Award Photos by Mark Girdauskas
The first annual awards presentation by the ACO St. Thomas-Elgin Branch recognized examples of heritage preservation and those who worked to make them happen, and at the same time provided a virtual tour of the buildings which are located across Elgin County. The presentations took place on April 16th at the St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre.
The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario has been around since 1933. The local branch started in 2009, in response to the loss of Alma College through a spiraling process of neglect. Their focus is education and advocacy related to preservation of built heritage.
The first annual awards presentation by the ACO St. Thomas-Elgin Branch recognized examples of heritage preservation and those who worked to make them happen, and at the same time provided a virtual tour of the buildings which are located across Elgin County. The presentations took place on April 16th at the St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre.
The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario has been around since 1933. The local branch started in 2009, in response to the loss of Alma College through a spiraling process of neglect. Their focus is education and advocacy related to preservation of built heritage.
The local ACO awards are designed to highlight positive examples, in five categories, of architectural preservation in Elgin County; selections were made by a committee consisting of Barb Green, Shelley Smith, Nancy Mayberry and Ed Vandermaarel.
Above: Barb Green, Awards Committee Chair; Laurence Grant, ACO Branch President; Shelley Smith, ACO Branch Vice President; Nancy Mayberry, Awards Committee Member.
Emcee Barb Green noted that although we may enjoy the conveniences and offerings of new buildings, malls, and big box stores, we can also benefit immeasurably from the character, historical significance and sense of place which come from thoughtfully preserved heritage buildings.
Steve Peters was recognized with an award for Advocacy and Education. He noted that he has had many interesting experiences in the process of advocating for preservation and while some have been negative, several have had very positive outcomes. While on St. Thomas council, he supported the restoration of St. Thomas City Hall. He was involved in establishing the North America Railway Hall of Fame, and later as MPP, became the first tenant in the restored CASO Railway Station.
Award Recipients
Award recipient buildings are pictured below on the left, along with the person or group on hand at the awards to receive their certificate of recognition, on the right.
Steve Peters was recognized with an award for Advocacy and Education. He noted that he has had many interesting experiences in the process of advocating for preservation and while some have been negative, several have had very positive outcomes. While on St. Thomas council, he supported the restoration of St. Thomas City Hall. He was involved in establishing the North America Railway Hall of Fame, and later as MPP, became the first tenant in the restored CASO Railway Station.
Award Recipients
Award recipient buildings are pictured below on the left, along with the person or group on hand at the awards to receive their certificate of recognition, on the right.
Owners of Ansell's Awards, 648 Talbot St., St. Thomas, restored the original facade of their building, showing what an authentic Talbot streetscape could look like.
The Anderson Hall in the Canada Southern Railway Station at 750 Talbot St., St. Thomas has been restored as the grand dining room for the CASO Railway.
The Arts and Cookery Bank, 242 Graham Road in West Lorne is a wonderful example of adaptive reuse of two historic buildings - a 1914 red brick Bank of Montreal and an 1883 timber frame barn.
A key group of people led the way to see that this 1940 structure was restored back to its Art Deco glory.
The exterior of Bill and Megan Nichols Victorian era Italianate cottage was completely refurbished, and a new porch, front doors and screen doors were added.
Dane and Lindsay Rice, 10 Drake St., St. Thomas have restored their home with Arts & Crafts style elements both outside and in, doing most of the work themselves.
Antoine's Home Furnishings, 560 Talbot St., St. Thomas found a key architectural element in the process of re-finishing the former Capital Theatre - the Art Deco decorative plasterwork was painted to look similar to photographs of the building in its heyday.
Steve Peters has been a long-time advocate of heritage preservation in St. Thomas, Elgin County and beyond.
Footnote to the ACO Awards
It is interesting to note that, previous to restoration, most of the buildings being recognized would have been considered by many people as not “worth the bother”. In each case, comments of the presenters and recipients reflected a pride in buildings which have proven to be “gems revealed” and which contribute significantly to the lives of the individuals and communities involved.
The buildings recognized are a reminder that, while we can’t go “saving every picket fence” it is often worth the effort for citizens to work toward ensuring that there is thoughtful consideration given to determining what buildings are significant to us, for any one of a number of reasons (their relation to significant historical or community events; the part they play in a fine streetscape; possession of unique or rare architectural elements). We don’t all have to be heritage architecture experts – but we do need to insist that good practices of architectural preservation are in place. Those might include active and effective heritage committees, laws which deal with neglect of standards, financial reward rather than penalty for preservation, designation which balances respect for heritage with owner rights.
Hopefully, recognition of a small sampling of heritage gems will provide encouragement to broaden our appreciation for the possibilities of preservation.
Slides courtesy of the Elgin St. Thomas Branch; some of info taken from the awards evening program. All event photos by Mark Girdauskas.
It is interesting to note that, previous to restoration, most of the buildings being recognized would have been considered by many people as not “worth the bother”. In each case, comments of the presenters and recipients reflected a pride in buildings which have proven to be “gems revealed” and which contribute significantly to the lives of the individuals and communities involved.
The buildings recognized are a reminder that, while we can’t go “saving every picket fence” it is often worth the effort for citizens to work toward ensuring that there is thoughtful consideration given to determining what buildings are significant to us, for any one of a number of reasons (their relation to significant historical or community events; the part they play in a fine streetscape; possession of unique or rare architectural elements). We don’t all have to be heritage architecture experts – but we do need to insist that good practices of architectural preservation are in place. Those might include active and effective heritage committees, laws which deal with neglect of standards, financial reward rather than penalty for preservation, designation which balances respect for heritage with owner rights.
Hopefully, recognition of a small sampling of heritage gems will provide encouragement to broaden our appreciation for the possibilities of preservation.
Slides courtesy of the Elgin St. Thomas Branch; some of info taken from the awards evening program. All event photos by Mark Girdauskas.
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