2007 Annual Statewide Preservation Awards
2008 Awards Nomination Information is located at the bottom of this page.
The Restoration/Rehabilitation Award
This award is to acknowledge the proper restoration of a structure to an earlier or original appearance, or the rehabilitation and/or adaptive new use. Projects must fully demonstrate adherence to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards (National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.)The Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the field of Restoration/Rehabilitation
DeLand Train Station, DeLand. The restoration of the 1918 DeLand Train Station began in the late 1980s by DeLand High School students and volunteers. Acquisition of transportation enhancement grants provided the means for a recent six-month restoration project spearheaded by Volusia County. The project included reconstructing, repairing, and upgrading many elements of the building, and the addition of a new roof and handicapped-accessible access. Today, the twenty-five years of public and private commitment has transformed the DeLand Train Station into a much-loved landmark.
Five Points Theater, Jacksonville. The Five Points Theater is located in the Five Points neighborhood in Jacksonville, an area which experienced several transformations since the theater was constructed in 1928. Restoration work to restore the theater back to its original appearance included repairing numerous non-historic changes, repairing the original elevator and remaining portions of the terrazzo and wood floors, and restoring the building’s ornamental plaster proscenium opening. Today, the Five Points Theater is near full occupancy and has lead to a revitalization of this neighborhood. 
Heritage Village, Largo. Heritage Village, a living history museum in Largo, has served as the final refuge for several historic buildings which would have ultimately been destroyed if not moved. Recently, extensive research has been conducted on the history and architectural design of the historic buildings located in this museum. As part of this process, preservation, maintenance, and budgeting plans were created for the structures. Paint experts were brought in to analyze the historic buildings and today they serve as case studies illustrating historic paint colors.
Hillsborough High School, Tampa. Hillsborough High School was constructed in 1927-28, with additions made to the campus up until 1995. The Hillsborough County School Board made a decision to focus funds allocated for the entire campus on the restoration of the original 1927-28 building. Several 1970s changes that concealed, damaged, and removed historic elements were repaired, and the school was modernized to meet today’s educational needs. The commitment from the School Board to preserve this important historic resource, provides the opportunity for children attending the school to learn first-hand the importance of preservation.
Sowder Building, Jacksonville. The Sowder Building was built in 1911 and served as Florida’s public health headquarters for over 50 years. The Florida Department of Health moved out of the building in the early 1990s, and vacancy led to the declining condition of much of the historic structure. With the support of the community, healthcare professionals and preservationists, a four phased restoration of the exterior and interior of the building began in 2001. The project included the demolition of non-historic additions, restoration and repair of historic elements, and removal of hazardous material. The building was also re-roofed and brought up to code. Funding is currently being secured to turn this Jacksonville landmark into a public health museum for the state. 
Stuart Welcome Arch, Martin County. The restoration of the Stuart Welcome Arch illustrates a long-time dedication by community activists and the local government to protect this important element of the Dixie Highway. This structure is the only one of two planned welcome arches built for the City of Stuart, and has remained in its original location since construction in 1926. The Stuart Welcome Arch has sustained damage from hurricanes, theft, and automobile accidents, and after a ten year effort is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 
Thomas Edison & Henry Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers. The restoration of several buildings of the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates is one of the many projects leading to the growing success of this important historic site. The Florida Trust is recognizing recent activities focused on the restoration of the Edison buildings within the museum complex. The buildings were brought back to their 1929 appearance, and their preservation resulted in opening new areas for public visitation. The restoration of the Edison buildings have led to a new restoration certification course with Edison College, a master site development plan for the historic buildings within the museum site, and recognition by Restore America for excellence in the restoration process.
The Awards for Meritorious Achievement in the field of Restoration/Rehabilitation:
Collier Seminole Blockhouse, Naples. The Blockhouse was built at the Collier Seminole State Park as a tribute to the forts established during the previous century, built to protect the Colonial Military against invasion from Seminole Tribes. This unique historic building was in declining condition and needed a complete restoration. The project included conserving and repairing the cypress logs, restoring historic features, removing nonhistoric features, and addressing minor termite damage. 
