT To Announce Route Change?
- 411 Battle on Environmental Issues Continues
- Updated: GDOT Looks Further Into Routes
- Land Trust to Help Euharlee with Easement
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In This article
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Georgia Department of Transportation
500 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy SE, Cartersville, GA -
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wyle jones
12:03 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
WAKE UP BARTOW COUNTY START A LETTER BLITZ TO YOUR OFFICALS IN GA. AND D.C. HOW LONG WILL YOU LET ONE FAMILY CONTROL YOU. THEY POWER SEEMS TO REACH EVEN TO WASH.D.C.IF THE LAND WAS OWNED BY JOE CITIZEN IT WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONDEMNED AND THE ROAD BUILT. DID I SAY WAKE UP AND TAKE BACK YOUR COUNTY.THEY DON`T EVEN LIVE THERE.
String Bean
2:05 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Amen George! The Rollins family have stalled this project for decades. If they are successful in finally forcing a reroute, then I think Bartow County should use emminent domain to take the entire 1400 acres and turn it into a county park.
Diana Taylor
4:45 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Some of us don't want highways and housing developmet to continue to decrease the green areas of our county. I have stood by and watched the pastures and farm land of Bartow county disappear. Shame on me for standing silently by and watch it go. I used to sit in my dinning room and watch the cows and horses . Now I watch a thrown up subdivision fall apart. More green less concert.!!
Katherine M
5:29 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Diana the answer is simple. If you want to stop progress then buy the land yourself and let it sit empty. Otherwise if a property owner wants to build a home, business, etc, it's none of your business.
Diana Taylor
11:12 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Katherine, They are trying to force the owner of Dobbins Mountain to put a 4 lane highway threw HIS property. The OWNER doesn't want too. You're right its his property he should do with it as he wants. But if the OWNER wants my support, he has it. As a life time resident of Bartow County I feel we should preserve what we can of our heritage and not concrete over everything. Treasure our wild life ,beautiful mountain views , we can't go back and put them back , once they are gone, they are gone forever.
Steve Lewis
7:38 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Eminent domain is absolutely allowed in the U.S. Constitution. It's not some recent scheme designed to deprive citizens of their property rights. Our forefathers were smart enough to include the provision. It doesn't matter if you are against the concept- it's the law! This mine sounds interesting. It should be converted to a public park and the highway paved (not obtrusively) through or nearby so a view of the mine can be enjoyed by all. After similar infighting, a compromise was forged when the Freedom Parkway was approved and built in Atlanta.
wyle jones
2:06 pm on Saturday, August 4, 2012
E.D. has now been granted to companys that want to take anyones land to build a new bldg. on. where has our rights gone? up the creek without a paddle.
Diana Taylor
11:18 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Steve , why do you feel we need this road threw Dobbins Mountain ? Do you feel another route is unavailabe? Were do you prepose that we relocate all the animals that call this mountain home? Our local wild life struggles to find a place to live amoungst all our progress now!
Katherine M
11:33 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
If these nuts supporting Rollins had their way we would have no roads thru the Smoky Mountains... no Blue Ridge Parkway... no road from Cherokee to Gatlinburg. I bet every almost single one of you have enjoyed those roads many times.
Diana Taylor
11:59 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Larry you are so right, what a unique idea! I think I am the one mentioned who is not minding my own bussiness, you must be the one thats nuts. I sure needed that laugh today, Katherine , thank you for brightening my day