2024 Honor Awards

2024 Honor Awards Press Release Download

The Rozier Award

Jesse Francis

O’Fallon, Saint Charles County.
Jesse Francis has dedicated his life to developing a unique set of skills that have made him indispensable to the field of preservation in Missouri. He received a degree in historic preservation from Southeast Missouri State University in 1983. It was during that time that he began working with the French Colonial architecture in the region, completing both physical restoration work and assisting with the documentation of historic structures for the Historic American Building Survey. His experience has made him one of the foremost experts on the architectural style, leading him to be one of the consultants on the model French Colonial home inside the Gateway Arch National Park museum. In 2014, he and his mentor Jack Lauer co-authored the book Vanishing French Heritage, which documents French colonial architecture in the midwest. For the past thirty-six years, Jesse has worked for St. Louis County Parks, moving and rebuilding historic structures from around the county that would otherwise be demolished. His work has culminated in the creation of Faust Park’s Historic Village, where he occasionally might be found in period-costume leading demonstrations on traditional building techniques. Jesse also puts his teaching skills to use at the Historic Preservation Field School, hosted by his alma mater, teaching future preservationists about timber framing and how to make mortise and tenon joints with traditional tools. He has assisted in the restoration, relocation and/or reconstruction of more than eighty-seven historic buildings across the St. Louis area and beyond. Missouri Preservation is delighted to present the Rozier Award to Jesse Francis for his significant contributions to the field of historic preservation in Missouri.

Osmund Overby Awards

Historic Style | Kelee Katillac: Honoring the Past with Design for Today
by Jorge Arango | Missouri Life Media

Arrow Rock, Saline County
Published by Missouri Life Media, Historic Style is an exquisite, 360-page book that captures Kelee Katillac’s brilliant use of color and her meticulous attention to historic detail. Kelee is widely known for her incomparable mix of color, couture, pop culture, and history. In Historic Style, she reimagines what preservation can be with a renegade attitude and Mick Jagger style. Working with historic patterns from Adelphi Paper Hangings, she boldly recolors period wallpapers as a homage to the great houses and America’s hidden creators, while shifting paradigms with her concept rooms. Writer Jorge Arango chronicles Kelee’s design process and a case study of the Henry Blosser House, a former Missouri Preservation Place in Peril, offers hope and inspiration. Practical advice includes case notes on historic rehabilitation and inspiration for walls, windows, fabric, fixtures, furnishings and fine art. With more than two hundred vibrant photos by some of the world’s leading photographers, Historic Style offers a contemporary perspective that acknowledges the past and paves a way for diversity in the future of preservation. Historic Style points back to “origin houses” that inform Kelee’s new approach. With contributions from great American house museums and their curators — including Mount Vernon, Montpelier, and Historic New England — we find a more colorful and inclusive view of our built environment and learn how Kelee applied this unique approach to our history right here in Missouri.
Proceeds from books sales from now until May 2, 2024 will be donated to Missouri Preservation. Click here to visit the book website!

A.A. Fischer’s St. Louis Streetscapes
by Nancy Moore Hamilton | Missouri Historical Society Press

Saint Louis City
Though few people in contemporary St. Louis know his name, builder A. A. Fischer left an indelible mark on the city’s residential architecture. Between 1894 and 1929, Fischer was responsible for constructing more than three hundred houses and apartment buildings in St. Louis and nearby University City, Missouri. Today, scores of homes and commercial buildings across the St. Louis area bear Fischer’s trademarks. A. A. Fischer’s St. Louis Streetscapes is the first biography of this unsung urban builder. Nancy Moore Hamilton delves into Fischer’s life and work, exploring not only his prolific construction career but also his other related business ventures. Published by the Missouri Historical Society Press and featuring more than five hundred images and a full-color foldout map showing all of Fischer’s homes, this book at last brings attention to a builder who quietly shaped a midwestern metropolis. Nancy Moore Hamilton is a longtime resident o f Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her first exposure to St. Louis came shortly after college in the 1950s, sparking a lifelong interest in the city and its architecture. Hamilton has researched the subject of this book for the last twenty-five years; her 2006 article published by the Missouri Valley chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians is a precursor to this work.

