[MassHistPres] Stewardship Preservation Awards

[Dennis De Witt]

Having partly instigated the discussion, perhaps I can help clarify the question.

The typical MHC preservation award -- probably like most given by local commissions and other organizations throughout the state -- is given for some combination of rescue and/or restoration -- e.g. the abandoned building that has its aluminum siding removed, detailing restored, and is given a viable new use.  Normally such awards are not really for "preservation" in the sense of maintaining an historic building as originally built.  They tend more to be for resuscitation.

It occurred to some of the Commissioners that, at least in the case of especially difficult circumstances -- whether owing to the nature of the building, or some other reason -- there might be a different category of award, called Stewardship, recognizing extraordinary efforts to maintain, rather than revive.

Your "living in old houses" suggestion was mentioned as a possibility -- e.g. in a case where the house was lived in and maintained truly intact with no additional mod cons.

Landscape designs, which are notoriously difficult to maintain intact, even over much shorter periods than the lifetime of a house, might be another possibility.

One example cited that has been given a Stewardship award in Brookline was the Van Houten Chocolate pavilion from the 1896 Chicago Worlds Fair -- a stucco over wood framed building intended to last a summer with extensive painted faux architectural embellishments.  It was moved and reconstructed in Brookline after the fair.  The award went to a dedicated couple, owners of some 50 years standing, in recognition of the high standards to which they have kept this inherently difficult to maintain building over that extended time.

Hope that helps. 

Are there other commissions which recognize such efforts?  And, what are the criteria used?

Dennis De Witt


On Oct 18, 2010, at 5:00 PM, Electa Tritsch wrote:

> Chris - This is probably ignorance on my part, but could you give us a better idea of what MHC means by Stewardship? Does it refer to land, historic structures - preservation of land, maintenance of structures, living in old houses...? I'm sure you get the gist of my question. Thanks.
> Electa
> 
> At 03:36 PM 10/18/2010, Skelly, Christopher @ SEC wrote:
> 
> 
>> The Massachusetts Historical Commission is investigating an expansion of our annual Preservation Awards program to include a stewardship category.  If your organization has such a category, please contact me with more details such as the application, examples of past awardees and the criteria for decision-making.  Thanks.  Chris.
>>  
>> Christopher C. Skelly
> Electa Kane Tritsch, Director
> Oakfield Research
> 233 Heaths Bridge Rd.
> Concord, MA 01742
> 978-371-2128 
> www.oakfieldresearch.com 
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