2006 Preservation Awards and Certificates

In celebration of National Historic Preservation Month in May, the Rock Island Preservation Society is pleased to present its annual Historic Preservation Awards and Certificates of Recognition.

Each year the Rock Island Preservation Society honors individuals, groups and businesses who have made special efforts to preserve or restore historic structures in our community or whose actions have served to support historic preservation in Rock Island.

This year we honor 2 churches, four homes for their porch restoration, a program that combines training with neighborhood preservation, an unveiling, an adaptive reuse and a journalist who brought the stories of the people, the buildings and the neighborhoods to life. In addition to recognizing the individual projects and persons honored, we would like to focus on how their work enriched our community.

Anyone driving across 7th Avenue could not help but notice the unveiling of this historic home which is not used as an apartment house. Inappropriate modern shingles were removed. When ornate moldings and paneled trim were uncovered, they were restored. Missing and damaged clapboard was replaced extensively with matching new wood. A photograph of this home that appeared in Picturesque Tri-Cities shows the house in its original glory. We commend the Coakleys for their unveiling and the reminder of the stately early days of this home.

In an example of what is called Adaptive Reuse, the adjoining structures of the former Voss Brothers moving company warehouse were converted into loft-style apartments. The multimillion dollar project created 35 units ranging in size from studio to 3-bedrooms that include every income level. Common areas available to residents include a community room, exercise room, computer room as well as storage facilities.

This adaptive reuse ensured that the energy and materials invested in construction decades ago were not sent to a landfill. Moreover this project introduces a residential area into eastern downtown and can act as a catalyst for the development and preservation of nearby historic structures.

Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation has been honored for their projects many times over the years. We thank them for their ongoing commitment to historic preservation in Rock Island.

The once dusty jewels in six historic stained glass windows on the east side of First United Methodist Church shine brightly again. The sagging windows were removed and taken to Bovard Studios in Fairfield, Iowa, where they were disassembled and cleaned, and releaded. Then they were reinstalled in the church behind a clear protective exterior glazing.

First United Methodist Church was built in 1890 and these windows, made in Philadelphia, date from that time. The triptych of 18-foot tall windows with images of Christ's nativity, ascension, and welcoming of children, was donated as a memorial to Eliza and John Spencer, early Rock Island pioneers who founded this congregation, by their three children. A fourth window of similar size showing Jesus as the Good Shepherd was given in memorial to Harriet Sweeney by her husband, Edward D. Sweeney.

We honor the congregation of First United Methodist Church for their care and preservation of these beautiful windows.

An extensive exterior restoration was completed, most of it on the original portion of the church building, which was completed in 1869. Wood trim, including dozens of small decorative brackets under the east gable and the curved arch trim around the tower windows, was removed for repair and/or replacement. Old paint was stripped and then the wood was replaced and painted.

Window sashes in the tower were also rebuilt to be identical to the originals. This quality restoration involved a great deal of meticulous hand carpentry. To further protect this historic treasure, new sprinkler and fire alarm systems were installed.

We honor the congregation of Trinity Church for their continued commitment to quality craftsmanship and the preservation of their church building.

Changing over time in both form and function, the porch has found a place in virtually every style of American domestic architecture. Beginning more as a ceremonial portico, a symbol of wealth and welcome, porches grew in size and popularity. In the days before phones, the porch was the setting for the exchange of news and opinions. It was the gathering place for friends and neighbors. It served as the focal point for lavish social functions. But with the coming of the automobile, the suburbs and air conditioning, the importance of the front porch took a back seat to the patio.

Today the owners of older homes with wonderful grand porches have rediscovered the human and social importance of these structures. Maintenance and restoration of these intricate outdoor rooms is often a labor of love. But in the end the homeowner, the neighborhood and the community as a whole is richer for the efforts. This year we honor those who honor the architecture of their front porch.

In this style-appropriate porch restoration, a deteriorated gabled front portico was rebuilt on a classic Georgian Colonial home. The curved ceiling, that follows a rounded transom above the front door, was replicated. These details highlight the fan light and side lights surrounding the front door.

The elegant but aging front porch on this classic Queen Anne home has been restored. Both structural and decorative areas were rebuilt and restored. Note the chamfered columns, the decorative balustrade spindles, and the appropriate lattice work beneath the decking. A multicolor paint job emphasizes all of the ornate exterior decorative detail. This restoration project should ensure that the porch will grace this historic home for at least another century.

The porch on this classic spindlework Queen Anne home was suffering from partially rotted front columns and a missing balustrade. The chamfered colums, a hallmark of the spindlework style were restored including the spandrel-like decorations at the column tops. The balustrade was reproduced using an historic photo as well as an existing rear porch as models. To finish off the project, the Braun's even placed appropriate lattice work beneath the decking.

The porch on the landmarked Dimick House was completely recreated using vintage photos and shadows on the house as a guide. The original porch on this Italianate home had been removed decades ago and was replaced with an inappropriate two-story structure. The Bolyards removed that inappropriate porch several years ago as they undertook exterior restoration of the home. Today we see a beautiful three-quarters porch with simple chamfered columns that seem to support a spandrelled arch with a leaf-like design. A handsome copper roof tops off the project. Most of this intricate work was done by Mr. Bolyard himself.

This new home at 728 15th Street is exceptionally sensitive infill within a historic neighborhood. Surrounded by other 1 1/2 and 2 story homes, including a previous YouthBuild award winner at 716 15th Street, it looks as if it has always been there.

Like its neighbor, it is based on a prize-winning design, by architect Ben Allers, which won the 1995 competition sponsored by the Rock Island Preservation Commission for infill design in the Old Chicago neighborhood. Details were changed to distinguish it from its older neighbor.

Students who share work time on YouthBuild with school attendance are learning building trades. Their project manager Al Melody has noted that, "We're building kids, the house is just a tool." But this award recognizes that YouthBuild’s houses are commendable, as well.

Over the past 36 years as a Quad Cities Times journalist, John Willard introduced us to the people, places and events of our community. And wherever possible, he included a historical perspective in his writing.

The reopening of Hunter's Club provided an opportunity to write about hamburgers and jazz. But it was also an opportunity to write about the history of the familiar green building that served as a grocery store until the Hunter family opened a tavern there around World War I.

An article about the recent interior renovation of Rock Island’s downtown library took us back in time to the turn of the century when local architects Drack & Kern won the design competition for the building. It pointed out original architectural features such as the Ionic columns framing the entrance and the frieze ringing the top of the building inscribed with the names of literary giants such as Shakespeare and Longfellow.

The occasion of a 200th birthday party for poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow provided an opportunity to write about the history and design of Rock Island’s Longfellow Elementary School and about the history of the KeyStone neighborhood that surrounds it.

Earlier this spring John Willard announced his retirement. As a community we will miss his writings connecting our daily lives with our rich past. We are fortunate to have an archive of well-researched articles that will be referenced by historians well into the future.

The projects and individuals we honored tonight enrich our entire community. The special stewardship of a church with its commanding architecture serves the individual congregation, but also shares its beauty with everyone. The front porch of a private home speaks to the streetscape of a neighborhood giving it a sense of place. A new home that fits into an existing neighborhood exemplifies promise and revitalization. The unveiling of a beautiful wood exterior and the adaptive reuse of a stately brick building ask us to envision even more restoration to come. The words of a journalist allow us all to share a common experience.