Historic Salisbury Foundation

SALISBURY — Hundreds of hours are spent each year, along with blood, sweat and tears, as owners, volunteers and contractors rehabilitate the historic buildings that define the character of Rowan County.

Countless others focus their attention on researching the past and educating others about the importance of our history and its impact on the built environment of this community.

Together, their work protects and promotes the historic fabric that brings visitors to our area and supports a sustainable and vibrant economy.

With its 2017 Preservation Awards, Historic Salisbury Foundation celebrates a number of civic and community-oriented projects demonstrating the powerful connection Salisbury and Rowan County have to historic preservation.

Civic leaders and residents alike have a deep understanding of the benefits from revitalizing older buildings and neighborhoods.

Historic Salisbury Foundation will honor the past year’s notable historic preservation success stories at its 2017 Preservation Awards banquet May 25 at the Salisbury Station, 215 Depot St.

The foundation invites the public to learn about these projects. The reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards presentations. Reservations are $25 per person and may be purchased at www.historicsalisbury.org or by calling 704-636-0103 by May 12.

By category, the 2017 honorees are:

Commercial revitalization through historic preservation:

• Amie and Tommy Baudoin for the renovation of the warehouse at 421 N. Lee St. as Morgan Ridge Railwalk Brewery & Eatery.

Private preservation and neighborhood revitalization:

• The Historic Neely School Foundation for restoration of Neely School, 150 Neelytown Road, China Grove.

• Steve and Sherry Beck for exterior renovation of the Leo Wallace Sr. House, 301 W. Fisher St.

• Forrest and Marie Clanton for exterior renovation of the Kritzer-Hatley House, 403 S. Carolina Ave., Spencer.

• Livingstone College for rehabilitation of the Lynch-Nicholson House, 624 W. Monroe St.

• Justin Williams for exterior renovation of the Heilig-Dyer Rental House, 313 W. Thomas St.

• Clyde and Lewellyn Padgett for the adaptive reuse of the old dry cleaning building at 323 W. Harrison St. into a residence.

• Todd Littleton for renovation of 113 E. Fisher St., which houses City Tavern restaurant.

• The city of Salisbury for BlockWork 2016’s neighborhood revitalization work in the 800-900 blocks of West Monroe Street.

Community preservation:

• The Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation (Mary Heather Steinman and Jason Walser, project managers) for repair and stabilization of the Bell Tower.

• N.C. Transportation Museum (J.R. Ayash, project manager) for renovation of the Back Shop to allow the exhibition of larger items including a historic firetruck collection.

Preservation education and publication:

• Chris Hartley for his book “Stoneman’s Raid, 1865.”

• Gary Freeze for 10 years as a key lecturer for the Rowan County History Course.

The Doug Black Volunteer of the Year Award:

• Rich Dietrich for his work as a member of “Black’s Brigade.”

Special restoration award:

• Steam Operations Corp. and Atlanta History Center for restoration of the 1856 steam engine Texas, well known for its role in the Great Locomotive Chase of the Civil War.

Special recognition:

• The 10th anniversary of the Rowan County History Course, a joint project of Historic Salisbury Foundation and Rowan Museum. Barbara Upright, History Course Committee chairwoman, and committee members Reginald Brown, Kaye Hirst, Terry Holt, Aaron Kepley, Anne Lyles, and Andy and Mary Walker.

Citations:

This year’s Preservations Awards Committee will recognize those whose work has been deemed outstanding and/or instrumental in making a preservation project a reality.

• For the Neely School: Alfred C. Wilson and Co. for moving and restoring the school building.

• For the Lynch-Nicholson House: Alfred C. Wilson and Co. for exterior work; Central Piedmont Builders for interior work; Tom Ford for restoration of the primary stained-glass window; and Next Generation Painting for interior and exterior painting.

• For BlockWork 2016: Housing Advocacy Commission, co-sponsor; Community Appearance Commission, co-sponsor; Livingstone College, co-sponsor; and Medina Construction Co. for its work on four roofs and six facades of the BlockWork houses.

• For the Bell Tower: George Kluttz for his advocacy for repairs and stabilization work; the city of Salisbury; Andy Eller for his work as structural engineer; and Alfred C. Wilson and Co. for stabilization and repair work.