The Western Springs Historical Society honored three homes as the 2012 Preservation Award winners at the October 22nd Western Springs Village Trustee meeting.
All of the winners were nominated in May by a neighbor or anonymous person and were reviewed by a panel of judges familiar with historical preservation, construction and architecture.
The awards, which the Historical Society has been giving since 1996, recognize owners for restoring or preserving their residences while maintaining the architectural and historic integrity of the structure. Houses must be at least 50 years old for two of the categories and only the exterior of the buildings is considered. Judges use criteria that have been established by the US Department of the Interior and are recommended by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
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The final category, The Good Neighbor Award, is for a newer structure, either residential or commercial, that fits the scale and historic style of Western Springs.
“The Historical Society appreciates the efforts by all homeowners to maintain their homes to the extent they are noticed and nominated for an award,” said Allyson Zak, WSHS president. “Their commitment to preserving their home or adding to it contributes greatly to the charm and historic character of our village.”
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The Historical Society will present homeowners with a bronze plaque for their home.
Award Categories and winners:
Preservation/Exterior Rehabilitation: This includes the maintenance, repair and replacement of the structure so that it retains its original exterior historic character or returning a structure to the original design and condition by repairing or replacing the original material/architectural detail and painting with historically appropriate colors. This year’s winner is 1206 Walnut owned by Scott and Barb Hudson.
Compatible Addition: This award is given to a house where the design of the addition recognizes and respects existing architectural and environmental characteristics of the property. These include size, shape and scale of the addition and the use of compatible materials, colors and textures. This year’s winner is 4143 Grove, owned by Kevin and Grace Halm.
Good Neighbor: This award recognizes that preserving the character of our village goes beyond older homes. Houses receiving this award are newer structures that complement the architectural and environmental characteristics of the surrounding neighborhood in terms of style, scale and materials. This year’s winner is 4216 Grand, owned by Joe and Julie Niego
“It’s wonderful to see newer homes in our community utilizing architecture and design that complement the historic nature of Western Springs, “ Zak said.
The Western Springs Historical Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization whose mission is to instill an appreciation of the village’s history in residents of all ages. It is supported solely by donations from residents and local businesses. In addition to the annual Preservation Awards, the Historical Society operates the museum at the historic Water Tower and the Ekdahl House. It hosts the village’s House Walk, which will be held on May 19, 2013. It offers tours for a variety of student and youth groups and educational programs, including its Oral History program. For more information on events and activities, visit its web site www.westernspringshistory.org.
