Historical Society Announces Winners of 2017 Rockland County Historic Preservation Award

The Historical Society of Rockland County (HSRC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 27th annual Rockland County Executive's Historic Preservation Merit Awards. These awards, presented in recognition of outstanding historic preservation efforts in Rockland County, will be presented at a country supper on the grounds of the Historical Society’s historic Jacob Blauvelt Homestead in New City on Sunday, May 21, 2017. (May is National Preservation Month)

The 27th Annual Rockland County Executive's Historic Preservation Merit Awards recipients for 2017 are:

• Alice Gerard, Palisades: Margaret B. and John R. Zehner Award for contributions to the county's history, and for underscoring the value of historic preservation to the community
• The Hon. George Hoehmann, Supervisor, Town of Clarkstown: Preservation Leadership Award for individuals, groups, and government agencies that display outstanding leadership or continuing contribution to the preservation of historic resources in Rockland County
• Village of Upper Nyack, Nyack Joint Fire Commission, and Jan Degenshein: Preservation/Restoration Award for Empire Hook & Ladder, Upper Nyack
• Joe Brancato and Andrew Horn: Rehabilitation Award for the Penguin Repertory Theatre, Stony Point
• Lake Tappan Development: Adaptive Use Award for the Perry Blauvelt Seth House, now the Club at Pearl River Community Center, Pearl River
• Michelle and Joseph Natale: Adaptive Use Award, for the William Felter House, now the Bricktown Inn, Haverstraw
• Palisades Community Center: Adaptive Use Award for the Palisades School House, now the Palisades Community Center, Palisades

and

• Tina Traster: Special Commendation for her documentary film This House Matters

All of the awards made by the Society in 2017 underline the positive effects of preservation on the community. For example, in one instance, the excellent adaptive reuse of a historic house will significantly enhance a new, contemporary development in Pearl River. In another, a grassroots volunteer group converted an unused schoolhouse into a vibrant community center, making a positive contribution to a village’s rich history. Please join us in congratulating the award recipients. Information about attending the awards ceremony and country supper, which will be held on the grounds of the Jacob Blauvelt House on May 21, 2017, is available at www.RocklandHistory.org, and tickets can be purchased by clicking on the Brown Paper Tickets logo:

In addition to celebrating preservation achievements, the HSRC and the Preservation Merit Awards Committee will continue to work with members of the Rockland County Historic Preservation Board and the County’s municipal historians to identify Rockland County’s most endangered places. This list will be shared at the Country Supper. “This effort to identify endangered places in Rockland, and to widely share information about them is critical,” said Clare Sheridan, committee chairperson. “Our hope is that by awarding preservation successes and highlighting critical preservation needs we can encourage strong, coordinated efforts to increase the chances of preserving historic places in our community.”

History of the Rockland County Executive's Historic Preservation Merit Awards Program

Since 1991, the Historical Society of Rockland County has presented over 75 awards to public agencies, private individuals, community-based and religious organizations in recognition of their preservation efforts in the County. The Committee also supports continued, critical action to help save Rockland County's environmentally sensitive areas and endangered architecture. Instituted to preserve the rich historical heritage of the County, the annual program celebrates each May with a declaration of "Rockland County Preservation Week" by the County Executive, a festive country supper and awards ceremony.

With a rapidly growing population of newcomers to the area, one challenge has been to help the public understand the value of preservation as well as being involved in their community. Addressing this challenge, the HSRC’s Preservation Awards program has:

• awarded preservation efforts of individuals and groups
• increased awareness of our historic resources
• helped local communities to recapture history and pride of place
• advocated for the purchase of endangered sites for the public good
• attempted to unite all five townships in the support of historic preservation

The awards, made by the Society for preservation efforts on homes, businesses, municipal locations, and structures both modest and grand, help to get out the word that it is in everyone's interest to restore and retain the richness of the past. The process is self-fulfilling, and it helps to unify and inspire a community.