Every May, Historic Macon recognizes outstanding preservation projects with our Annual Preservation Awards.

Click here to nominate a deserving project or person online today!

Award Categories

PRESERVATION, REHABILITATION, OR RESTORATION AWARD
- RESIDENTIAL/SINGLE-FAMILY Awards projects of single-family homes that are treated according to the National Park Service's definitions of preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration.
- COMMERCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL, RENTAL, OR MUNICIPAL Awards commercial, institutional, rental or municipal projects that follow the National Park Service's definitions of preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration.
- Definitions are as follows:
  - Preservation -places a high premium on the retention of all historic fabric through conservation, maintenance, and repair. It reflects a building's continuum over time, through successive occupancies, and the respectful changes and alteration that are made.
  - Rehabilitation -emphasizes the retention and repair of historic materials, but more latitude is provided for replacement because it is assumed the property is deteriorated prior to work.
  - Restoration -focuses on the retention of materials from the most significant time in a property's history, while permitting the removal of materials from other periods.
REVITALIZATION AWARD Recognizes a project or work that makes an exception contribution to the community and/or a pioneering investment in historic districts that are in desperate need of revitalization.
KATHERINE CARMICHAEL OLIVER STEWARDSHIP AWARD Honors owners or caretakers who ensure their buildings stay in excellent condition over a period of decades by consistently maintaining their properties.
JENNY THURSTON AWARD Honors an individual for lifetime achievement in the field of historic preservation.
MARYEL RAMSAY BATTIN AWARD Honors exceptional contributions to the mission and organization of Historic Macon Foundation over many years.
THAD E. MURPHEY PRESIDENT'S CHOICE AWARD Recipient is selected by the chair of Historic Macon's Board of Trustees and honors exceptional contributions to our community.

2024 PRESERVATION AWARD WINNERS

We announced our 2024 winners on May 2 when we gathered for our annual meeting at Tier 2 Technologies. Here they are:

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PRESERVATION, REHABILITATION, OR RESTORATION AWARD, RESIDENTIAL/SINGLE -FAMILY

1. 2795 Hillandale Circle, David and Sondralyn Thompson

Interior design by Carrie Robinson of Robinson Home. Members of the project team included: Andy Lewis of Lewis Electric; Jeff and Taylor Pyles of Cabinets-N-Woodworks, Jamie Rosier of NextGen; carpenters Roger and Travis Kitchens; and landscape designer Watson-Argo.

PRESERVATION, REHABILITATION, OR RESTORATION AWARD, COMMERCIAL, MIXED-USE AND MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS:

2. 555 First St., Iyabo and Dr. Oyekunle Muraina of Macon Lung Center

The contractor was Flex Construction. David Karr of SunTrust Bank provided construction financing, and Joe Saturna of Saturna CPAs provided accounting services. Historic Macon served as the historic tax credit consultant on the renovation.

3. Churchills on Cherry, 557 Cherry St., Bruce and Nicholas Riggins

The design team was Russell Claxton and Alex Givens. Shawn Stafford and Kesia Stafford of Stafford Builders and Consultants served as the contractor. David Danzie Jr. of Synovus provided construction financing, and Historic Macon was the historic tax credit consultant on the renovation.

4. 504 Second St., Randy and Sherry Goss

Bob Brown and the team at BTBB Architects provided design services along with interior designer Carrie Robinson of Robinson Home. Wendy Sherlock and John Intoppa of Upward Construction were the general contractor and project foreman, assisted by Lowel Auker of Whitmer Custom Kitchens. Hughes Pinson of Renasant Bank provided the construction financing.

THE KATHERINE CARMICHAEL OLIVER STEWARDSHIP AWARD

5. Woodruff House, 988 Bond St., Mercer University

Leslie Underwood and John Patterson spearheaded an interior renovation, aided by Carrie Robinson. The Mercer physical plant under the direction of Russell Vullo played a critical role, as did Ken Smith and Johnny Stevens of BHI Construction.

6. Macon Housing Authority, Murphey Homes, Mounts Homes and Davis Homes

Mike Austin and Kathleen Matthews were the project leads for MHA, for work involving dozens of buildings across three campuses. The design was led by Will Stanford of BTBB Architects and Shauna Davis of Shauna Davis Interiors. Fyffe Construction implemented the vision. Aprio LLP provided accounting services, Wells Fargo was a key lender, and Ed Foskey of Synergy was the energy performance consultant. Zeffert and Associates was the accessibility consultant. Terracon provided environmental consulting.

REVITALIZATION AWARD

7. Billingslea Commons, 811 through 843 Forsyth St., Virgil Adams and Bryan Adams

The project team included BTBB Architects and Stafford Builders and Consultants. Historic Macon provided tax credit consulting services.