St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Pensacola. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church opened in 1894 to serve the Creole, African-American, and poor populations in Pensacola. Throughout the years, two major hurricanes have led to severe damage of this historic structure, including complete destruction of the roof of the bell tower, and of the front door. To restore the church back to its original glory, extensive work was done to both the exterior and interior of the building. The roof had to be replaced and stabilized, the bell tower repaired, and major water damage to the interior had to be addressed. The interior work included the recreation of the original barrel vaulted ceiling. St. Joseph’s was re-dedicated Christmas Eve 2006 and is used today by a widely-diverse congregation.
Temple Court Apartments, Miami. The Temple Court Apartment complex is located in Miami’s Lummus Park Historic District. The apartments are examples of the City’s vernacular architecture from the early Twentieth Century. To create a unique livable space for residents, structural repairs had to be made to the building, new electrical and HVAC systems installed, and the roof replaced. The building also had to be modernized and made handicapped-accessible. As part of the project, the Frank Gallat House, home to the apartment building’s owner, was also restored.
The Adaptive Use Award
This award is to acknowledge the proper rehabilitation of a structure to a new use. Projects must fully adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, particularly as it relates to Standard #1: A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in a new use that requires minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment.The Awards For Outstanding Achievement In The Field Of Adaptive Use:
Box Factory Lofts, Tampa. The restoration of the Tampa Box Company factory building has brought new life back into this historic building and has launched the revitalization of this Downtown area. To convert this sixty-eight thousand square-foot building into fifty-three two-story lofts, the project team had to modernize the building while preserving the historic features. The architects worked very closely with the Barrio Latino Commission for guidance on preserving the historic elements and for design advice on retaining the historic character of building. 
Colony Theatre, Miami Beach. The Colony Theatre was built in 1934 as a movie house, in what is now Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District. To convert this building into a performing arts venue, the front entry was restored to its original location, the lobbies brought back to their historic configuration, upgrades were made to the stage house and auditorium, and the building was brought up to code. To address the needs for performing arts, a new addition was constructed on the back of the theater, and the modernization of the building was mostly kept to this new construction. The restoration of the Colony Theatre sends a strong message to the community that adaptive reuse it a viable option for historic buildings.
The Infill Design Award
This award is to acknowledge the proper rehabilitation of a structure to a new use. Projects must fully adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, particularly as it relates to Standard #1: A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in a new use that requires minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment. The Awards For Outstanding Achievement In The Field Of Adaptive Use:
Hyde Park Gateway, Tampa. These two single family houses illustrate how new construction can be integrated into a historic district without compromising the historic character of the neighborhood. Community involvement and grassroots efforts have ensured that the development of the Hyde Park Gateway sites maintained the integrity of this historic district. The developer and the project team for this project worked very closely with the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association, and by the end of the process, the developer became increasing supportive of the design guidelines and historic district, and even moved into one of the two houses.
The Awards For Outstanding Achievement In The Field Of Preservation Education/Media:
This award recognizes outstanding heritage education programs, including books, brochures, curriculum, videos, websites, interactive media and other publications that deal with historic preservation or local history.
Maggie and Max at the Museum, Henry B. Plant Museum Society. Maggie and Max at the Museum creatively teaches children to use their imagination. This historically-based book tells the story of a big sister and her younger brother’s trip to the Henry B. Plant Museum in Tampa. Cut out figures with costumes, drop-down stage pieces, and a built-in trunk provide an interactive learning tool that keeps kids engaged in the story. The book results from a coalition of a graphic designer, School District reading specialists, and the entire staff at the Henry B. Plant Museum.
Smyrnea: Lost and Found, Southeast Volusia Historical Society. The Smyrnea: Lost and Found DVD provides a visual experience that illustrates how early settlers adapted to a new world. The program focuses on the 1763 – 1783 British Period in Florida, and the development of the Smyrnea Plantation. Recent archaeological and historical investigations have uncovered new information about this forty-thousand acre plantation settlement and the people who lived there. This DVD provides a comprehensive and entertaining tool to teach us about this little-known time in Florida’s history.
The Award for Meritorious Achievement in the field of Preservation Education/Media:
Turnbull Colony Exhibit, Southeast Volusia Historical Society. The recent research on the Smyrnea Plantation/Turnbull Colony has also contributed to a new exhibit at the Southeast Volusia County Museum of History. This small community museum has created a 1000 square foot exhibit telling the story of the Turnbull Colony and its impact on the history of Florida. The settlement’s historic resources contribute to the educational content of this exhibit, and help to incorporate the Turnbull Colony’s story into the overall story of Volusia County. The Southeast Volusia Historical Society estimates that visitation to the museum has increased three times as much since the Turnbull Colony Exhibit opened.
