2022 Preservation Awards
Each year, Historic Wilmington Foundation honors the very special people enacting our mission through exemplary preservation efforts through adaptive reuse, rehabilitation, and restoration.
On May 19, the Historic Wilmington Foundation honored the winners of our 2022 Preservation Awards at at Thalian Hall’s City Council Chambers.
To the right, you may peruse a gallery of photos from the event, taken by volunteer Cody Lee Aulidge (codyleeaulidge.com).
To view captions, click on the image, and the gallery will expand into a slideshow, including the caption text at the bottom.
ADAPTIVE REUSE
definition: a building that is preserved through a new use that maximizes the retention of distinctive materials, features, spaces, and spatial relationships
PBC Design + Build Headquarters (former Pearsall Memorial Church, 3902 Market Street)
PBC Design + Build
In August of 2022, PCB Design + Build completed the adaptive reuse of the church’s 1970 fellowship hall into their company’s new headquarters with the goal of creating relevant and purposeful spaces while not disturbing the original structural integrity of the historic building. Their scope of work included opening up the steel truss ceiling, bringing in natural light with a clerestory at the ridgeline, and creating workspaces for 25 employees – including preserving the fellowship hall’s stage as the company’s design studio. PCB believes that preserving the campus of Pearsall Church will help create a sense of place for their employees and residents in the Market Street corridor.
REHABILITATION
definition: a building that is repaired and/or altered while preserving those portions or features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values; features may include, but are not limited to, porch columns, siding, balustrades, windows, and stairs
314 Orange Street
James & Laura Luddy and Holliday Construction
Once on HWF’s “Most Threatened Places List,” the Langdon House was rehabilitated by owners James & Laura Luddy, along with their general contractor, Holliday Construction.
The rehabilitation of this 1808 Federal home included replacing the standing seam, metal roof, an interior redesign to accommodate four bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as new plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. All original windows, doors, trim, and baseboards were preserved when possible. Remarkably, the house boasts ten fireplaces, and each was preserved in the original form.
Delgado Mills House #17: 2117 Wrightsville Avenue
Old School Rebuilder & Co. and Dogwood Architecture
This rehabilitated property serves as the offices of Old School Rebuilder & Co. After purchasing the house, Old School Rebuilder & Co. removed the exterior aluminum wrapping and vinyl siding in favor of the property’s cypress siding.
Windows were replaced to match the original 6-over-6 pattern. New plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems were installed. Upon completion, the mill house now features office space for at least five employees, two break rooms, two restrooms, a conference room, all of which is ADA compliant. The interior design is a harmonious mix of original interior finishes with more contemporary lighting, hardware, glass doors, and cabinetry.
Bissinger House (515 Princess Street)
Dominador Gobaleza; Rob Romero; Adler Restoration; Will Aluiter
Formerly Hewlett, Collins, and Allard Law Firm, Dor Gobaleza purchased the property and rehabilitated the house back to its original use as a single-family home. The law office’s former parking lot was reclaimed as a pool, gardens, and guesthouse. Rob Romero served as the architect for the project and Adler Restoration was the general contractor. Floorboards from the center entry hall were used to repair floors in the rest of the house. Doors, moldings, and baseboards were preserved inside the home. Dilapidated, rear porches were converted into guest bathrooms, laundry room, and mudroom. A large side piazza was added to the house’s east elevation, overlooking the pool complex, which was enclosed with a brick wall that preserved much of the existing, historic brick wall.
The Pender House Bed & Breakfast (former Black Hotel, 214 Dickerson Street)
Larry & Beth Owens
Formerly vacant, the Owens rehabilitated the historic Black Hotel in Burgaw as the Pender Inn Bed & Breakfast. The rehabilitation left the house’s original layout, including eight rooms, unaltered.
Half the wood floors on the first story were replaced due to termite damage using salvaged wood from Legacy Architectural Salvage. Additionally, several framing members were repaired due to termite damage. A mantel and trim were fabricated to restore original architectural details. No surprise, the rehabilitation included new plumbing, electric, and mechanical systems.
Wilson Cottage (620 South 2nd Street)
Aaron & Tara Phillips and Martha Mendoza
This rehabilitation of this circa 1896 cottage included replacing the standing-seam, metal roof, replacement of rotted siding, and painting.
A modern bathroom and new closets were constructed, yet the homeowner preserved original architectural features such as wainscoting, doors, and a mantel. On the porch, the turned balustrades, porch supports, and spindlework were preserved, allowing this house to retain its architectural integrity. Aaron and Tara Phillips, former owners, served as the contractor with assistance from AMC East Coast Remodeling, LLC.
Pender County Courthouse (100 South Wright Street)
County of Pender
Damaged during Hurricane Florence in 2018, the rehabilitation of the Pender County Courthouse (built in 1938) in Burgaw included repairing storm damage, updating electrical and mechanical systems, lead and asbestos abatement, and ADA improvements. Resiliency work on the building’s envelope included brick repointing and addressing wood rot around windows, doors and the roofline.
LS3P provided architectural services and Thomas Construction Group served as the general contractor for interior work. Today, the Pender County Courthouse is more resilient against climate events and will continue to serve the community for generations to come.