THE MARYEL RAMSAY BATTIN AWARD, Sue Coggins (honors exceptional contributions to HMF’s mission and organization)

8. Coggins is a committed volunteer who keeps the Flea Market’s holiday section well organized and stocked with treasures for Easter, Halloween, Christmas and more. Sue is a faithful volunteer at the warehouse on Wednesdays and Saturdays, when the crew gathers for months ahead o the spring and fall sales to organize and price donations.

JENNY THURSTON AWARD, Roscoe Ross (lifetime achievement in history preservation)

9. If you have been to Rose Hill cemetery or Washington Park, then you've seen Ross’s craftsmanship. He is a second-generation brick mason who has repaired and rebuilt gates, walls, piers, walkways, stairs, patios, chimneys and more throughout Macon. Perhaps his most visible recent project was to repair an arched entrance at Rose Hill Cemetery after a motor vehicle damaged it.

10. THAD E. MURPHEY PRESIDENT'S CHOICE AWARD, Hemlock Lofts, 805 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dr. Quyen Luu

The former garage of a now demolished Coca-Cola bottling plant, the building languished until Dr. Quyen Luu took on the challenge of breathing new life into it. It took more than five years, but today Hemlock Lofts is leasing unique and stylish apartments. She used Historic Macon as a tax credit consultant,, opening the doors for a members-only tour in February. Architects Kamal Azar and Julie Auburn of Azar and Walsh designed the space. Chuck Stroud and the team at Stroud Construction served as general contractors. Stephanie Surles at Howard, Moore and McDuffie CPAs provided accounting services, and Ben Sapp and the team at RPM Vesta will provide property management. Credit also goes to Donna and Michael Phillips and Shawn Harrison.

2023 PRESERVATION AWARD WINNERS

We announced our 2023 winners on May 4, 2023, when we gathered for our annual meeting at JBA. Here they are:

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration Award: 461 Third St. NewTown Macon, Camp Interiors, BTBB Architects, Kunj Construction.

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration Award: 596 Cherry St. NewTown Macon, Stafford Builders, Robinson Home, BTBB Architects.

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration Award: 415 Cherry St. Dr. Annissa Jones and her husband, Deon Aiken; BTBB Architects.

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration Award: 350 Second St. Woodward Hotel and Quill at the Woodward. NewTown Macon, Wes Griffith, Ryan Griffin, Robinson Home, BTBB Architects, Kevin “Scene” Lewis.

Revitalization Award: Enslaved People Project. Erica Woodford, Stephanie Woods Miller, Julie Grimm, Dr. Chester Fontenot.

Revitalization Award: Empire Lofts. Brooks Patterson.

Katherine Oliver Carmichael Stewardship Award: Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Katherine Oliver Carmichael Stewardship Award: Wesleyan College.

Maryel Ramsay Battin Award: Mimi Morris

Jenny Thurston Award: Bill Causey.

Thad E. Murphey President’s Choice Award: Washington Block. Ryan Sanders, Stroud and Co., Robinson Home, BBBT Architects.

2022 PRESERVATION AWARD WINNERS

We announced our 2022 winners on May 4, 2022, when we gathered for our annual meeting at Grant’s Lounge. Here they are:

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration Award: Residential/Single Family

122 Buford Place, Nick and Jeana Bush

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration Award: Commercial

Robert Train Building, 715 Oglethorpe St.

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration Award: Commercial

Alexander IV Senior Living, 3769 Ridge Ave.

Revitalization Award

Walter Elliott, Jim Barfield, “Mid-Century Macon 1945-1969”

Revitalization Award

Storytellers Macon, Koryn Young, executive director (third from left)

Katherine Oliver Carmichael Stewardship Award

Campus of St. Peter Claver Church and Catholic School, Father Bill McIntyre

Jenny Thurston Award (for lifetime achievement in historic preservation)

Tom Yun, YSY Construction

Maryel Ramsay Battin Award (for service to Historic Macon)

Brad and Stacey Pearce

Thad E. Murphey President’s Choice Award (Given to the most important preservation effort of the year)

Hotel Forty Five

2021 ANNUAL MEETING & Preservation awards

On May 27, 2021, we gathered in person and virtually for the 2021 HMF Annual Meeting & Preservation Awards. The event was held at Triangle Arts (206 Lower Elm St.) in Macon’s Industrial District.

