Nat'l Trust Announces Preservation Awards: Pentagon, Hermitage, Hartford Courant, Honorable John F. Seiberling Among Recipients

9/24/2002

From: Katie Callahan of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, 202-588-6141; Web site: http://www.nationaltrust.org

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced today the recipients of the prestigious National Preservation Awards, which will be presented on Oct. 10 at the National Preservation Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, that runs from Oct. 8 -13. The National Preservation Honor Awards are bestowed on distinguished individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and corporations whose skill and determination have given new meaning to their communities through preservation of our architectural and cultural heritage.

"The awards celebrate the many layers and facets of America's heritage," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust. "They tell about cities, suburbs, and countryside where the real soul of the nation resides. Many of the winners overcame staggering adversity with unswerving faith in their vision. Through their tireless work, these winners make sure that America's story is told in all its exuberance and drama and diversity - that's what historic preservation is all about. They prove that it's good for business, it changes lives, it is good public policy, and it lays a strong foundation for the future."

The National Trust's highest honor, the Louise Du Pont Crowninshield Award, will be presented to former Congressman John F. Seiberling for his profound impact on the effort to enrich the future by saving the best of the past. From the time he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1970, he served as the voice of historic preservation in Congress, playing a leading role in several of the most important pieces of preservation legislation ever enacted including of the first federal tax credit for rehabilitating historic buildings. In 1976 he helped create the Historic Preservation Fund, authorizing $150 million annually (LAW1)for preservation grants to states and communities. Now retired from Congress and living in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, he has worked successfully to open the historic Seiberling estate, Stan Hywet Hall, to the public.

The National Preservation Honor Awards recognize efforts that include citizen attempts to save and maintain important landmarks; companies and craftsmen whose work restores the richness of the past; the vision of public officials who support preservation projects and legislation in their communities; and educators and journalists who help Americans understand the value of preservation.

This year, the National Trust will pay special tribute to the Phoenix Project that restored the Pentagon in a manner consistent with its status as a National Historic Landmark following the terrorist attack. The trust will also honor The Hartford Courant for its role as a civic leader in the discussion of preservation. The Hartford Courant's editorials, feature stories and public symposia have played a leadership role in stimulating awareness and discussion about the need for good urban design and the importance of preserving Hartford's historic resources. The Courant is only the second newspaper to receive this honor. The Ladies' Hermitage Association will be honored for their commitment to preservation and good stewardship of an important National Historic Landmark, The Hermitage, President Andrew Jackson's home outside Nashville. They demonstrated the best in preservation practices while meticulously researching and restoring the landscape to its original appearance following a devastating tornado in 1998.

Media interested in attending the conference should call 202-588-6141 as soon as possible. Registration is free to the media, as are the Honor Awards Ceremony, field sessions, educational sessions, and special events. For information and images of the 2002 Preservation Award winners, visit www.nationaltrust.org.

The National Preservation Award Winners:

LOUISE DU PONT CROWNINSHIELD AWARD: Honorable John F. Seiberling, Akron, Ohio For his tireless leadership both in his private life and public service as a member of Congress and for his role in shaping many of the most important pieces of preservation legislation ever enacted.

John H. Chafee Trustees' Award For Outstanding Achievement In Public Policy: Kentucky Transportation Historic Preservation Partnership, Frankport, Kentucky - This pioneering partnership linked transportation policy decisions with historic preservation, economic development and community revitalization. An outgrowth of the federal ISTEA and TEA-21 legislation, the Kentucky transportation enhancements program is a model for all states.

National Trust/HUD Secretary's Award For Excellence In Historic Preservation: Hamilton Hotel, Laredo, Texas - The historic Hamilton Hotel has been preserved and transformed into apartments for low-income elderly residents, demonstrating again that preservation is an effective tool for creating affordable housing and community revitalization.

