2023 Arkansas Preservation Award Recipients
Named in honor of Preserve Arkansas’s founding president, the Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement was given to the Historic Washington Foundation. For 65 years, the Historic Washington Foundation has been a leader in organized preservation efforts in Arkansas. With its incorporation in 1958, it became the first historic preservation organization in the state; in addition, the foundation has been directly involved in the preservation of more historic structures than any other preservation organization in Arkansas and was instrumental in the creation of Historic Washington State Park. Parker Westbrook was named to the Historic Washington Foundation board in 1975 and remained active for more than 30 years.
Named for El Dorado preservationist W. L. Cook, the Award for Excellence in Heritage Preservation was given to the Eureka Springs Community Center Foundation for the Eureka Springs Community Center. The former Eureka Springs High School underwent a 10-year renovation and redevelopment and now houses a thriving community center, boasting membership of more than half the city’s population. This award came with a $2,000 cash prize.
The Award for Excellence in Preservation through Rehabilitation was presented to Martin Hall at Hendrix College at Conway. In this project, damages were repaired and upgrades made to both the interior and exterior of the 1918 building — the second-oldest on the Hendrix Campus. Hendrix College, WER Architects, and Nabholz Construction were recognized with the award.
The Award for Excellence in Preservation through Restoration was given to the Willhaf House at Van Buren. The four-phase restoration of this circa 1851 house included meticulous research on the history and evolution of the property. University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, John Milner Associations Preservation and MAHG Architecture, and Crawford Construction Company were recognized with the award.
An Honorable Mention for Excellence in Preservation through Restoration was presented to the Crittenden County Bank and Trust Building at Marion. The restoration of this finest local example of Neoclassical Revival-style architecture included saving original fixtures, hardware, and materials for reuse. Owner Fred Millar was recognized.
An Honorable Mention for Excellence in Preservation through Restoration was presented to the Wingmead Cabin at Roe. Repairs to this 1940s log structure were in every possible case made using comparable materials from the property or those that were fabricated to match the originals. Wingmead, Inc., Revival Architecture, Inc., and Historic Works, LLC were recognized.
The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Education was given to the Ritter-McDonald Cabin at Springdale. The restoration of this deteriorated log structure took place in full view of the public, further enhancing its use in education about the importance of preservation and historic construction techniques. The City of Springdale – Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, Clements & Associates Architecture, and River Ridge Builders were recognized with the award.
Named for Eureka Springs writer and historic preservationist Ned Shank, the Award for Outstanding Preservation Publication was presented to “Cy Sutherland: Architect, Educator, Preservationist,” by Andrea Cantrell. This article is one of the most comprehensive biographies written about Cyrus Sutherland (1920 – 2008), architect and professor at the University of Arkansas, and amply demonstrates his passion for preservation. Washington County Flashback, in which the article appeared, was also recognized.
The Award for Excellence in Personal Projects was presented to Wallace Stone for Judge Glover’s Hideout at Malvern. Undertaking most of the work himself, Stone renovated the 1910 law office of David D. Glover, which is located in the Lawyer’s Row Historic District in downtown Malvern.
The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Adaptive Reuse was presented to the Benton Federal Building at Benton. This project included numerous materials upgrades to make the building comfortable for modern office use and where possible, retained and preserved the building’s unique historical features. Jonathan and Devan Hope, Williams & Dean Architecture, Titan General Contractors, and Hope Consulting were recognized with the award.
The Award for Outstanding Service in Neighborhood Preservation was presented to Angela and Bobby Mathews and Lynn Boyd for the Chester Nests at Little Rock. This project rehabilitated a collection of buildings at the corner of Chester Street and Charles Bussey Avenue in the Historic Dunbar Neighborhood, putting long vacant properties back into use and contributing to neighborhood revitalization.
Preserve Arkansas is the only statewide nonprofit advocate for the preservation of Arkansas’s historic places. The organization works to build stronger communities by reconnecting Arkansans to our heritage and empowering people to save and rehabilitate historic places. For more information abo