ATLANTA – Augusta’s Security Federal Bank received the Marguerite Williams Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation at the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s 47th annual Preservation Awards ceremony April 20 at the Spring Ramble in Athens. And four Augusta projects plus one in Thomson received Excellence in Rehabilitation Awards.
The annual award goes to the project that has had the greatest impact on preservation in the state, according to a news release from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
“The historic bank building was recognized for undergoing a sensitive rehabilitation of what was originally constructed in 1924 as the uptown branch of the Old Georgia Railroad Bank. Utilizing tax credits, this rehabilitation converted the historic structure back to its original use, providing the city with a business that strengthens the downtown economy while serving as a physical reminder of its economic resilience,” the release said.
Security Federal Bank received one of 26 awards recognizing the best preservation projects in the state.
“This year’s winners represent a tremendous dedication to restoring and revitalizing Georgia’s historic buildings and communities,” said W. Wright Mitchell, president and CEO of the Georgia Trust. “We are proud to honor such deserving projects and individuals.”
Other awards included Madison City Hall in Madison, which received the Michael L. Starr Award, for the project that “best exemplifies the highest standards of historic rehabilitation and has a significant impact on the downtown of the city in which it is located.”
The Fox Theatre Institute in Atlanta received the inaugural Mark C. McDonald Award, for outstanding organization that has demonstrated sustained commitment to historic preservation and has had a positive impact on preservation in their local community.
The historic Lowndes County Courthouse in Valdosta received the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation, presented by the chairman of the Georgia Trust to a person or project of great preservation significance.
The Trust presented the Mary Gregory Jewett Award for Lifetime Preservation Service to Mary Beth Reed of New South Associates for her lifelong career in preservation. The Camille W. Yow Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Alan Kachur of Woodstock.
The Trust also presented one award for Excellence in Preservation Service, two awards for Excellence in Restoration, two awards for Excellence in Stewardship, and fifteen awards for Excellence in Rehabilitation. The Excellence in Rehabilitation Award winners were Adairsville Church on the Square, Adairsville; Augusta Warehouse & Compress Co., Augusta; Force-Jackson House, Augusta; Foster-Thomason-Miller-Minnix House, Madison; Historic Oakland Cemetery Bell Tower, Atlanta; Jones Mercantile Building, Canton; McKey Building, Valdosta; Perkins-Cullum House, Augusta; Prontaut-Henry House, Augusta; Queen and Grant, Brunswick; Rudy York House, Cartersville; Sycamore Building and the Chapel on Sycamore, Decatur; Thomson Fire Hall, Thomson; Wheat Street Christian Education Building, Atlanta; and Whitfield House, Savannah.
The Georgia Department of Transportation’s “Statewide Cemetery Context,” a context and handbook for the identification and evaluation of Georgia’s historic burial grounds, received an award for Excellence in Preservation Service, which recognizes persons, groups, businesses and/or government entities that demonstrate exemplary activities and promotion of awareness in the field of historic preservation.
Excellence in Restoration winners were the Visitors Club in Brunswick and the Cuthbert Water Tower in Cuthbert.
Excellence in Stewardship winners were the Roswell Historical Society, along with Brandy and Jared Kirschner, for stewardship of the Hembree Farmhouse in Roswell. The other Stewardship Award went to the Coastal Georgia Historical Society for their stewardship of several historic collections and structures on St. Simons Island, including the Lighthouse, Keeper’s Dwelling and the historic Coast Guard Station.
Augusta Good News, a member of the Georgia Press Association, is a local, digital newspaper. Subscribe to the newsletter here.
