Annual Preservation Awards
2003 Preservation Award Recipients
Constructed in 1927 on East Washington Street, the Southern Railway Passenger Station stands today as an historic landmark and a transportation hub for the city. With its classical portico anchoring the southern terminus of Church Street, the grand building was designed by New York architects Fellheimer and Wagner, who also designed stations in Cincinatti, Buffalo, Little Rock, Kansas City, and Omaha. The Depot also holds importance as one of the most imposing stations in North Carolina, reflective of the prominence rail transportation enjoyed in the years before the Great Depression. Using a combination of federal, state and local funds, the Depot was restored as the city’s multimodal transportation center, and was named in honor of J. Douglas Galyon.
This handsome Tudor-style building at 330 South Greene Street has been the home of some of Greensboro’s most important organizations, including its original occupant Cone Export and Commssion Co., as well as Southern Life Insurance, the office of Congressman Howard Coble, and now Foundation Place, the home of the Greensboro Community Foundation and the Cemala Foundation. A consortium of owners purchased the 3-story, 80 year old building in the spring of 2003, and immediately set forth plans to restore the building for continued use as office space, ensuring that it remains a prominent site in Greensboro’s future.
Though only 55 years old, the Elm Street Center has a rich history of use as the home of Ellis-Stone and Thalheimers, both leading department stores in Greensboro’s history. Current owners plan to continue that prominence by opening the Empire Room, as well as a myriad of other uses within the modern style building. Designed by New York architectural firm Voorhees, Walker, Foley, and Smith, while partner Ralph Walker was president of the American Institute of Architects, the Center stands today as a pioneering example of North Carolina’s Modern architectural movement. Thanks to the efforts of these downtown pioneers, this important structure is sure to remain a part of Greensboro’s active downtown.
Don and Marti Digby’s historic Hewitt House at the corner of North Elm and Fisher Park Avenue has become something of a landmark construction project. Its highly visible location has attracted the attention of nearly every passerby, causing enthusiastic reports to swirl around the city upon completion of highly visible achievements such as restoration of the side porch. Constructed in the early 1920s by banker W. A. Hewitt, the Neoclassical house now enjoys modern conveniences housed within a fine historic home.
Constructed around 1899 in the Southside neighborhood, the L. A. Atkinson House began to show stress of time and neglect by the late –Twentieth century. Though some would have written the house off as unsalvageable, Bob Isner of O. Henry Builders knew otherwise. After extensive renovations, the Atkins House now stands as one of Greensboro’s most picturesque landmarks.
Recently restored, the circa 1919 John Walker Fry House at 202 Fisher Park Circle stands today as one of the city’s best examples of the American Foursquare. Topped by a bell-cast roof, the symmetrical house sports fashionable Colonial Revival details such as a bay window, a Doric portico, and unique shutters featuring cut-out shapes. After much hard work and a thorough restoration, this important house, constructed in 1919 will remain a landmark overlooking Fisher Park for years to come.