Built in 1941, this small bakery building in Richmond Hill was originally constructed by automobile magnate Henry Ford for use by the surrounding community, many of whom were employees of Ford's varied Georgia agricultural pursuits. Remembered fondly by many, the building is a local landmark. 

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At the start of the project, the building was in disrepair and in danger of demolition following many years of drainage problems and rising damp. After being covered with vinyl siding for many years, the building's original clapboard siding and wood framing has suffered significant rot and damage. Further, the site is sloped, leaving pooling water to accumulate at the building's edges. As a result, the City of Richmond Hill purchased the building, with a plan to put the Henry Ford story and historic preservation on display.

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Partnering with Landmark Preservation, the project team set out to design a sensitive historic rehabilitation that retained as much original historic material as possible while adding modern amenities needed for use by the future tenant, the Richmond Hill Convention & Visitors Bureau. Further, a partnership with Arts on the Coast led to the creation of a working and exhibit space for this secondary tenant.

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Work completed by Lominack Kolman Smith included complete building documentation, rehabilitation design plans, engineering coordination, client and stakeholder consultation, construction administration, and interiors consultation.

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Our office is also assisted in the development of a historic district ordinance for the City of Richmond Hill and the completion of a historic resources survey within the city limits. With representatives from the Convention and Visitors Bureau, City of Richmond Hill, Historical Society of Richmond Hill, Downtown Development Authority, and Arts on the Coast, a team of community leaders have been essential to project success.

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Now open for business, the project won a Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Award in 2019.