The Awards for Honorable Mention in the field of Preservation Education/Media:
Brevard Heritage Park: The Future of the Past, Brevard Community College. Brevard Heritage Park: The Future of the Past is a television documentary that tells the story of the creation of the Brevard Heritage Park, a showcase of relocated historic structures saved from demolition. The documentary was developed by a group of city and county agencies, private institutions, civic groups, developers, businesses, and private citizens as a means to educate students and the general public about the importance of preserving Brevard County historic resources. 
Eglin Cultural Resource Outreach Video, Eglin AFB Cultural Resources Management Branch. The Cultural Resource Management Branch of Eglin Air Force Base – or Eglin CRM - is responsible for managing two thousand sixty-eight archaeological sites and one hundred and forty-four historic buildings. To assist in their task, Eglin CRM has developed an outreach video to teach Air Force and civilian leaders, and the general public about the importance of preserving historic resources on the base. Eglin CRM has worked closely with the Indian Temple Mound Museum and Northwest Florida Heritage Museum to create and air this video. The video is also shown on the Eglin Air Force Base website, on a local cable channel, and at the base’s visitor’s center.
The Awards For Outstanding Organizational Achievement
This award recognizes outstanding achievement in preservation activities by a group, business, neighborhood or other organization.
Anna Maria Island Historical Society. The Anna Maria Island Historical Society is a small organization with big ideas. The recent restoration of the Belle Haven Cottage has drawn positive media attention to this organization and to the preservation of the Island’s historic resources. The Anna Maria Island Historical Society took on the challenge of moving the cottage to its new home in the Anna Maria Historical Park, a process that required a change to the City’s ordinance and assistance from Florida Power and Light. To sustain the effectiveness of Belle Haven Cottage’s educational potential, the historical society even changed its vision for the cottage into something more fitting for the visitor’s experience. 
Plein Aire Cottage Artists, Indian Rocks Beach. The idea to use art as a way to preserve the town of Indian Rocks Beach begin four years ago as three award-winning artists began painting the historic cottages in the area. Their work prompted area residents to share stories about the buildings and to alert the artists to the demolition threat to one of the cottages. The artists started a unique grassroots effort that brought together historic preservationists, community activists, and artists to show their support for the historic resources in the town. The Plein Aire Artists have used a creative partnership to draw positive media attention to the importance of preserving Indian Rocks Beach. And good news – Scruggs Cottage, the building slated for demolition, is still standing today.
The Awards For Meritorious Organizational Achievement
Tampa Architectural Heritage Committee. The Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Institute of Architects started the Tampa Architectural Heritage Committee last March to help meet the needs of preserving the integrity of the area’s historical and cultural resources. The AHC brings preservation advocates, students, professors, and junior architects together to rally for the support of Tampa’s historic resources, and the group serves as a liaison between the key historic preservation organizations in the Tampa Bay area. The committee offers advice to owners of historic buildings, including providing much-needed pro-bono services.
The Individual Distinguished
Service Award
The nominee for this award must have demonstrated prominent contributions to historic preservation. This award is intended for those persons who have clearly made an impact in their community through their efforts as a preservation activist, advocate or leader.
Recipient: Frank Hurley, Jr. Recognized for his dedication to the preservation of historic resources in Pass-A-Grill, St. Pete Beach, and Pinellas County
The Preservation Philanthropic Award
The Preservation Philanthropic Award was created by the Board of Trustees of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation to recognize individuals, corporation or foundation, either statewide or locally, that have clearly demonstrated a commitment to the preservation of Florida’s historic resources through their leadership and philanthropic initiatives.
Recipient: The George W. Jenkins Family. Recognized for internalizing their respect for history within their businesses and providing support for projects throughout the state.The Evelyn Fortune Bartlett Award
The Evelyn Fortune Bartlett Award is given to an individual whose commitment to an individual project or property has insured that it retains its integrity and significance and is preserved for future generations.
Recipient: William “Bill” Dreggors. Recognized for his amazing body of public history work and for his service to Florida’s heritage community, especially in Volusia County.
Nomination Form for the 2008 Awards Program is now available below.
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