Friend of Preservation Awards#
Established in 1985, the Friend of Preservation awards are the highest preservation honor given by the Historic Preservation Commission. Annually, the awards are given to people, organizations, or projects for exemplary work in local history, preservation, rehabilitation, restoration or reconstruction.
The Mayor and Historic Preservation Commission Chair present the City's Friend of Preservation Awards for excellence in historic preservation.
2024 Honorees#
On May 21, 2024, the Fort Collins Historic Preservation Commission, with City Council, recognized the contributions of four honorees for their contributions to preservation and local history during a reception and awards ceremony. View photos and learn more about each awardee below. Congratulations, and thank you!
Friend of Preservation Awards Reception at the Historic Avery House
Friend of Preservation Awards Reception
Friend of Preservation Awards Reception
Friend of Preservation Award Blocks
Inside the Avery House for the Friends of Preservation Awards Ceremony
Mayor Jeni Arndt Reading Historic Preservation Month Proclamation
Janell Prussman, HPC Chair Jim Rose, and Mayor Jeni Arndt
The Friends of the Water Works, HPC Chair Jim Rose, and Mayor Jeni Arndt
Karen McWilliams, HPC Chair Jim Rose, and Mayor Jeni Arndt
Cultural Enrichment Center Executive Director Jamal Skinner, HPC Chair Jim Rose, and Mayor Jeni Arndt
All of the 2024 Friends of Preservation
Cultural Enrichment Center
Excellence in Education
Founded in 2020, the Cultural Enrichment Center supports the cultural, academic, career, and social needs of middle school and high school-aged African American students in Fort Collins. Since 2021, part of that work has included connecting local Black youth with Fort Collins Black history. For example, CEC helped students develop video projects on Black history, which included learning videography skills as well as about figures in Fort Collins Black and civil rights history, such as Mattie Lyle and Hattie McDaniel.
Friends of the Water Works
Excellence in Stewardship
The Friends of the Water Works (FWW) assists the Poudre Landmarks Foundation in the preservation, interpretation, and maintenance of the 1883 Fort Collins Water Works site. The FWW operates an interpretive center that explains the history of regional water use, the first Fort Collins municipal water supply, and natural resources in the region. This dedicated group of volunteers has consistently demonstrated their commitment to historic preservation by preserving, maintaining, and promoting the Water Works and by educating the public through open house tours, concerts on site, and other events.
Karen McWilliams
Lifetime Achievement Award
From her foundational private sector research with her husband, Carl, to her public service in the City of Fort Collins Historic Preservation Division, Karen McWilliams is a fixture of historic preservation in Larimer County. She was instrumental in building up key financial incentives for historic property owners, oversaw countless projects, coordinated and built relationship with partners in the community, advocated for and secured funding for preservation across the city, and so much more. Karen's legacy in Fort Collins ensures that future generations have so many more historic places to connect with and find Fort Collins's sense of place.
Janell Prussman
Excellence in Education
Janell Prussman has been involved with Poudre Landmarks Foundation and the Historic Homes tour for 39 years, including several years as a board member of PLF and chair of the HHT committee, showing her deep commitment to and extensive involvement with historic preservation in the community. Janell has had a profound impact on PLF as an organization, and her promotion of public access to historic places and educational opportunities related to our local history are emblematic of her passion and enthusiasm for historic preservation.
2023 Honorees#
D.L. Roberts
Outstanding Contributions to Historic Preservation
D.L. Roberts is one of the original founders of what would become Historic Larimer County, formerly served as president of the organization, and remains on its board. He has demonstrated time and again his dedication to historic preservation and conservation, through his work to save and preserve the Franz-Smith Cabin and his 150 year old family ranch, as just a couple of examples.
Rose Brinks
Preservation of the Provost Farm & the Bingham Hill Cemetery
Rose Brinks has embodied the word “stewardship” for decades. Rose, with her husband, Jim, purchased the Provost Farm in 1977. Rose’s dedication to uncovering and preserving the history of both her farm property and the Bingham Hill Cemetery, which previously had no burial records, should truly be celebrated.
