Fall 2015 Preservation in Progress Awards

LPA is recognizing two projects for PIP Awards this fall!  Award winners are:

715 Illinois street

Pam and Dave Crawford- 715 Illinois

Pam and Dave  live in one of the older homes in Lawrence (1873), but before last year no one would ever know it thanks to remodeling work by previous owners in the 1920s and especially the 1960s.  After tracing the home’s history, and receiving early photos from the now 90 year old child of a former owner, the Crawfords began an extensive rehab that included removing a number of the 1960s elements and reconstructing an original wraparound front porch…ahh, this historic house makes sense again!

Douglas County Historical Society (DCHS) - 1047 Massachusetts, Watkins Museum

Steve Nowak accepts the Preservation in progress award for the douglas county historical society/watkins museum

DCHS, which catalogues and maintains artifacts critical to interpreting the history of Douglas County, recently completed a multi-year project to restore the 2nd and 3rd floor windows of the largest and most important artifact of their collection: the historic Watkins Bank building, which is home to the museum at the corner of 11th and Mass.  This project was funded by a grant from the City of Lawrence and extensive private fundraising.  Individual donors also made possible significant roof repairs and new guttering.  The Watkins Bank building is one of this city’s most significant architectural resources, and completion of this major task is welcome news to our community.