by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
The annual Preservation Awards 2002 ceremony was held Monday night at old St. Andrews Church as part of National Preservation Week. The Jacksonville Historical Society and the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission honored individuals and organizations who strive to protect some of the City’s oldest structures. Awards were given to those who support preservation, strive to educate the public about their heritage or rehabilitate antiquated buildings. Companies creating new architecture that is compatible with the neighborhood and those who continue to keep history alive were also honored. The lifetime achievement award was accepted by Harry Reagan, president of the Jacksonville Historical Society, on behalf of former U.S. Rep. Charles Bennett, who was unable to attend.
The winners are:
Preservation Project or Service, Individual
• Ron and Susan Masucci for the donation of the Leah Mary Cox collection.
• City Council president Matt Carlucci for commitment to historic preservation.
• City Council vice president Suzanne Jenkins for leadership in sponsoring a historic building code.
Preservation Project or Service, Organization
• Greyhound Lines for restoring its bus station sign.
• The City for purchasing the Florida Life, old Florida National Bank and Bisbee buildings.
Heritage Education or Publication
• William Jeter, Jr. for “Jacksonville in Vintage Postcards
• Bill Foley, Carol Fader, Emily Lisska and Wayne Wood for the book, “The Great Fire of 1901.”
Residential Rehabilitation
• John Tritt, 1674 Osceola Street.
Commercial or Institutional Rehabilitation
• Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Worth Contracting, Inc. and Kenneth Smith Architects for the old State Board of Health building
• Allan and Mary Lou Brown for The Casa Marina.
Architecturally Compatible New Construction
• Lincoln Property Company, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and Looney Ricks Kiss Architects for the Villas at St. Johns.
The Great Save Award
• Linda Harper for her efforts in saving the three remaining shotgun houses in LaVilla.
Overall Preservation Service
• Florida Theatre for 75 years of entertainment.
• Former U.S. Rep. Charles Bennett for lifetime achievement in researching and preserving Jacksonville’s history.