Rockland Historic Preservation Award Winners for 2019 Announced

The Historical Society of Rockland County (HSRC) is pleased to announce the 2019 Rockland County Executive's Historic Preservation Merit Awards. These awards are presented in recognition of outstanding historic preservation efforts in Rockland County. The awards 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 19, 2019. (May is National Preservation Month)

The 29th Annual Rockland County Executive's Historic Preservation Merit Award winners are:

• The 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: Virginia Norfleet, Haverstraw African American Connection

• 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: Ginny and John Wall, West Nyack

• Adaptive Use – For successfully rehabilitating a property to a state of utility through repair or sympathetic alterations that makes an efficient new use possible while preserving those portions or features of the property that are significant to its historical, architectural, and cultural values:
  • Union Arts Center, Sparkill: Simon Basner (owner); Caitlin Burck (project designer); Dave Sirois (master carpenter) Allen Ross (architect)
  • Valley Rock Inn and Mountain Club, Sloatsburg: Michael Bruno (owner)

• Rehabilitation Awards: Acknowledges the need to alter or add to a historic property to meet continuing or changing uses while retaining the property's historic character:
  • The Piermont Train Station Foundation and Landscaping, Piermont: Village of Piermont (owners); Piermont Historical Society (occupants)
  • 32 Tallman Avenue, Nyack: Paul Walker & Jay Snyder (owners); Bernard Weintraub (previous owner/builder), Kier Levesque (architect)

• Rescue: For historic sites or structures rescued from possible demolition and being reclaimed for further use:
  • Bluefield Farm Barn (formerly Blauvelt Amos Barn), Blauvelt: Joy & John Macy (owners)

with Special Commendations going to:

• The Morning Music Club in celebration of their 95th Anniversary; and
• Joseph Beckerle (posthumously), for the rescue of the fireplace surround and mantle from the Thomas Smith House, Haverstraw.

All of the awards made by the Society in 2019 underline the positive effects of preservation on the community. For example, in one instance, the excellent adaptive use of a former firehouse has created a vibrant art center, adding life to the charming village of Sparkill. In another, a couple’s unwillingness to let a neglected historic barn continue to fall into disrepair has resulted in an inspiring, utilitarian space for a flourishing flower farm. Please join us in congratulating all the award recipients. For information on attending the awards ceremony and country supper, which will be held on the grounds of the Jacob Blauvelt house on May 19, 2019, please visit www.RocklandHistory.org.

In addition to celebrating preservation achievements, the HSRC and the Preservation Merit Awards Committee will continue to work with members of the Rockland County Preservation Board and the County’s municipal historians to identify Rockland County’s most endangered places. “Shine A Light on Historic Sites” is a list that 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. “We have seen positive results from highlighting “at-risk” sites. For example, the Cropsey Barn (formerly the Rippon Barn) was a “Shine a Light” site in prior years. It is now being rehabilitated by the Town of Clarkstown and the County of Rockland. Our hope is that by awarding preservation successes, as well as 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 85 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.

For more information on the award process, or to find out how to attend the Country Supper visit www.RocklandHistory.org or contact the Historical Society of Rockland County at (845) 634-9629 or info@rocklandhistory.org.