RESTORATION
definition: a building that accurately reflects the form, features, and character of the building as it appeared at a particular period of time by replacing missing elements, removing later elements, and limiting modern upgrades required to make the property functional
Roof of St. James Episcopal Church (25 South 3rd Street)
St. James Parish
Finished in 1840, St. James Episcopal Church is a gothic revival structure designed by Thomas U. Walter. Last year, St. James Parish restored the sanctuary’s standing steam, metal roof. Initially thought to be original to the sanctuary, later evidence suggested the roof dated to the mid-20th century. Ian Johnson served as the project’s architect and Highland Roofing was the project’s contractor. Additionally, Dale Hayes repointed masonry for the project. The new roof included sixteen-inch, aluminum panels in the color Dove Gray. Completed last month, St. James’ new roof will protect one of Wilmington’s oldest houses of worship for decades to come.
AWARD OF MERIT
The Award of Merit honors an entity or endeavor that is not a piece of built history (i.e., a film, event, or website).
The Oakdale Cemetery Company; Friends of Oakdale Cemetery; Cape Fear Fabrication & Welding
Chartered in 1852, Oakdale Cemetery is North Carolina’s oldest rural cemetery. Its original boundaries feature 65 acres of funerary art, mature flora, and decorative, iron fences. In the past few years, several historic fences were restored, including the Oscar G. Parsley lot and George French lot. Currently, the Meares Circle fence, constructed in 1857, is being restored. The project encompasses the repair, stripping, and powder-coating of nearly 300 linear feet of fence, including 36 pillars and 2 entrance gates. Mark Pope, the owner and operator of Cape Fear Fabrication and Welding in Rocky Point, has completed most of the historic fence repairs in the past 20+ years at Oakdale Cemetery.
DAVID BRINKLEY AWARD
The David Brinkley Award honors extraordinary preservation work of large scale, scope, and effort.
Michael Moore & Glendal Jenkins
George W. Edwards Award
The George W. Edwards Award honors a volunteer, intern, or staff member demonstrating exemplary integrity and commitment on behalf of local preservation.
John Kendall
After retiring from public service, John Kendall came into Legacy Architectural Salvage, looking for reclaimed wood to use in a project. That was the start of his volunteer journey with us, and he has become our longest serving volunteer at Legacy. John is involved in all aspects of what we do, from deconstructions, donation pick-ups, deliveries, upcycling, repairs, de-nailing and cleaning incoming wood, warehouse organization, sales, helping customers load large purchases, and educating our customers on our mission to protect and preserve our historic resources. John builds relationships with our donors and customers, and they ask for him by name and request his expertise on a regular basis. Our volunteers serve as ambassadors to share our mission with our local community inside and out of the warehouse, and John Kendall takes that role very seriously. The unique talents, hard work and commitment that John brings to our organization cannot be overstated.
Katherine Howell Award
The Katherine Howell Award recognizes someone for their leadership, and significant contributions to the Historic Wilmington Foundation mission and, consequently greatly furthering the cause of preservation in the Lower Cape Fear region.
Sylvia Kochler
To say that Sylvia exemplifies leadership and significant contributions to the Historic Wilmington Foundation is an understatement. For the past six years, Sylvia has served on HWF’s Board of Trustees. Her service on the board is a testament to diligent fact finding and reasoned deliberation. As a former lawyer, and self-professed “policy wonk,” HWF benefits from her detailed analysis of preservation policies. As Chair of HWF’s Preservation Action Committee, Sylvia assists the Executive Director in navigating Section 106 review for Wilmington Rail Realignment, keeping up-to-speed on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement, and many other policy issues. Last year, Sylvia spearheaded HWF’s efforts in responding to the revision of Wilmington’s Land Development Code. Her selflessness is extraordinary, and HWF sincerely appreciates her support.
photo credit: WILMA Magazine
Thomas & Elizabeth Wright Award for Lifetime Achievement
The Thomas & Elizabeth Wright Award for Lifetime Achievement recognizes someone for lifelong dedication to historic preservation in Wilmington and the Lower Cape Fear Region.
Tony Rivenbark
Tony Rivenbark has served as executive director of Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts since 1979. His 43-year tenure has fundamentally transformed Thalian Hall into the vibrant, civic, and cultural center that our community cherishes today. In 1983, Tony championed efforts to develop a Master Plan for the expansion of the theater and the renovation of the stage. From 1988 to 1990, Tony led Thalian Hall through a $5 million dollar restoration and expansion, which included the construction of modern restrooms, ADA accessibility, backstage improvements, and a new northern wing. The project culminated in the reopening of Thalian Hall on March 2, 1990 for a two week performing arts festival. In 2010, Tony led Thalian Hall through a $3.6 million renovation, including the reconfiguration of the main stage’s seating, a hydraulic orchestra pit, and the introduction of “Alice,” the beloved Victorian-style chandelier.
As a historian, Tony is the author of a photographic history book entitled Images of Thalian Hall, published by Arcadia Press in 2015. His work to compile and curate artifacts and collections for the Thalian Hall Archives was recognized in 1996 by the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society. Tony lectures throughout the country on Thalian Hall and historic theater renovation. His contributions to theater history include tensures on the Board of Directors of the League of Historic American Theatres. Thanks to Tony’s tireless advocacy and research, Thalian’s historic curtain, painted by William Russell Smith, was restored at the Cameron Art Museum and is now displayed for the public. Nearly every year, Tony and the staff of Thalian Hall interpret the theater’s historic thunder-roll at a free event.