Historic Marion building recognized by Preserve Arkansas

Bank and Trust Building among sites to receive awards in ceremony

By Rachel Patton

Rpatton@preservearkansas.org

LITTLE ROCK—Preserve Arkansas, the statewide nonprofit advocate for historic preservation,will host the Arkansas Preservation Awards on January 26, 2024, at the Robinson Center, 426 W.

Markham Street in Little Rock. The evening will begin with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m., and the presentation of awards with emcee Nate Coulter at 7:15 p.m.

Named for Preserve Arkansas’s founding president and pioneer preservationist, the Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement will be awarded to the Historic Washington Foundation. For 65 years, the Historic Washington Foundation has been a leader in organized preservation efforts in Arkansas. With its incorporation in 1958, it became the first historic preservation organization in the state; in addition, the foundation has been directly involved in the preservation

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of more historic structures than any other preservation organization in Arkansas and was instrumental in the creation of Historic Washington State Park. Parker Westbrook was named to the Historic Washington Foundation board in 1975 and remained active for more than 30 years.

Receiving Honorable Mention: is the Crittenden County Bank and Trust Building in Marion. Located next to the historic Marion Hotel and in view of the Crittenden County Courthouse, the Bank and Trust Building is one of the city’s oldest landmarks.

The following is a complete list of honorees:

• Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement – Historic Washington Foundation, Hempstead County

• W. L. Cook Award for Excellence in Heritage Preservation – Eureka Springs Community Center

• Excellence in Preservation through Rehabilitation – Martin Hall at Hendrix College, Conway

• Excellence in Preservation through Restoration Award: Willhaf House, Van Buren

• Honorable Mention – Wingmead Cabin, Roe

• Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Education – Ritter-McDonald Cabin, Springdale

• Ned Shank Award for Outstanding Preservation Publication – “Cy Sutherland: Architect, Educator, Preservationist” by Andrea Cantrell, published in Washington County Flashback

• Excellence in Personal Projects Wallace Stone of Hot Springs for Judge Glover’s Hideout at Malvern

• Outstanding Achievement in Adaptive Reuse – Benton Federal Building

• Outstanding Service in Neighborhood Preservation – Angela and Bobby Matthews and Lynn Boyd of Little Rock for the Chester Nests project.

For more information, please contact Rachel Patton at 501-372-4757 or rpatton@preservearkansas.org.

About Preserve Arkansas

Preserve Arkansas is the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to building stronger communities by reconnecting Arkansans to our heritage and empowering people to save and rehabilitate historic places. By presenting educational programs, advocating for preservation at the federal, state, and local levels, and assisting property owners with the means and expertise to preserve and restore their structures, Preserve Arkansas has been a statewide voice for preservation in Arkansas since 1981.