HAHIRA, Ga. (WTXL) - Many cities and towns embrace the motto "out with the old, in with the new" but in Hahira, a quick trip downtown will take you back to the early 20th century.
A local architect, Walter Altman of Altman & Barrett Architects, explained the origin of some the buildings, "With the government buildings you know to the court house, city hall, the Georgian style, traditional to South Georgia and North Florida."
The city's early settlers maximized their resources and adapted the architecture to suit their needs at the time.
Altman explains, "How did they live in it because it's so hot? They were designed so the air would flow through it. The walls were thick masonry and retained cooler air on the inside, wide open ceilings for good air movement and those things still work like a charm today. "
The oldest buildings are the closest to the railroad track, including a post office and early department store, also known as the Stanfill building, "You saw mercantile stores come later. Where there were residential on the top floor and the bottom floor was used for business," said Altman.
Most of the buildings are currently in disrepair, but Altman & Barrett Architects are working on ways to combine classic structures with modern day life, starting with their own office, which used to be a pharmacy, "When we take a structure, we try to go back and retain that essence. we've maintained the tin ceilings, the brick walls. we saved everything we could and mixed in the new with the technology and things to suit our business needs."
The city tries to preserve its buildings by giving them new uses. The Old Smith Hospital is now home to Hahira's Historical Society and the original Gold Leaf Hotel is now an apartment building.