5-6 p.m. Reception showcasing Kinjo Kitchen + Cocktails
6-7 p.m. Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation

2021 PRESERVATION AWARD WINNERS

Jenny Thurston Award

Bob Brown, BTBB Architects

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration Award: Residential

459 Spring St., Dr. Elliot Gordon

Revitalization Award

527 D.T. Walton Way, Kevin Reeves and Bryan Nichols

Katherine Carmichael Oliver Stewardship Award

Park Memorial Methodist Church, 5290 Arkwright Road

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration Award: Residential

Susan and Paul Cable, 355 Vista Circle

Thad E. Murphey President’s Choice Award

Sardis-Heard Funerals and Cremation Center, 6125 Houston Road

Milton Heard

Maryel Ramsay Battin Award

Buck Donnelly and Tricia Burttram

Revitalization Award

U Create Macon, Charise Stephens

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration Award: Commercial, Institutional, Rental or Institutional

Yollah, 894 College St. Dawn McCullar and Brooke Woodes, owners.

Preservation, Rehabilitation or Restoration Award: Commercial

Fall Line Brewery, 567 Plum St.

Nate and Kaitlyn Kressin, owners

2020 ANNUAL MEETING & Preservation awards

(premiered virtually 5.14.20 at 6 PM)

(THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES HAVE NO AUDIO - PLAY SOME LITTLE RICHARD!)
On May 14 we gathered virtually for the 2020 HMF Annual Meeting & Preservation Awards. Check it out at our Facebook page if you’d like to see the real-time interaction. We also simulcasted on WMUB (Cox Channel 112).

2020 PRESERVATION AWARD WINNERS

2019 Preservation award winners

Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration (Residential)

1073 Georgia Ave. - Bonnybrae Bedgood Mansion - John and Stephanie Chipley

Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration (Residential)

524 Mulberry St. - David Thompson

Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration (Residential)

308 Buford Place - Erin Lake

Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration (Commercial, Institutional, Rental, or Municipal)

577 Third St. - Brian Adams

Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration (Commercial, Institutional, Rental, or Municipal)

Little Richard’s House

Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration (Commercial, Institutional, Rental, or Municipal)

520 Mulberry St. - Spearman Lofts - NewTown Macon

Revitalization Award

Macon Bacon

Revitalization Award

Macon-Bibb Fire Department

Jenny Thurston Award

Alison Souther Goldey

Maryel Ramsay Battin Award

Oby Brown

Katherine Carmichael Oliver Stewardship Award

Thad E. Murphey President’s Choice Award

The Grotto - Reichert Family

2018 Preservation Award Winners

Thad E. Murphey President's Choice Awards

Mill Hill Community Arts Center

Macon Arts Alliance and Urban Development Authority

Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration Award - Commercial

Lisenby & Associates

Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration Award -Commercial, Municipal, or Institutional Project

Dot’s Forget-Me-Knots

Revitalization Award

Society Garden

Meagan Evans and Andrew Collier

Jenny Thurston Award

Debra Rawlings of Rebuilding Macon

Stewardship Award

Museum of Arts and Sciences Caboose

Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration Award –Residential Project

Mary Virginia and Jeffrey Gage, 221 Cleveland Avenue

Maryel Ramsay Battin Award

Gloria Wynn

Preservation, Rehabilitation, or Restoration Award –Residential Project

Drs. Michael and Bridget Wright, 619 College Street

2017 Preservation Award Winners

546 Arlington Place

Residential Rehabilitation Award

Jimmy Cassidy purchased his home at 546 Arlington Place in 2015 after the previous owner passed away. The property suffered from years of deferred maintenance. Cassidy completed a full exterior and interior rehabilitation that included replacing the roof and siding and repairing windows. Cassidy took advantage of Historic Macon's tax credit consulting service to complete the project. His home is one of many that have been rehabbed on Arlington Place and his work has helped change the landscape of this InTown street.

Silver Building

Commercial Rehabilitation Award

Piedmont Construction purchased and rehabilitated the Silver Building under the leadership of Scott Thompson. Piedmont Construction transformed the second and third stories of the Silver Building into loft apartments and developed the first story as a combination of loft apartments and downtown's newest brewpub, Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen. The original floors were salvaged and installed in public hallways, the beadboard ceiling was restored on the third floor, and an original wooden stairwell was creatively separated from the rest of the building so it could be both fire-rated and preserved. The project used both state and federal tax credits. Piedmont Construction and Geheber Lewis Associates architects in Atlanta designed the exterior and the loft apartments.

Frank and Susan Broome

Revitalization Award

Frank and Susan Broome have completed four homes in the Huguenin Heights neighborhood. In 2000, the Broomes rehabilitated their home on Coleman Avenue and continued to purchase and rehabilitate properties in the neighborhood. The Broomes currently own four properties on Coleman, Johnson, and Linden Avenues. Three of these properties are rented to vetted tenants who are invested in the Macon community. The couple completes much of the rehabilitation work themselves, such as stripping paint to expose original woodwork. One of their most recent projects, 1259 Linden Avenue, suffered from a fire in May 2016. Despite this setback, they have almost completed this project and plan to make it their new home. Their last two projects, 1262 and 1259 Linden Avenue, utilized both state and federal tax credits.

