11/23/2022
The Landmark Society of Western New York recently announced the 2022 Preservation Awards. The awards are given to individuals and organizations in our nine-county area that have made outstanding efforts in the preservation of their homes, public buildings, historic properties, and landscapes.
AWARD OF MERIT
The Award of Merit is for the sympathetic rehabilitation of an historic building or structure in our nine-county region completed within the past two years.
Christ Church Rochester
141 East Avenue, City of Rochester, Monroe County
The parish of Christ Church Rochester was recognized along with the skilled project team that worked to restore this historic, 19th century building. Recent projects completed include stabilization of the south wall of the Parish House, installation of new roof and flashing on the office wing, and creation of the sophisticated, historically inspired, stenciled wall decoration in the sanctuary. The project team includes Bero Architecture, PLLC (project architect), Pike Stained Glass Studios (Tiffany stained glass restoration), CSTM Corporation (roofing contractor), MPSB Studios (architect for interior worship space), and Swiatek Studios (decorative painting). Projects were funded by assistance from the New York State Environmental Fund, as well as the parish’s recently completed Capital Campaign.
St. Bernard’s Park Apartments
2260-2300 Lake Avenue, City of Rochester, Monroe County
CB St. Bernard’s, LLC was recognized for the exterior rehabilitation of St. Bernard’s Park Apartments. In 2018, the property required substantial investment to restore its historic character, improve tenant quality of life, and energy efficiency. The exterior work, completed in 2021, was part of a $27.98 million project that made use of State and Federal Historic Tax Credits and other funding sources. The challenging 18-month project included the occupied rehabilitation of a six-building complex containing a total of 160 residential units. Exterior work included the complete replacement of original red slate roofing and copper flashings, brick and stone masonry repointing and restoration, historic window restoration, and the installation of large solar arrays on the two flat roofs. The project team included Edgemere Development (consultant), PLAN Architects, Catenary Construction (masonry restoration), Spring Sheetmetal and Roofing (roofing), and Baldwin Real Estate Group (housing management).
Jefferson Wollensak Apartments – Wollensak Building
872 Hudson Avenue, City of Rochester, Monroe County
The Urban League of Rochester Economic Development Corporation (ULREDC) was recognized for the historic preservation and adaptive reuse of the Wollensak Optical Building. Vacant for more than 15 years, the building significantly deteriorated due to deferred maintenance. The Landmark Society named the property to its 2015 “Five to Revive” list. In 2020, the ULREDC converted the building into 22 affordable apartments as part of the $13.95 million Jefferson Wollensak project, which made use of State and Federal Historic Tax Credits, New York State LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credits), and a variety of other funding sources. The project team included Edgemere Development (developer), Hamilton Stern (contractor), SWBR (project architect), and Home Leasing (building management). Now fully occupied, Wollensak Apartments have helped to provide neighborhood beautification, community revitalization, and sustainability by adapting an iconic landmark and returning it to a useful life.
SPECIAL CITATIONS
A Special Citation provides recognition for projects that do not fit into other categories or recognizes an outstanding individual or group accomplishments in the field of historic preservation. This year’s Special Citations were presented to three honorees.
Donald Hall
History, Architecture, and Fine Art Educator
City of Rochester, Monroe County
Donald Hall was recognized for a long and influential career as a history, architecture, and fine art educator. A resident of Rochester since 1968, when he became director of the Strasenburgh Planetarium, Hall has amassed an impressive post-astronomy career, giving hundreds of lectures, both locally and around the country, on topics as diverse as architecture, stars, zinc grave markers, pottery, glass, organs, and hamburgers. He’s also written extensively for magazines such as Antiques Forum and the Journal of American Art Pottery. For nearly two decades, he was a tour guide at Mt. Hope Cemetery, where he combined humor with impressive research, to create a memorable experience for those visiting this nationally significant landmark. Since 2006, proceeds from his classes and lectures have supported the fund he established for historic preservation projects at the Rochester Area Community Foundation.
Thomas Tryniski
Newspaper Archivist, FultonHistory.com
City of Fulton, Oswego County
Thomas Tryniski was recognized for extensive archiving work. Created in 1999, the website www.fultonhistory.com includes digitized copies of over 1,000 New York State newspapers, as well as editions from other states and Canada. Tryniski created and manages this website and makes its content available, free of charge, to users around the world. With over fifty million pages of scanned and searchable newsprint, www.fultonhistory.com is one of the largest such websites in the world. This incredible achievement is made even more remarkable by the fact that Tryniski has done most of this work from his living room in Fulton, New York, upgrading his equipment at his own expense.
