Congratulations to Our 2019 Excellence in Preservation Award Recipients!

Each year thousands of Kentuckians work tirelessly to preserve Kentucky’s legacy reflected in our historic buildings, structures, landscapes and prehistoric sites. Preservation Kentucky established the Excellence in Preservation Leadership Awards in 2012 to recognize exceptional accomplishments in the preservation, rehabilitation and interpretation of our architectural and cultural heritage, and to  distinguish best practices in the field.

 

Congratulations to our 2019 Excellence in Preservation Award Recipients! 

 

Award Categories

Preservation Kentucky’s annual Excellence in Preservation leadership awards are named after Kentuckians who have a long service of dedicated volunteer and/or professional time devoted to preserving Kentucky’s architectural, cultural and prehistoric heritage, and underscore the economic development, aesthetic and quality of life benefits of historic preservation.

 

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

Kentucky Heritage Council

For 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.

 

Edith S. Bingham Excellence in Preservation Education

Northern Kentucky Restoration Weekend

For preservation educators, projects, or programs that have demonstrated excellence in traditional or nontraditional educational arenas.

 

Christy and Owsley Brown II Excellence in Public Service to Preservation 

Clest Lanier, Founder, Kentucky Center for African American Heritage

For public officials or civil servants who have demonstrated leadership in preservation policy on the local, state and/or national level.

 

Linda Bruckheimer Excellence in Rural Preservation Award

Blue Wing Landing Farm, Doug and Kathleen Martin, Owen County

For those devoted to preserving Kentucky’s rural heritage with special consideration given to small towns with a population less than 10,000.

 

Helen Dedman Excellence in Preservation Advocacy

Tom Eblen, Photojournalist, Retired Columnist, Lexington

For advocates, volunteers and/or professionals who have shown great commitment of time and resources to furthering historic preservation across the state.

                                   

Barbara Hulette Excellence as Young Preservationist

Brittney Adams, Warrenwood Manor, Danville

For those under the age of 40 who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in historic preservation endeavors.

 

Patrick Kennedy Excellence in Preservation Craftsmanship

Eddie Black, Central Kentucky

For craftsmen and craftswomen who have demonstrated exceptional skills and restoration techniques.

 

David L. Morgan Excellence in Kentucky Historic Preservation Tax Credit

Paducah City Hall, McCracken County  

East Broadway Shotgun Houses, Vital Sites, Louisville

For commercial and residential projects that have demonstrated excellence in rehabilitation using Kentucky’s State Historic Preservation Tax Credit.

         

Ann Early Sutherland Excellence in Environmental Preservation

American Life Building, Louisville

For leaders who have made a strong connection between the preservation of historic places and environmental concerns, and understand the relationship between the preservation of our built environment and our natural environment.

 

Preservation Kentucky Excellence in Kentucky Cultural Heritage

111 Whiskey Row, Louisville

For an organization, site or attraction that has preserved and advanced Kentucky’s architectural, cultural and social history through dynamic interpretation and the promotion of historic resources that contribute significantly to our tourism industry and the preservation of our heritage.

 

 

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 19thcentury 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 250thCelebration 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.”

 

Photo left to right:  Tim Peters, Augusta Brown Holland and Lois Mateus receiving the Preservation Kentucky-Ann Early Sutherland Excellence in Environmental Preservation Award for Louisville’s NuLu Business District on April 20, 2013, at the Artisan Enterprise Center in Covington.  Photo Credit: Becky Gorman.