Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Presents 19 Statewide Preservation Awards at Ceremony in Rome

ATLANTA, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation presented 19 awards recognizing the best of preservation in Georgia during its 33rd annual Preservation Awards ceremony in Rome on April 9.

The Dunlevie House in Allenhurst, Ga. received the Marguerite Williams Award, presented annually to the project that has had the greatest impact on preservation in the state. The vernacular style house also received an award in the Excellence in Rehabilitation category.

Through a partnership between the D.C. Miller Trust and the Georgia Land Trust, the Dunlevie House was rehabilitated into the Jan and Dennis A. Waters, Jr. Family Education and Welcoming Center, where the house and surrounding 1,500 acres of protected wetlands and wildlife area, are used as an educational and nature center.  The site hosts local church groups, garden clubs, environmental programs, and 4-H groups.

The Trust also presented five awards for Excellence in Restoration, ten awards for Excellence in Rehabilitation, and two for Preservation Service.

The Trust also presented the Camille W. Yow Volunteer of the Year Award to Susan Starr; and the Mary Gregory Jewett Award for Lifetime Preservation Service was given posthumously to architect Lane Greene.

The Excellence in Restoration winners were the Ossabaw Island Boarding House, DeSoto Theatre in Rome, Arnold Hall in Savannah, the Andrew Low House in Savannah, and Grady Hospital's Goddard Chapel in Atlanta.

Excellence in Rehabilitation winners were: Dunlevie House, Allenhurst; Plumfield, Columbus; Health Sciences Building and Parks Memorial Building at Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville; Madison Town Park Cottage, Madison; MLK, Jr. Federal Building, Atlanta; Bartow County Courthouse, Cartersville; Brawner Hall, Smyrna; Newnan Carnegie Library, Newnan; Oglethorpe School at Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta; and the Smith-Benning House, Atlanta.

Michael Purser of the Rosebud Company was recognized with a Preservation Service Award for his lifelong dedication to restoring historic wood floors in buildings and residences throughout Georgia.

A collaborative effort between New South Associates, the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources, the Georgia Transmission Corporation, the Georgia Department of Transportation, and several architectural consulting firms was recognized with a Preservation Service Award for the publication "The Ranch House in Georgia: Guidelines for Evaluation," a guide that recognizes the Ranch House in Georgia as a significant architectural style and provides guidelines for determining it's eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places.

"This year's winners represent a tremendous dedication to restoring and revitalizing Georgia's historic buildings and communities," said Mark C. McDonald, president of The Georgia Trust.  "We are proud to honor such deserving projects and individuals."

For more than 30 years, the Trust has recognized preservation projects and individuals in the state who have made significant contributions to the field of historic preservation. Awards are presented on the basis of the contributions of the person or project to the community and/or state and on compliance to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Founded in 1973, The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is one of the country's largest statewide, nonprofit preservation organizations. The Trust is committed to preserving and enhancing Georgia's communities and their diverse historic resources for the education and enjoyment of all.

The Trust generates community revitalization by finding buyers for endangered properties acquired by its Revolving Fund and raises awareness of other endangered historic resources through an annual listing of Georgia's "10 Places in Peril." The Trust helps revitalize downtowns by providing design and technical assistance in 102 Georgia Main Street cities; trains Georgia's teachers in 63 Georgia school systems to engage students in discovering state and national history through their local historic resources; and advocates for funding, tax incentives and other laws aiding preservation efforts.

To learn more about The Georgia Trust and the Preservation Awards, visit www.georgiatrust.org.

SOURCE The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation