The Arkansas Preservation Awards on Jan. 27 was a celebration of success and excellence in historic preservation. Preserve Arkansas hosted the sold-out event at Albert Pike Memorial Temple.
Guests were welcomed to the banquet by Preserve Arkansas president Jodi Barnes. After a dinner catered by Capers Restaurant, there was an awards program with Pete Hartman serving as master of ceremonies. Cheri Nichols was given the Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement. Accepting the award, Nichols noted two things she thought important -- to celebrate preservation accomplishments and the support of nonprofit preservation organizations.
"Preservation is not a luxury. Too many in Arkansas don't think our historic places are worthy of preservation," she said. "We haven't made the case." She encouraged the audience to "practice what we preach" and to "give as if preservation really matters to you."
Other awards given during the program were the Excellence in Heritage Preservation award to the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, the Excellence in Preservation Through Rehabilitation for a Private Structure award to Third Floor Partners LLC, the Excellence in Preservation Through Rehabilitation of a Public Structure award to the City of Fayetteville and the Excellence in Preservation Through Rehabilitation of a Commercial Structure award to the Friedman-Mincer Building in Fort Smith, owned by Propak.
The Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Education award was given to the City of Fayetteville for the Fayetteville Square Virtual Marker Program, and the Outstanding Work by a Craftsman award was given to John Amos of Amos Millworks. Arkansas Life, owned by WEHCO Media, received the Outstanding Preservation Reporting in the Media award for the Work in Progress series, and the Dyess Welcome Center and Gift Shop owned by Arkansas State University Heritage Sites received the Outstanding New Construction in a Historic Setting award.
High Profile on 02/05/2017