2007 Historic Preservation Awards

Cozad House 1607 20th Street
Honoree: Mike Hammer

Although occupied for most of its life, this historic home, a significant structure in the Highland Park Historic District had suffered a great deal of deferred maintenance when it was purchased by Mike Hammer and Jean Dasso. Rotting built-in gutters created holes in eaves which allowed wildlife free access. Windows with intricate muntin tracery had deteriorated so that the glass had fallen. No modernization or updating of mechanicals had occurred in decades. That all changed in a very short time, when the home was completely restored, both inside and out, retaining all the period architecture, yet ensuring it will be stable and sturdy for decades to come. The surrounding grounds, which were so overgrown as to make the home nearly invisible, was selectively cleared to provide an appropriate setting for the historic home. Since the home is part of the Highland Park Historic District, the exterior was reviewed and approved by the Rock Island Preservation Commission.

Sweeney House, 816 20th Street
Honorees: Bryan Pattschull & David Cordes

This brick home was built and owned by the members of the family of Edward D. Sweeney for nearly a century. During that ownership, the second floor was converted to apartments. From the 1970s until a few years ago, the house was used as offices for Catholic Social Services. Under that ownership, it was designated a Rock Island Landmark. The current owners have completely restored the home as a single family residence. Original window sashes were repaired and protected with new appropriately shaped storm windows. The house was repainted, retaining the painted “drapery” effect that is original to the window tops. A rear porch, which had been enclosed for decades, was reopened. Finally, an appropriately sized and shaped new garage was erected in the spot where old fire maps show an original barn. The original brick driveway running along the side of the house, which was nearly impassible because of heaved bricks, was lifted and relaid to its original smoothness. Since the home is a designated local Landmark, the exterior work was reviewed and approved by the Rock Island Preservation Commission.

Welch House, 817 23rd Street
Honorees: Jeff & Martha Dismer

Originally built as a single family home, this was converted to eight units in the 1940s, with the owner living in a downstairs apartment. When the Dismers purchased the home, there were many kitchenettes and multiple baths, some of them shared, as well as non-original partitions. The woodwork was painted throughout. After interior renovations recreated the original floor plan and uncovered original features and modern update to mechanical systems were made, work began on restoration of the exterior. Windows, clapboard and shingle siding, and porch railings were extensively repaired and rebuilt. The final touch was a Victorian style paint color in deep tones. The massive iron fence, which has surrounded the house since the 1920s, was disassembled for repair and then reinstalled. Since the home is a designated local Landmark, the exterior work was reviewed and approved by the Rock Island Preservation Commission.

Knox House, 734 22nd Street
Honorees: Al & Margaret Melody

Vacant intermittently for the past few decades, this home was in critical condition when purchased by the Melodys. Although it had a nearly new wood shingle roof, the basement of the house was partially open to the elements and part of the back of the house had been removed. At one point, the stucco exterior was even in danger of being covered with vinyl siding. Working to preserve the original architectural style and original architectural elements, both inside and out, the home has been restored to better than new condition. Stucco was repaired where needed and repainted. The missing basement wall was rebuilt and now supports a new room addition on the first floor. A reconstructed driveway in the original location leads to a new garage.

Van Galder House, 1010 20th Street,
Porch Reconstruction
Honoree: Enyo Dewith

Porches are an area of necessary high maintenance, yet they are one of the most important elements of a house. This porch, over a century old was deteriorated. The owner ensured that it was reconstructed using the original components as well as the addition of new wood that replicates the old.

Wilmerton House, 1604 22nd Street,
Window & Screen replacement
Honorees: Peter & Terri Cone

An open sun porch with original wood frame screens in very poor condition was retrofitted with custom wood windows and screens in the same configuration as the screens. This improvement now permits its use as a three-season room. Since the home is part of the Highland Park Historic District, the Cones’ proposed work was reviewed and approved by the Rock Island Preservation Commission.

Friends of Longfellow School & Keystone Neighborhood Association for Advocacy to save Longfellow School
Contact: Terry Stimpson

When the Keystone Neighborhood Association learned that their closest school was likely to be closed in the next few years, they mounted a campaign, through the Friends of Longfellow School, to save it. With a multiphased effort, that involved bringing proponents of historic schools to speak, fund raising with a Trivia Night, the group continually publicized and reinforced the positive qualities of their school and the need it in their neighborhood. Successful in their endeavor, the group is an inspiration to everyone who tackles the seemingly impossible. Longfellow School survived and will be expanded to serve the neighborhood even better.

City of Rock Island for retaining historic structural
elements in an industrial site converted to the Sylvan
Slough Natural Area
Contact: Mayor & City Manager Office

A former industrial site that was slated to be open space on the Sylvan Slough side of the riverfront still held the ruins of several industrial buildings on land that was contaminated with industrial waste. Decontamination of the earth by natural means was a start. A careful deconstruction of the unusable buildings created an industrial sculpture garden, enhanced by native plantings and a commendable water retention system. This newest park, that could simply have been only a large lawn, thus pays homage to our industrial riverfront of the past while creating a place of delight today.