Kim Medina
Landmarking and Rehabilitation of 308 Cherry St. & 129 N. McKinley Ave.
Kim Medina has demonstrated exceptional dedication to historic preservation and adaptive reuse, as reflected through her care and rehabilitation of two valuable historic resources in our community. The Thomas House (308 Cherry St.) is the first Landmark in Fort Collins to recognize Black history in the city, and the Struble House (129 N. McKinley Ave.) recognizes the importance of working people to building Fort Collins and specifically Lois Struble.
Meg Dunn
Outstanding Contributions to Historic Preservation
Meg Dunn's name has become synonymous with historic preservation in Larimer County in the last twenty years. As a former educator, Meg has been an important voice for historic places and stories for decades, such as through her Northern Colorado History website. She also served on the Historic Preservation Commission for 9 years, serving as chair for 5 years, helping the community more deeply understand the role of preservation in climate change, affordability, and much more.
2022 Honorees#
John Albright
Lifetime Achievement Award
This posthumous award for John Albright honors his dedication to teaching and preservation. He lived and taught with purpose, leaving a legacy not only in the preservation community in Fort Collins but also nationally and internationally.
Wayne Sundberg
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award honors Wayne Sundberg's commitment to education and local history. In addition to his written works on local history, such as his book on the Fort Collins Waterworks, Mr. Sundberg served on the Historic Preservation Commission when it was in its infancy.
Fort Collins Municipal Railway Society
Restoration of Car #25
This award is to recognize the Fort Collins Municipal Railway Society's significant efforts to restore Birney Car #25. The streetcar system is a very visible and beloved part of the Fort Collins historical landscape that brings joy to residents and visitors alike.
Brian Carroll
Accomplishments in Local History
This award recognizes Brian Carroll for his contributions to local history. Mr. Carroll has been pivotal in identifying and honoring soldiers that died at the original fort site for Fort Collins. His biography of William O. Collins has become an invaluable addition to our local history canon.
2019 Honorees#
Landmark Designation and Preservation of Historic Resources
Susan Hoskinson
The McMillen-Patterson Property
Outstanding Dedication to Preserving Historic Resources
City of Fort Collins Recreation Department
City of Fort Collins Parks Department
Ethan Cozzens
Empire Carpentry
Poudre Heritage Alliance
The Ross Proving-Up House
Exceptional Contributions to Historic Preservation
Myrne Watrous
Superior Infill Development Project
Bohemian Companies
4240 Architecture
The Elizabeth Hotel
2018 Honorees#
Outstanding Dedication to Preserving Local History
Doug Ernest
Renewing the Heart of Our Premier Historic District
Downtown Development Authority
Outstanding Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse of the Feeder Supply Building
Ginger & Baker
Outstanding Dedication to Preserving Local History
S.O.S. - Save Our Silos
Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation
Bud Frick
2017 Honorees#
Outstanding Rehabilitation/Adaptive Reuse
Bohemian Companies - The Music District
Outstanding Interpretation and Documentation
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department - Great Western Sugar Company Flume and Bridge
Outstanding Dedication to Historic Preservation
Ron Sladek
Outstanding Dedication to Preserving Local History
Gordon "Hap" Hazard
2016 Honorees#
Outstanding Restoration and Rehabilitation
James MacDowell
Outstanding Restoration and Rehabilitation
March, Olive & Pharris, LLC
Outstanding Rehabilitation of an Endangered Farmstead
Bucking Horse
Superior Infill Development Project
Blue Ocean Enterprises
2015 Honorees#
Outstanding Adaptive Reuse
Colleen Scholz
Outstanding Rehabilitation
Jim Kelly and Betsy Markey
Outstanding Dedication to Historic Preservation
Mike Gebo
Outstanding Dedication to Historic Preservation
Bellvue Historic Foundation
Past Recipients#
A list of all award recipients from 1985 to 2014.