The McReynolds Awards

Greenwick Cemetery (Est. 1845)

Savannah, Andrew County
In 2021, Kurt Jordan discovered his great-great-grandfather, William Jordan, and other ancestors were buried at Greenwick Cemetery (est. 1845) in Andrew County. Seeing the neglected state of the burial ground, Kurt took it upon himself to bring this 175 year old cemetery back to life. He completed hands-on field training to learn the proper techniques to recover, repair, and restore old grave markers. With permission from the Andrew County Commission, he proceeded with his preservation project. Kurt has worked tirelessly, self-funding the repair and preservation of over one hundred markers on the four-acre site, but his work did not stop there. With the assistance of a local genealogist, Kurt researched and compiled the stories of sixty of the interred families. He took the additional step of making these stories available to the public through a QR code that was then affixed on a metal stake next to each grave stone. Now visitors to the cemetery can scan the code and learn more about the permanent residents of Greenwick, and maybe even see a photo or two. Kurt Jordan has made extensive efforts to preserve the monuments in this cemetery, but has also ensured that future generations of visitors can learn the stories of these early Andrew County Settlers.

Missouri Theater

Saint Joseph, Buchanan County
The Missouri Theater in Saint Joseph, Missouri opened in June of 1927 as a 1,200-seat movie house. In 1978, the City of Saint Joseph purchased the building and sought National Register designation as part of the plan to convert it to a performing arts center. In the last decade, the City of Saint Joseph’s Parks, Recreation & Civic Facilities Department started to invest in the infrastructure of the historic building. The upgrades designed to meet ADA requirements included the installation of a looped-assisted listening system, additional ADA seating areas, and accessible restrooms on the first floor. In 2019, the entire tile and brick facade was removed to allow for repairs of the primary wall. The historic material was then reinstalled. The City replaced the entire roof to stop the water infiltration which had damaged the interior. Careful restoration of the interior included the intricate details on the walls and ceilings. The installation of new lighting and a new curtain highlight the transformation. Work on the marquee will continue into 2024 with the restoration of the signage. Voters also approved funding for the installation of historically appropriate seating and the renovations of the office and retail space attached to the theater. With the ongoing restoration and plans for future improvements, the City of Saint Joseph is ensuring this historic landmark will continue to contribute to the community for coming generations.

Historic Pharis Farm

Liberty, Clay County
The Historic Pharis Farm stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Donald Pharis, dedicated farmer and teacher of vocational agriculture. In 1927, Donald and his wife Helen purchased the 1850s farm just north of Missouri City in Clay County. He was an innovator in farming, keeping up with the newest technology and practices, and was committed to sharing his knowledge with others. He invited local agriculture students to his farm to provide first-hand experience with farming practices, facilitated 4-H programs, and documented his farming operations for educational purposes. For over seventy years he hosted thousands of school children and visitors to his farm, and upon his death, he left the 160-farm to Clay County with the intent that it continue to educate the public about history and conservation practices. Clay County utilizes the land and historic home for public events and viewings, and founded the organization, Friends of the Pharis Farm to facilitate the mission. Both parties are passionate about preserving the home, the rural landscape, and the history of the farm. Most recently, the farm hosts students from nearby Liberty on Wednesdays. The youth have built butterfly gardens, pollinator beds, composting bins, and even installed a small orchard of apple trees. The ten-year strategic plan currently in the works with Clay County Historic Sites allocates funds and volunteer hours for the expansion of conservation and preservation activities at the farm. The Historic Pharis Farm is a wonderful example of what the historic preservation movement is about — it is more than saving an old building, it is utilizing our past as a way to educate future generations.

Preserve Missouri Awards

The Artz House

Saint Louis City
When Joy Grdnic Christensen discovered the 150-year-old Dr. Franz Artz House in 2014, she was struck by the ornate features of the white marble-clad Second Empire style home. What many shunned as “too far gone” became an almost a decade-long project with no detail being too small for Joy and her hand-picked team of craftsmen. Extensive termite and water damage required replacement of most of the floor joists and wall studs . While the original tin roof was serviceable, the north addition and back alley house required the installation of new roofing.The warped marble panels on the facade were removed, flattened, and reinstalled, and a 1930s addition was removed to reconstruct Dr. Artz’s solarium as seen in historic photos. Addressing the windows and woodwork was a massive undertaking, requiring numerous truckloads of walnut. All of the windows for the solarium and other missing windows were rebuilt; for windows in decent condition, Joy restored them herself. Woodwork was restored and remilled where necessary, and the walls were carefully refinished so as to not disturb original moldings, trim and baseboards. While already a standout amongst the red-brick buildings of the Soulard neighborhood, the newly-restored Artz House is once again a showpiece and proof that many historic buildings aren’t “too far gone” when the right person comes along.

