Lewes Historical Society to honor five preservationists April 12
The Lewes Historical Society is set to honor five outstanding preservationists at its Preservation Awards Recognition Luncheon, sponsored by Burton Builders. Tickets are $30 per person and benefit the society's programs in historic preservation. Tim Slavin, Delaware state historic preservation officer, will offer remarks regarding the importance of historic preservation. The awards luncheon begins at noon, Thursday, April 12, at the Margaret H. Rollins Community Room at the Lewes History Museum. To order tickets, call 302-645-7670 or go to www.historiclewes.org/events.
The five honorees who have made an indelible impact on the Lewes community by enhancing the town through preservation and thoughtful design and services are:
• Lee Ann Wilkinson and Aaron Hood's property at 329/331 Market St. was a derelict three-story twin home that had not seen updates since the late 1800s. It took one year to complete the extensive renovations, including a new foundation and moving an existing attached garage to the back of the property.
• The Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation has been the caretakers and owners of Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse since 2002. In 2010, after rebuilding the dock to the lighthouse 13 times in seven years, the DRBLHF board set a goal to construct a dock to withstand the environmental challenges of the National Harbor of Refuge Breakwater area. The dock was completed in 2016. Since 2002, the foundation has spent thousands of volunteer hours restoring and preserving Harbor of Refuge, and educating the local community and visitors to the area of the maritime history of the two Lewes lighthouses.
• Linda Madrid and Amy Frederick's property at 524 Kings Highway was constructed in 1883, and was purchased by Madrid and Frederick in 2013. Following its purchase, the owners retained Brenda Jones to assist in an architectural design that would both renovate and rehabilitate the main house, as well as the small cottage on the property, and expand the living areas. The project was completed in 2016, and included moving the cottage away from the house and adding an upstairs hallway and an elevator.
• St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church (McIntosh/Stollenwerk Home) was built in 1882, one of the first African-American churches in Lewes, and was still in use when it was purchased in 2012. With full support of the Historic Commission and input from the community, McIntosh & Stollenwerk restored the exterior to match the oldest photo they had at the time, reinforced the building, and transformed the interior into a two-bedroom home that highlights historic elements including exposed 1882 façade with the original half wagon wheel window in place and a mantel made from a beam that once supported the altar.
• Lewes in Bloom works to promote the beautification and maintenance of Historic Lewes and the community at large. By doing so, historical preservation, urban forestry, environmental awareness and wide-ranging community involvement, in addition to floral displays and landscaping are enhanced for everyone's enjoyment.
"Done correctly, historic preservation isn't necessarily about the preservation of one building, but rather a community and its context, and it should lead to thriving local business and a sustainable way of life," Society Executive Director Mike DiPaolo noted. "Lewes is often held up nationally as an example of what a community can do when it both cares about its past and puts its mind to the task. The society feels we need to honor those who have acted so faithfully as stewards of our heritage."
The society hosts educational programs and exhibits throughout the year and generates approximately $8 million for the local economy by attracting tens of thousands of visitors to its museums, tours, events and programs. The society has restored and maintains 14 historic properties and hundreds of thousands of artifacts, photographs and archival materials to function as the memory of Lewes.
For more information, go to www.historiclewes.org.
