Thank You to Preservationist and

Philanthropist Christy Brown for

Hosting Us at Her Beautiful

Home on Saturday, October 19!

Tim Peters and Lois Mateus Making a Difference on Main Street – Inaugural Award

New to Preservation Kentucky’s annual Excellence in Preservation Awards in 2019 is a category in honor of  Tim Peters and Lois Mateus, historic preservation champions whose projects have been a catalyst for revitalization along Harrodsburg’s Main Street.  The purpose of their award is to recognize individuals who have invested in communities where others have been hesitant to take the risk and do the work.

Recipients of this year’s award were recognized at Preservation Kentucky’s Annual Meeting and Excellence in Preservation Awards on Saturday, October 19, in Jefferson County.

Both long-time preservationists, Tim and Lois have an impressive history of taking on risky projects and seeing them to successful completion.  To date, they have renovated eight buildings in Harrodsburg, numerous 19^thcentury buildings in Louisville, and some of the oldest structures in Kentucky on their historic Mercer County farm.

Together, they have received many awards and recognitions, including the prestigious Ida Lee Willis Community Preservation Award, River Field’s Land Hero Award for farmland preservation, and the Preservation Kentucky-Linda Bruckheimer Excellence in Rural Preservation and Preservation Kentucky-Ann Early Sutherland Excellence in Environmental Preservation Awards.  Among their ongoing efforts:  Tim serves on the Kentucky Heritage Council, an appointment from Governor Matt Bevin, and Lois is a member of the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation and co-chair of Harrodsburg’s 250^thCelebration in 2024.

The Tim Peters and Lois Mateus Excellence in Making a Difference on Main Street Award will recognize individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to historic preservation by restoring, rehabilitating and adaptively reusing a commercial or residential building(s) that has served as a catalyst for revitalizing a Main Street corridor.  Special consideration will be given for individuals who have renovated a building in communities with a population of 75,000 or less.

“Keeping Main Street alive is the primary motivation for Tim and me,” Mateus says. “Restored antique shops, restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques not only improve and enhance the built environment, they bring life to the human environment as people shop, mix and mingle together.”

Peters adds, “Recognizing the shared history, connection, and social dialogue that communities lose when retailers disappear from Main Street, we have put emphasis on commercial tenants at the street level, but also on attractive living spaces on the upper levels. Our experiences in both Harrodsburg, a small town, and in the NuLu district on East Market Street in Louisville prove that people are eager to live downtown.”

Lois and Tim’s dedication to historic preservation and land conservation is reflected in their work on their Tallgrass Farm in Mercer County.  The property features 1,000 acres of farmland and trails, a log homestead, original stone foundations, dry stack stone walls made from stone of the farm and five tobacco Barns.  Tim and Lois’ efforts include the preservation of a rare 1802 stone and timber barn, one of only two remaining Pennsylvania bank barns still standing in Kentucky.  In 2004, they founded the Tallgrass Farm Foundation, an educational and culturally sustainable resource model that teaches students stewardship of natural and agricultural resources.

Lois grew up in the 1830 Nathaniel Burrus House in Harrodsburg.  A co-founder of the Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts and retired Brown-Forman executive who oversaw the restoration of Woodford Reserve Distillery and the company’s historic properties, Lois’ career reflects her passion for the arts, historic preservation, culture and community service. Tim, who was Louisville’s first LEED Platinum Builder with The Green Building on East Market Street, has owned and operated a general contracting company for 42 years and earned a reputation for championing adaptive reuse of historic buildings throughout the state. Both have extensive experience as nonprofit board members, community leaders and philanthropists.  More information about the couple’s careers, community service and historic farmland can be viewed here – http://www.tallgrassfarmfoundation.org/whoweare.html.

“We are so honored to have Lois and Tim’s sponsorship for a Main Street award,” said Preservation Kentucky executive director Betsy Hatfield.  “Our Main Street communities are the heart of Kentucky, and this is a wonderful opportunity to recognize those who are preserving endangered buildings in communities where an investor is needed to spark and lead revitalization efforts. Tim and Lois have been active preservationists for many years.  Their leadership in Harrodsburg invigorated an important historic community and inspired others to do so same.”

“Tim and Lois have been stellar preservationists and advocates for Kentucky’s heritage,” said Preservation Kentucky board chair Grady Walter.  “Their preservation successes are inspirational in their own right and remind us that historic Preservation strengthens communities.”