El Camino

Commercial Rehabilitation Project

El Camino is located in one of the oldest blocks in downtown Macon. During the taqueria's rehabilitation, Moonhanger Group uncovered the structure's original tin ceiling and prioritized maintaining this original feature. R.C. Poss Construction used special paint to fire-rate the ceiling and carefully placed lighting and ductwork to disturb the ceiling as little as possible. Moonhanger Group is taking advantage of state and federal tax credits for El Camino. BTBB Architects, R.C. Poss Construction, and Robinson Home Interiors completed work on this project.

Jim Barfield and Jaime Webb

Jenny Thurston Award

The Jenny Thurston Award is given to individuals for lifetime achievement in the field of historic preservation. Jim Barfield and Jaime Webb won the award for their years of service to Historic Macon Foundation and its predecessor organizations. Both men have served in leadership roles in predecessors Middle Georgia Historical Society and Macon Heritage Foundation, and now, Historic Macon Foundation. Barfield and Webb are vocal supporters of the preservation movement throughout the state of Georgia and have served the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. The partners have completed rehabs of numerous historic houses throughout Macon, supported the Friends of Rose Hill, and served on Historic Macon's Board of Trustees and various committees. Jim Barfield has led Rose Hill Rambles every spring since 1990 and authored several local history books, and Jaime has served as a realtor for Historic Macon's rehabilitation projects and has closed over 100 historic properties.

M&R Marketing Group

Commercial Rehabilitation Award

M&R Marketing Group purchased its downtown location on Third Street after deciding to relocate from North Macon. The marketing firm contemplated removing the building's iconic mid-century grill but ultimately decided to maintain this incredible feature. The completed rehabilitation embraces the mid-century modern aesthetic both inside and out. R.C. Poss Construction completed this project.

NewTown Macon and Johnston Lofts

Commercial Rehabilitation Award

NewTown converted the former Johnston Brothers Furniture Building into loft apartments as well as its new office and co-working space. The building suffered from a fire in the 1970s and its original parapet was removed later that decade. The revitalization organization added a new parapet to the building, which is based on the historic feature with simpler details in order to avoid a false sense of historical development. The project took advantage of both state and federal tax credits. BTBB, Inc., Piedmont Construction, Robinson Home Interiors, and Michelle Garlington completed the project.

Porter House

Thad E. Murhpey President's Choice Award

Wesleyan College saved the Porter House from demolition by moving it from its original location on Houston Road to the college campus in 2013. The move intially made the Porter House ineligible for historic tax credits was tied to its National Register eligibility. Wesleyan College built a new foundation and fully restored the exterior before the property's eligibility for the National Register and historic tax credits was confirmed. In May 2015, Georgia's Historic Preservation Division officially declared the Porter House of outstanding local significance, make the Porter House eligible for both National Register of Historic Places designation and historic tax credits. Wesleyan College completed the masterful rehabilitation of the Porter House in 2016 with the help of Sheridan Construction. Dunwody, Beeland, and Associates served as the architect for the project, a connection to the designer who originally designed the structure, architect Elliot Dunwody. R.C. Ross Construction moved the house and oversaw the initial phase of rehabilitation.

1855 Twin Pines Drive

Stewardship Award

For over 15 years, John Waldvogel has resided and maintained his mid-century home in the Shirley Hills neighborhood. He and his partner, Paul Rogers, painstakingly restored their home, keeping its key mid-century modern features. The landscaping surrounding the property and carefully designed interior show the care and appreciation Waldvogel and Rogers have for their unique home. Rogers is a designer and has also worked on several other mid-century houses in Macon.

Richard Paul

Stewardship Award

Richard Paul, lovingly referred to by his North Highlands neighbors as the "lawn fairy," maintains an impeccable yard at 763 Boulevard. The stewardship of his personal property is notable, but Historic Macon recognized Paul with a preservation award because of his commitment to the beautification of his entire neighborhood. Paul often cuts grass and tends yards for elderly neighbors, absentee landlords, and maintains public spaces, often without thanks or recognition.

773 North Avenue

Rich Bates purchased his Neel Reid home in North Highlands in 1995. Before Bates acquired the house, previous owners converted rooms into offices and it barely resembled Neel Reid's original design. Bates painstakingly brought the house back to its original grandeur, both through its rehabilitation and the recreation of the historic grounds. He actively promotes good stewardship to other owners of Neel Reid designed properties. Bates has taken steps to ensure his home will be preserved for future generations.