Wilmette Properties Honored for Historic Preservation

The following information was provided by the Wilmette Historic Preservation Commission:

The Wilmette Historic Preservation Commission honored recipients at its 20th annual Historic Preservation Awards Sunday.

The Preservation Awards, co-hosted this year by the Wilmette Historic Museum, recognizes property owners, architects, contractors and local organizations for their contribution to maintaining and enhancing the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of the Village of Wilmette.

Four residential properties, one public space and one open space were honored this year for their efforts.

An award was presented to Joel and Katie Cory for stewardship of their home at 10 Canterbury Ct. Their 1927 French Eclectic style of architecture home’s exterior has been meticulously maintained and holds high architectural merit and integrity.

Homeowners Steve Feldman and Jennifer Manning were recognized for the exterior restoration of their home at 1104 Forest Ave. The homeowners restored a front porch to their early 1900s-era Queen Anne-style home that had been removed decades earlier, basing the restoration on photos obtained from the Wilmette Historical Museum. Architect and general contractor, Benveuti & Stein, was also recognized.

Centennial Park’s Prairie Garden and Detention Basin, located at the north end of Centennial Park, was recognized for their landscape restoration from a non-native lawn to a native prairie, which approximates Wilmette’s pre-prairie pioneer era landscape. The following individuals or groups associated with the restoration project were recognized: Charlotte Adelman; Joe Bruner; 3D Design Studio; Bill Lambrecht, Steve Wilson, Kerry Blass, and Humberto Malonado, all from the Wilmette Park District; the Wilmette Park District Board; and the Wilmette Park District Staff.

Homeowners Kevin and Susanne Rutherford were honored for the sympathetic addition to their home at 1601 Central Ave. Their project involved removing a previously built rear addition that was not in keeping with the original structure in architectural form; and constructing a new rear addition designed to be compatible with the 1920s Craftsman with Tudor influences architectural style house. Architect Charles Cook of Cook Architectural Design Studio and general contractor Kirk Johnson of Legacy Enterprises, Inc. were also recognized.

The Commission also honored Paul and Jane Pasin, 687 Sheridan Rd., for a sympathetic addition to their neoclassical style home. Their rear porch addition borrows architectural shapes from the front façade. The newer portion differentiates itself, yet relates to the historic architectural elements of the home. Architect Bill Massey, Massey Hoffman Architects; and General Contractor WZ Home Improvement were also recognized.

Roemer Baseball Park was recognized for the sympathetic addition to their park, with the installation of a new scoreboard, foul poles, and storage building. The work was completed in a manner sensitive and consistent with the original park design and character.  The following firms associated with the project were also recognized: Dave Roberts, AIA CR, Roberts Architects, Ltd. and Roberts Construction Group; Olena Goroshko, Roberts Architects, Ltd.; Pete Wall and Irv Turner, Roberts Construction Group; Wilmette Baseball Association; Tom Ricketts, Chicago Cubs; Chuck Neuhaus, Hanson Roofing; Jack Spellman, Spellman Electric;  Bill Van Sky, Van Sky Concrete; David Bromley, Chicago Sign Group; Bob Fisher, Evanston Lumber Company; and Bob Nordland, Midwest Siding.

Following the awards ceremony, Kathy Hussey-Arntson, Wilmette Historical Museum Director, and Patrick Leary, Museum Curator, provided highlights from their newest book, “Wilmette” published in September by Arcadia Publishers.