The Victor

Saint Louis City
Formerly known as the Butler Brothers distribution warehouse, this 1906 building was the wholesale headquarters of its day and encompasses an entire city block in downtown St. Louis. The massive size of the building was both one of its greatest assets and largest hindrances to being redeveloped – which led to nearly three decades of vacancy. The reinforced concrete structure with a masonry perimeter and sprinkler system was robust and helped the building survive vacancy with minimal damage. Rehabilitation work on the exterior included cleaning of the facade to reveal purple terracotta, iron spot brick, and Missouri pink granite. Ornamental metals of the fire escapes, cast iron sills, and decorative grill work were retained. On the interior, many of the character-defining features of the warehouse remain exposed, including interior brick walls, massive concrete columns, original board form concrete, and structural slabs. Now branded The Victor, this mixed-use rehabilitation project was made possible with the help of both Missouri and Federal Historic Tax Credits.The finished product includes 384 units with in-building parking, 15,700 square feet of retail and coworking space, and extensive residential amenities. This mammoth project has already proven to be a catalyst for investment and development of additional historic structures in the St. Louis downtown west neighborhood.

21C Museum Hotel — St. Louis

Saint Louis City
Designed by architects LaBeaume & Klein, this downtown St. Louis YMCA served the community from 1926 until the 1990s. The building was both functional and inspiring in its original design and included two gymnasiums, four hundred small sleeping rooms, and a tile-clad swimming pool. Significant parts of the building had been altered throughout its history and by the time the historic rehabilitation began in 2018, much of the original character had been obscured by dropped ceilings and late twentieth century finishes. With the assistance of both the Missouri and Federal historic tax credit programs, a dedicated team battled the pandemic and other struggles to rehabilitate this massive building. Multiple signature spaces throughout the building were restored, including the assembly hall, the billiard room, the library, and the historic lobby with its decorative marble floors. The gyms were adapted as event spaces that retain the original wood floors, brick walls, and upper level running track. The historic swimming pool was also restored, using custom tiles manufactured to match the originals. Many historic spaces that had been partitioned were opened up, and the upper floors were converted into 173 guest rooms. New period appropriate windows were installed throughout, and new ADA access removed a large 1980s ramp from the front elevation. Now fully rehabilitated, this former YMCA building has been transformed back into a work of art befitting the home of a new 21C Museum Hotel.

City Garden Montessori School

Saint Louis City
Built in 1896 for the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company, this warehouse building was the largest drying and packing facility of its time. After serving as a warehouse for a number of companies throughout its history, it was purchased for use in the expansion of the City Garden Montessori School. While relatively non-descript in appearance, transforming this warehouse into a school presented many design challenges, such as leveling the two sloped stories into the more functional arrangement of three tiers. A new, primary entrance was added to the east facade but stepped back from the street to meet Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Multiple layers of yellow paint were removed from the exterior and the brick was repointed. Original hinged wood doors at the loading docks were refurbished and fixed in an open position, allowing for the installation of a new aluminum storefront. The new classrooms spaces have been partitioned to showcase existing cast-iron columns and many brick and stone walls remain exposed. Windows were replaced in-kind and the land was graded to allow lower level window openings to be restored. Several skylights were installed within the existing roof framing, and new openings were strategically cut into the floor slab to carry natural light into lower levels. This rehabilitation has enabled City Garden Montessori School to more than double its enrollment and expand the services it provides to its students and will hopefully prove to be a catalyst for the rehabilitation of other non-descript, warehouse style buildings throughout the St. Louis area.

117 West Oak Street

Warrensburg, Johnson County
For Brian and Kristin Dyer, work on their 1888 home was more than making repairs, it was preserving the place where they got married. The house needed a significant amount of work due to decades of deferred maintenance and patchwork jobs. Although the building was found ineligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and thus not eligible to access historic tax credits, and many Kansas City-area preservation contractors would not travel to Warrensburg, the Dyers were not deterred from tackling this project using what resources they had available. The most significant project was the reconstruction of the wraparound porch and balcony, which had separated from the main wall of the house as they lacked structural supports. A new floor base and structural supports were built and the original gingerbread detailing was replicated. Water damage needed to be repaired throughout the interior, much of it caused by the failure of the balcony and porch. Later additions to the house needed repairs and were remodeled to better reflect the historic character of the home. Work also extended beyond the home to the streetscape. Located on a main thoroughfare in Warrensburg, the Dyers pursued improvements to the sidewalk (while preserving a portion of the original stone sidewalk) and greater ADA accessibility for pedestrians traveling West Oak Street. The Dyers have been true stewards of this historic structure, not only returning it to its former glory, but also documenting all of their discoveries and projects for the benefit of potential future owners.