Trustee Emeritus Award For Excellence In The Stewardship Of Historic Sites: Ladies' Hermitage Association, Nashville, Tennessee - Since 1889, the Ladies' Hermitage Association has served as the dutiful steward of The Hermitage, President Andrew Jackson's beloved home outside Nashville, but nothing has tested their endurance more than the painstaking landscape restoration following a tornado in 1998. They demonstrated the best in preservation practices while meticulously researching and restoring the landscape to its original appearance.

Trustees' Award For Organizational Excellence: Waterfront Historic Area League, New Bedford, Mass.- The Waterfront Historic Area League has put New Bedford in the forefront of communities that are building their future while maintaining their historic fabric. For 40 years, WHALE has worked to establish historic preservation as the primary engine for downtown economic revitalization.

National Trust/Advisory Council Award For Federal Partnerships In Historic Preservation: Raising the Hunley, Charleston, S.C. - The first successful submarine used in battle, the Confederate vessel H.L. Hunley, was raised to the surface after 136 years on ocean floor. Thanks to an unprecedented collaboration among federal and state agencies, private-sector organizations, corporations and individuals, this important historic resource has been saved for future generations.

Special 2002 National Preservation Award

Pentagon Phoenix Project, Washington, D.C. - The Pentagon is a building of great significance in American history and architecture. The building and the people within it were tested by the terrorist attacks. Out of this tragedy was born the Phoenix Project, an extraordinary effort to restore the Pentagon in a manner consistent with its status as a National Historic Landmark. Using materials, design and craftsmanship that matched the original construction, the rebuilding of the damaged wing was an exemplary effort by the Department of Defense to honor its past by preserving the building that is a world-famous symbol of the nation.

The National Preservation Honor Award Winners:

-- Central Synagogue, New York, N.Y. - In 1998, New York City's oldest continuously active synagogue was a fire-gutted shell. While the ashes were still cooling, the congregation made the decision to stay in the City and began raising funds for restoration. The original architect's drawings and photographs guided a meticulous re-creation of the interior details. The finished product is a 19th-century building that meets 21st-century needs.

-- Coronado Theatre, Rockford, Ill. - In 1927, the people of Rockford celebrated the opening of the Coronado Theatre. Seventy-five years later, The City of Rockford, with the help of local supporters, turned a beautiful theatre into a premier facility that has sparked significant reinvestment in the downtown area.

-- Fillmore County Courthouse, Geneva, Neb. - The people of Fillmore County faced a tough decision: to build a new courthouse or renovate the existing landmark, which had deteriorated over the years. In the end, the people voted to save the courthouse with a 3-to-1 vote margin to fund restoration. Rehabilitation cost $5 million less than construction of a new courthouse, making this project a model for other communities. The citizens saved more than dollars - they saved a piece of their heritage and a downtown anchor.

-- The Hartford Courant, Hartford, Conn. - The Hartford Courant's editorials, feature stories and public symposia have played a leadership role in educating the public about the need for good urban design and the importance of preserving Hartford's historic resources. Most recently, the paper has advocated saving the 1957 Wilde Building; a milestones in the International Style of modern architecture, finding a viable reuse for the Colt Armory; creating and preserving downtown housing; and ensuring continued funding for the Connecticut Historical Commission.

-- Historic Columbia River Highway, Ore. -- Eighty years after it opened and almost 50 years after it was abandoned, a partnership among state and federal agencies and private citizens has worked to restore and enhance this section of America's first scenic highway for all to enjoy by incorporating biking and hiking trails while restoring historic stone and wooden guardrails.

-- Hyatt Regency Grand Arcade, Cleveland, Ohio - Built in 1890, the Arcade, a National Historic Landmark, is a showcase of yesterday's engineering daring and today's preservation craftsmanship. Once one of the city's most prestigious commercial addresses, the Arcade suffered through years of decline, but now it has been reborn as a dazzling hotel.