Gary E. Albright
Paper and Photograph Conservator
Village of Honeoye Falls, Monroe County
Gary E. Albright was recognized for over forty years of work providing professional, museum-quality conservation services for photographs and artifacts on paper. Albright has conserved and restored photographic and paper-based materials for both institutional and private clients. An internationally respected conservation educator, with a specialty in photography conservation, he is a Fellow of the American Institute of Conservation. Among the diverse array of objects he has treated are the Emancipation Proclamation, Honus Wagner baseball cards, Ansel Adams’ photographs, and working drafts of the Constitution of the United States.
SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
The Small Business Award recognizes small businesses that occupy historic commercial buildings and have demonstrated their commitment to preservation via the care, repair, and/or long-term operation at these sites.
Blue Rose Victorian Bed & Breakfast
David & Michele Shaughnessy
30 Murray Street, Village of Mount Morris, Livingston County
Owners David and Michele Shaughnessy were recognized for the rehabilitation and stewardship of the historic Blue Rose Bed and Breakfast, a beautifully restored 1894 Queen Anne listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home, designed by architect William C. Walker of Rochester, New York, for Mrs. Mark D. Hanover, was the first house in Mount Morris to add electricity and is well known for its third-floor ballroom, hosting many Victorian-era parties. Honoring over 125 years of history, this Victorian gem with several interior features intact, was lovingly restored inside and out by owners and innkeepers David and Michele Shaughnessy who began renovations over ten years ago along with beautifully revitalizing its gardens. The Shaughnessys continue efforts to promote, preserve and protect the legacy while offering their pristine home and accommodations for guests to enjoy.
HISTORIC HOME AWARD
The Historic Home Award is given to owners of private residences for their continued care of and commitment to the preservation of an architecturally significant house over a minimum of seven years. “Care” may include appropriate rehabilitation and/or sympathetic new additions according to need. Thoughtful rehabilitation/restoration of the interior and/or significant features of a historical landscape may enhance the quality of the nomination.
Watrous Peck House
Michael Borgeest
8814 Wesley Road, Town of West Bloomfield, Ontario County
Homeowner Michael Borgeest was recognized for the continued care and preservation of the 1803 Georgian post and beam Watrous Peck House. Since purchasing the house in 2011, Mr. Borgeest has followed the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards in his efforts to preserve and restore the house, which was listed on the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places in 2017. The most significant project has been the restoration of the historic “buttery” (or pantry). The space, which was turned into a laundry room sometime in the 1970s, was returned to its original use by removing the laundry function, restoring the original horsehair plaster ceiling and plaster wall, reinstalling an original window, and milling and installing period-appropriate wide pine flooring. Other projects have included the removal of a modern half bath, inappropriate windows and wainscoting, aluminum siding, acoustical ceiling tiles, and drywall that concealed an original kitchen fireplace. Over the past 11 years, Michael has conducted research, consulted with experts, and sought out period-appropriate materials. Even more impressive, the impeccably restored home features dozens of his own colorful handmade chairs.
BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS AWARD
Recognizes building owners who have physically engaged in the preservation and restoration of their property through self-education and countless hours of do-it-yourself work. The work on the building does not have to be complete but should be mindful of the “Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation” and demonstrate substantial self-performed long-term care.
Isaac Shipley House
Paul & Patricia Naliwajek
7470 Lake Ave, Town of Williamson, Wayne County
Homeowners Paul and Patricia Naliwajek were recognized in honor of their ongoing rehabilitation of the 1850 Italianate Isaac Shipley historic farmhouse. This award recognizes owners who have physically engaged in the preservation and restoration of their property through self-education and countless hours of do-it-yourself work. After purchasing the house in 2012, the Naliwajeks embarked on decade-long journey of in-depth research and meticulous rehabilitation, from foundation stabilization to historically appropriate stenciling. Projects have included water damage repair, woodwork restoration, floor refinishing, and historic shutter installation. Beyond their hands-on work, Paul Naliwajek has accumulated an incredible amount of information about the house and its history, which helped inform a nomination to the New York State and National Register of Historic Places, on both of which the home is now listed.
Abraham Wagener House
David & Katie Tomlinson
5224 Skyline Drive, Town of Jerusalem, Yates County
Homeowners David and Katie Tomlinson were recognized in honor of their ongoing rehabilitation and preservation of the 1833 Greek Revival Abraham Wagener House. This award recognizes owners who have physically engaged in the preservation and restoration of their property through self-education and countless hours of do-it-yourself work. For the past thirty years, the Tomlinsons have devoted every spare moment to the preservation of their home and the breathtaking property on which it stands. Significant projects have included masonry repair, woodwork restoration, floor refinishing, the reconstruction of the side portico, and the restoration of the front entrance hall. The most impressive project is the replacement of the house’s two-story columns, which the Tomlinsons did themselves with the help of friends and family. Through each step in the house’s restoration, the couple has demonstrated patience. They understand and accept that a structure of this age can be stubborn and unyielding, and yet they’ve remained dedicated to it.
