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The Mississippi Heritage Awards are given out every other year to honor individuals and organizations from around the state whose projects show commitment to excellence in preservation. The next set of awards will be presented in spring of 2004 at the Experience Mississippi Historic Preservation Conference in Hattiesburg. Please visit the award section for 2000 and 1999 to learn about the previous award winners.
EXCELLENCE
Lyceum Building, Oxford, Mississippi: Designed
by William Nichols, the Lyceum at the University of Mississippi
was constructed in 1848 to serve as an academic facility and administration
building. As the school grew through the decades, so did the building.
In 1903 architect Theodore Link added wings to the north and south
sides, and in 1923 he installed a portico and central hall extensions.
The building was restored to its 1923 appearance in an outstanding
rehabilitation project completed by David Morris, architect, and
Roy Anderson Corporation, contractor, in 2001. Great attention to
detail defines this project. For example, the Mississippi Department
of Archives and History had recommended that in the absence of original
photographs of the mantels, Morris look to the mantels in the Nichols-designed
Governors Mansion, also constructed in 1848. Using a cast mold,
Morris had exact replicas made of the Governors Mansion mantels.
Preservation 101 is an educational program created and administered by the City of Biloxi in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. This educational project was undertaken during the school year, running from September 2000 through May 2001. Eight lectures, twenty-two field trips, and a graduation ceremony at the historic White House Hotel were the program highlights. Preservation 101 also offered a summer program for children that included hands-on crafts and architectural field trips. A total of 1,086 adults and 447 children participated in Preservation 101. Each person received a copy of The Buildings of Biloxi, and field trips consisted of trolley and walking tours. The Preservation Class of 2001 was awarded with a reception, tours of restoration sites, certificates, and class T-shirts. This $30,000 project was the collaborative effort of non-profit organizations, local businesses, civic organizations, churches, synagogues, and homeowners, and municipal, county, state, and federal agencies. Participating children and adults gained a better understanding of the economics of preservation, the city’s architectural styles, and history in general.
Originally
designed by New Orleans architect Emile Weil, the Saenger Theater
opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1929. This Mississippi Landmark is
an outstanding example of an Art Deco building. This Performing
Arts Center is over 20,000 square feet and would probably cost $10
million dollars to construct today. Although improvements were made
in 1976 and 1981, a complete rehabilitation was needed to bring
the theater up to code and technology standards. Hattiesburg architect
Larry Albert has completed a rehabilitation that protects the elegant
historic integrity of the theater while making necessary changes
such as the addition of a sprinkler system.
Designed by Memphis architect James Bartholomew Cook, the Tate County Courthouse was completed circa 1875. It was enlarged in 1904 by Sardis architects Andrew and Son, the chancery vault was added in 1956, and an annex was added in 1974. But the building did not meet accessibility standards, and with time and deterioration, had also fallen below building-code standards. Architect Belinda Stewart undertook a restoration that would return the courthouse to its original appearance while bringing it up to modern code standards. Throughout the project, the courthouse remained open for business. A non-original balcony has been removed, the original color scheme is in place again, a stairway has been restored, and the building now closely resembles its historic photographs. The Tate County Courthouse is a shining example of the value of restoring historic courthouses rather than constructing new facilities.
MERIT
The historic commercial building located at 411 Franklin Street was damaged in a 1998 storm. But Natchez city planner David Preziosi believed so strongly that it was worth saving that he and his parents purchased the building with the intention of restoring it to its original appearance. Guided by photographs from the collection of the Historic Natchez Foundation, the Preziosi family restored such Colonial Revival details as the first-story entablature and the second-story cornice and frieze. The Preziosis even convinced the connecting building’s owner to restore the neighboring storefront and original frieze. Completed in January 2001, the project resulted in the restoration of the interior and exterior of the building at 411 Franklin Street to their original 1904 appearance. Today the building houses a residential unit upstairs and retail space on the ground floor.
This two-story, five-bay brick row building was constructed circa 1850. Located in the Central Commercial Historic District of Columbus, this antebellum building had been marred by insensitive changes in the doors and windows. The new owner, Millard Green, restored the façade to its original appearance by replacing the 1970s windows with replicas of the original 6/6 wooden sash and water washing the bricks. Interior suspended ceilings and modern stairs were removed, and the central stairs were reopened. Its antebellum appearance restored, the law office at 514 2nd Avenue North plays a supporting role in the strong preservation movement of downtown Columbus.
Constructed during the Depression by Works Progress Administration workers, this log structure first housed the Carrollton library, which opened in 1936. Over time, the logs had deteriorated, and the thirty-foot chimney had begun to lean away from the structure due to the washout of sandy soil. The City of Carrollton was in jeopardy of losing its historic landmark. Emergency maintenance work was performed by Henderson Campbell, the Carroll Society for the Preservation of Antiquities, and the Carrollton Community House Committee to save the simple porch and original tin roof until they could be restored. Architect Robert Parker Adams has preserved these characteristic elements while overseeing the restoration. Today, Carrollton Community House is as beautiful as ever but serves a new function as a large community meeting space.
What was once a private residence has been transformed into Nana’s Guest House & Tea Room. In 2001, local businessman David Smith rehabilitated this 1919 building after acquiring it from the Cunningham family. When Smith purchased the building, it was in a state of disrepair, suffering from both leaks and termites. Poor maintenance and past modifications had detracted from the original architectural style. Architect Briar Jones directed a project to remove vinyl siding, replace rotten wood, repaint the exterior in period colors, and remove non-original windows and doors. Also integral to this project was the expansion of the National Register Historic District to include this building and six others along U.S. Highway 61. Smith now uses his historic bungalow as a bed and breakfast, small meeting facility, and real estate office.
Constructed in 1915, Lexington’s three-story Rayner Building was purchased by the Barrett Law Offices because of its location next to the firm’s original office. The firm planned to expand into the building as needed. Beginning in 1995, architect Belinda J. Stewart began the phased rehabilitation of what was once the Rayner Hardware and Furniture Store. Exterior rehabilitation included installation of a decorative cornice, removal of non-original paint, and repair of the awning. The original cypress floors and the staircase were fully restored. The building’s open-space feel was preserved with wall partitions that do not extend to the ceiling. This building embodies the successful rehabilitation of a commercial storefront.
Hoping
to create a pleasant work environment while showcasing the character
of a historic building, owners Bob and Beth Canizaro, Danny Cawthon,
and Steve Davis set out to restore the S. N. Thomas buildings, which
they had purchased from the Thomas family in 2000. The original
building was built in 1907, and S. N. Thomas moved in ten years
later to house his business on the first floor. As his business
grew, Thomas purchased adjacent buildings. The new owners, who are
also the architects, worked closely with Midstate Construction to
stabilize and restore the structure, retaining its original character
while bringing it up to date. The exterior rehabilitation of the
canopy and storefront were based on a 1925 photograph. Many historic
details survived, such as the second-floor windows and cornice as
well as exterior doors. Although the interior is modern in style,
the architects chose to leave certain historic features to inspire
visual interest and a feeling for the historic character. These
buildings feature a unique blend of historic traits with modern
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