-- Inn on Ferry Street, Detroit, Mich. - The Inn stands as a prime example of adaptive re-use as it blends turn-of-the-century charm in four large Victorian houses and two carriage houses with modern-day amenities and conference facilities. This unique inn serves visitors to a nearby university, medical center and cultural institutions and helped revitalize a neighborhood.

-- Kwan Tai Temple, Mendocino, Calif. - Built in 1854, Mendocino's modest Kwan Tai Temple is the last intact Chinese Joss House on the Pacific North coast. By 1997, age and weather had left the wooden building in such bad condition that it closed. Determined not to lose this unique piece of their town's past, the local community rallied to save the temple. The restored Kwan Tai Temple celebrates the power of community.

-- Lowell, Mass. - In Lowell, a successful public/private partnership has shown how preservation can be a key to downtown economic revitalization. Lowell now hosts more than 600,000 annual visitors who come to learn about the mills and workers that made the city a 19th-century industrial powerhouse. Lowell's efforts tell an important part of America's story, in a vibrant 21st Century community.

-- Revitalization of the Argenta Historic District, North Little Rock, Ark. - In the 1990s, crime and decay threatened the century-old Argenta community. Property owners used preservation tools to launch a housing renovation program and formed the Argenta Community Development Corporation in 1992. Over the past decade, with the support of city government, they have renovated 69 properties. With funding from HUD, 90 percent of the properties are affordable for purchase or rent by low- to moderate-income families.

-- Rhode Island Statehouse, Providence, RI - Designed by famed architects McKim, Mead & White, Rhode Island's statehouse has been returned to its original glory following a 10-year, $17 million restoration. Restoration of the marble involved reopening the original quarry - an example of the high standards of research and craftsman-ship that characterized this project. A proud symbol of democratic government, the restored statehouse also testifies to the good stewardship of the legislators who work here - and the citizens to whom it belongs.

-- Socialist Labor Party Hall, Barre, Vt. - Built in 1900, the Socialist Labor Party Hall served as store, school and social center for generations of workingmen and their families. When the building closed in 1994, boxes of irreplaceable documents and photographs were hauled to the landfill, sparking an effort to save the hall from demolition. The local historical society purchased the building and enlisted hundreds of volunteers to restore it as a community center. Union members donated time and labor, using the opportunity to help apprentices understand the building's importance. This modest building continues to embody the spirit of the labor movement that helped build America.

-- Union Station, Kansas City, Mo. - Once America's third largest train station, the Beaux-arts style Union Station once again inspires civic pride and showcases urban redevelopment. To make renovation of this National Historic Landmark possible, the voters of Kansas and Missouri passed the nation's first cultural sales tax across a state line and generated $118 million to transform a crumbling giant structure into an economic engine that draws more than 1.3 million visitors each year. The renovated Station includes theaters, shops, restaurants, a science center and a performance stage.

-- Upper King Street, Charleston, S.C. - This once depressed commercial area along upper King Street has been economically revitalized through preservation and sensitive infill. As part of the project, a meticulous restoration of a National Historic Landmark, the William Aiken House, was completed.

-- Wabash YMCA, Chicago, Ill. - When the Wabash YMCA closed its doors in 1969, Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood lost an institution that had been a center of activity for half a century. Now, after an extensive renovation carried out by local faith-based groups, this treasured landmark once again stands as a center of the neighborhood, providing affordable housing and after-school and training programs.

-- Washington Park Revitalization Project, Bridgeport, Conn. - Washington Park was once one of Bridgeport's finest parks, but by the 1990s, abandonment, vandalism and arson had devastated the area. The community organized and acquired condemned properties from the city and used the historic rehab and low-income housing tax credits to turn 10 vacant historic mansions into 35 units of affordable family housing, which spurred additional investment in the neighborhood and made it a showcase once again.

------

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust provides leadership, education and advocacy to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize communities. Its Washington, DC headquarters staff, six regional offices and 21 historic sites work with the Trust's quarter-million members and thousands of local community groups in all 50 states. For more information, visit the National Trust's Web site at http://www.nationaltrust.org.