Adair County Courthouse

Kirksville, Adair County
The current Adair County Courthouse located in Kirksville is the third structure to hold that title. Voters authorized its construction in 1897 after a fire destroyed the previous structure. This new Romanesque-style courthouse included state-of-the-art infrastructure enhancements such as electric lights, steam heat, and indoor plumbing. Adair County and the architects worked with the State Historic Preservation Office to determine the best course of action for the rehabilitation for this structure that wouldn’t damage its historic integrity. The roof originally featured a clocktower that was removed in the twentieth century due to structural issues; this project removed an additional 88,000 pound load in the form of five layers of asphalt shingles. Structural stabilization occurred throughout the building, from the attic corbels to the basement floors. The fir wood floors were restored where possible and patched in large swaths due to damage from water and five additional layers of flooring that had been added over the years. Windows and doors were refinished and in-kind replacements installed where necessary. The entire plumbing system had to be removed and replaced. HVAC and electrical systems were also upgraded. The building’s sandstone facade was soft-cleaned, treated to stop the absorption of water, and then repointed and patched where needed. Ninety-eight decorative gargoyle and owl motif stones were recreated and installed. With this beautiful rehabilitation, the Adair County Courthouse is ready to serve the citizens of the county for an additional 120-years.

Red Cedar Inn Museum & Visitors Center

Pacific, Franklin County
When Route 66 finally reached Pacific, Missouri in 1932, James and Bill Smith decided to build a restaurant along the newly designated thoroughfare. Completed in 1934, The Red Cedar Inn Restaurant was owned and operated by the Smith family for three generations and is considered to be one of the most intact historic destinations along the Mother Road in Missouri. In 2017, the City of Pacific acquired the building with the promise to redevelop it into a shared community amenity. The rehabilitation took care to repair and restore the log walls which were selected by the Smith brothers to reflect Missouri’s pioneer days. The existing structure was stabilized while a new addition was built to the north and clad in western red cedar to complement but differentiate from the original log-clad structure. Existing tongue-and-groove subflooring was repaired, patched where needed, and refinished as newly exposed wood flooring. All of the building systems were upgraded and new insulation, gutters, and downspouts improved the building envelope and thermal performance. Now fully restored and revitalized, the Red Cedar Inn serves as a welcoming community hub and anticipates future connections to the Meramec Greenway trail, becoming a new “Doorway to the Ozarks” and hopefully encouraging further investment along Route 66 in Missouri.

The Soda Museum & Main Street Arcade

Saint Charles, Saint Charles County
The building at 126 North Main Street in Saint Charles was constructed by Theodore Klinger in 1896 on the site of his family’s former flour mill. By 1909, the building was expanded to two stories and was home to the Ringe-Barklage & Company. It later housed a JC Penney (1939-1979) and then Gene’s Shoes (1979-2018). Tom Smith Jr. and his wife purchased the building in 2021 with the dream of creating a museum dedicated to his collection of soft drink memorabilia. By that time, 126 North Main had been vacant for a few years and suffered extensive damage from a burst sprinkler system. Rehabilitation work was made possible with both Missouri and Federal Historic Tax Credits, as well as a facade grant from the city. Exterior work was extensive, including repair and reconstruction of the brick parapet, missing caps, and masonry. The JC Penney aluminum storefront and closed transom openings were removed and a new storefront, door, and windows were installed based on historic photos from 1909. Interior details, such as the hardwood floors and wooden stairwell handrails, were restored. They also introduced enhancements to meet contemporary standards such as a new fire suppression system, HVAC, lighting, and an elevator. The main floor mezzanine and top floor now house the soda memorabilia while the basement is an arcade filled with classic video games and vintage pinball and bowling machines. This restored building has not only become a focal point on Main Street for its architectural significance, but also stands as a symbol of resilience and the possibility of preservation.