wcw APRIL 2024

feature
Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation’s
2024 Sarasota County Heritage Awards
This year’s winners
represent achievements
in the areas of historic
preservation and
adaptive reuse,
historical research,
archaeological
conservancy, and
organizational and
individual achievement.
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The Sarasota Alliance for Historic
Preservation (SAHP), in collaboration
with the History & Preservation
Coalition of Sarasota County
(HPCOSC), had its Sarasota County
2024 Heritage Awards. The awardeeswere
honored at a ceremony back on March 21.
The Heritage Awards program was originally
developed in 2014 by the HPCOSC
and is currently managed by the SAHP, to
recognize individuals and organizations that
have made outstanding contributions to the
preservation and understanding of Sarasota
County’s historical resources. These activities
are important to lend public support
to governmental and citizen-based efforts
that preserve our common past so future
generations can enjoy what is so unique and
beautiful about Sarasota County.
The 2024 Heritage Award
Recipients:
Gregory A. and Eleana Najmy Hall
Adaptive Use and Historic Preservation:
These two awards are named in
honor of the legacy of architect Gregory A.
Hall and his wife Eleana Najmy Hall. They
recognize and celebrate the best historic
preservation projects in Sarasota County.
Nominations are judged for their success
in the rehabilitation, restoration, or adaptive
use of a historic building in Sarasota
County as well as the impact of the project
on the community. Nominated projects
must have been completed within the last
five years of the submission deadline and
been completed in accordance with the
Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for
Historical Rehabilitation:
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Vickie Oldham and Sarasota African
American Cultural Coalition
(SAACC) Preservation of the
Leonard Reid House: In recognition
of their extraordinary efforts to preserve
the home of one of Sarasota’s
early leaders of the city’s African
American community, and repurpose
the family’s home as an arts, culture
and history center in Newtown that
celebrates Black life and history. The
Committee and awardees also wish to
recognize the financial and logistical
support the Awardees received from
Stevie Freeman-Montes, City Manager
Marlon Brown, and the Sarasota City
Commissioners. Preservation of the
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Florida
Leonard Reid House. It is an outstanding
example of the successful result of
a collaborative effort with the City of
Sarasota to make their vision a reality.
Studio Theater Preservation
and Adaptive Reuse of
the Sarasota’s Woman’s Club and
Gompertz Theater. In recognition of
FST’s extraordinary efforts to incorporate
these historic structures into
its campus, and repurpose them with
sensitive alterations, as it has grown
over the past 50 years into one the
community’s most important arts and
cultural institutions.
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Frank
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Dorothy
The Lillian Burns Individual
Achievement: This year, the award
was conferred upon two individuals
who have made profound contributions
to the history and preservation
movement in Sarasota County.
Cassell, PhD: In recognition
of his outstanding contributions to the
history and preservation movement
in Sarasota County, in the areas of
scholarly research and publications,
and for his tireless devotion to community
service with your leadership of
the Sarasota County Centennial Committee,
the History and Preservation
Coalition of Sarasota County and the
Friends of the Sarasota County History
Center, among many others.
Korwek: In recognition of
her outstanding contributions to the
history and preservation movement in
Sarasota County, including her efforts
to preserve and maintain the Triangle
Inn building and the Lord-Higel House;
obtain historic a historic designation
for the Triangle Inn; her compilation
and publication of numerous books
and pamphlets documenting the history
and culture of Venice; and her
tireless community service.
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Archaeological Conservancy: This
award recognizes outstanding efforts
to preserve and document prehistoric
sites and/or effective advocacy of archaeological
conservation.
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Marion
Almy: In recognition of her
outstanding efforts to preserve and
document prehistoric sites in Sarasota
County and the Tampa Bay region; her
decades of effective advocacy for archeological
conservation and historic
preservation in Florida; and her effectiveness
in advancing archeological
preservation with national, local and
state government agencies, including
the Florida Department of Transportation
and Florida Division of Historical
Resources.
•
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Deborah
Historical Research: Awarded for
outstanding contributions through
research and publication to increase
knowledge of Sarasota County’s past.
Walk: In recognition of her
outstanding contributions to historic
research and archival preservation
of our cultural past, including her research
into the history of the Crocker
Church for the Historical Society of
Sarasota County; research for the
Church of the Redeemer, and the
Founders Garden Club; and for her
work as an archivist, researcher, and
author.
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Organizational Achievement:
Presented to a Sarasota County historical
or preservation organization
for outstanding success in historical
preservation, historical education,
and/or support of historical research.
The awards committee welcomes
nominations of organizations that have
successfully completed a project or a
series of projects that have had a significant
impact on preserving and understanding
Sarasota County’s history.
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Venice
Heritage, Inc.: In recognition
of its efforts to advance historic
preservation, education, research, and
community engagement in Venice. It
is curator of two of the community’s
most important historical structures—
the Lord-Higel House and the Triangle
Inn (now the Venice Museum). It has
also published books documenting
the historical and cultural fabric of the
city and continues to have, strong impact
on raising community awareness
of Venice’s past.
The Heritage Awards committee is comprised
of professionals in the fields of
architecture, historic preservation, real
estate development, archaeology, history
and collections management who deliberated
over the awards submissions before
making their final selections.
For more information, visit
www.PreserveSRQ.org.
About Sarasota Alliance for
Historic Preservation
The Sarasota Alliance for Historic
Preservation is a nonprofit organization
whose mission is to “Preserve and Enhance
our Historic Places.” SAHP was
incorporated in 1985 in an attempt to save
architect Dwight Baum’s El Vernona Hotel
in downtown Sarasota. The Alliance,
a membership-driven organization, is
comprised of residents, business owners,
visitors, artists, architects, engineers, historians,
builders, archaeologists, Realtors,
planners, designers, and writers working together
to preserve and encourage others to
preserve - not only the remaining significant
landmarks - but also the contributing structures
that define Sarasota County. For more
information, visit www.PreserveSRQ.org.
28 WEST COAST WOMAN APRIL 2024