The 42nd Annual Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Awards, presented by the State Historic Preservation Office and Arizona Preservation Foundation, recognize people, organizations, and projects that represent outstanding achievements in preserving Arizona’s prehistoric and historic resources. Each has significantly contributed to what remains of Arizona’s architectural heritage.
Tumacácori Mission's Conservation Masterclass
The preservation team of Tumacácori National Historical Park and the University of Pennsylvania Department of Historic Preservation have created a model for the conservation of earthen architecture that many others are looking to follow. The park's attitude towards training and recruiting future conservators and preservationists, as well as assisting other sites with preservation are critical to the continued success of the program. Mike Medrano, the Superintendent at TUMA, leads an on-site preservation team focused on local heritage and sustainability. Frank Matero and the PENN Department of Historic Preservation have augmented this work with cutting edge techniques, intervention methods, and a strong commitment to education. The partnerships at TUMA allow the park to maintain a unique combination of traditional preservation techniques, while at the same time incorporating research and new technologies to do the best job possible to protect historic assets for the future.
Celebrating Donna Reiner's Lifelong Dedication
Donna Reiner has given her knowledge and energy to Arizona history and historic preservation. Donna’s thirst for knowledge and love of research created a unique path in Arizona’s preservation community. She has served on numerous commissions and boards, including the Arizona Preservation Foundation, lending her wisdom and expertise to a long list of preservation efforts. Her career started in education, but eventually transitioned to historic research and preservation. She has researched for museum exhibits and many National Register nominations. Donna has co-authored three books about Phoenix history and has written a monthly history column for the Arizona Republic from 2014 to 2023. Preservation has been a part of Donna’s life mission, and she has dedicated much of the last 20 years to Arizona’s history.
A Fresh Coat of History: The 1929 Fuller Paint Company Warehouse
The Fuller Paint Company Warehouse was constructed in 1929 for W.P. Fuller & Company. The building is significant as an important and increasingly rare example of a utilitarian brick warehouse located in Phoenix’s industrial downtown hub. In 2020, the City of Phoenix entered an agreement with the property owner, NIXDT, LLC, and Andy Patel with Anish Hotels Group. They proposed an adaptive reuse of the building, turning the historic warehouse into the lobby and bar of a new hotel. This project is an excellent success story that can be achieved when property owners, city officials, and preservation advocates work together to find creative solutions – saving a historic building by adapting it to the needs of today. This project creates a model that others can use to save historic buildings in the future.
Linda Mayro: A Legacy of Inclusion and Preservation
Linda Mayro has had a public service career spanning 35 years at Pima County. She has exemplified unwavering dedication, profound expertise, and an unparalleled passion for preserving cultural heritage. She has ensured that our shared past remains a vital part of our present and future. Linda has worked tirelessly to ensure that underrepresented voices and marginalized communities have a seat at the table, empowering them to contribute to the preservation and interpretation of their own histories. Linda's impact extends far beyond the projects she has directly undertaken. She has served as a mentor and role model for emerging professionals in the field, generously sharing her wisdom and experience. Her leadership has helped shape the next generation of preservationists, ensuring that her legacy will continue to inspire the future of preservation.
Revitalizing The Post: Mesa’s Historic Post Office
The City of Mesa completed an adaptive reuse on the 1936 Post Office, now named The Post. This building was built in the Federal Moderne style. The City converted this vacant building into a dynamic community event and business space. Jeff McVay with the City of Mesa, Robert Wadsack with GH2 Preservation Architects, Mesa Preservation Foundation board members, and many others have worked to blend preservation with modern upgrades for safety and comfort. This project took ingenuity to allow accessible access on all floors. An example of this ingenuity is when the south entrance door was relocated, allowing for better accessibility without obstructing the original façade. The restoration and adaptive reuse of this building is an essential component of revitalization efforts that can help downtown Mesa thrive and flourish for years to come.
Rising from the Ashes: Phoenix’s Monroe Street Abbey
In the heart of downtown Phoenix, the Monroe Street Abbey is emerging as a testament to the resilience of history and the power of community. Constructed in 1929, this architectural marvel exemplifies the Italian Gothic revival style. The building experienced a devastating fire in 1984 that destroyed the roof structure and threatened the future of the building. For many years it was on the Arizona Preservation Foundation’s Most Endangered List. Terry Goddard with Housing Opportunity Center; Architects Eddie Jones and Maria Salenger from Jones Studio; Dan Patry from Patry Building Co.; and landscape architect Chris Winters and Associates worked together to blend historical integrity and modern utility. Key to the Abbey's revival has been the meticulous preservation of its architectural elements. The stabilization aimed to preserve historical elements in their current state, showing the passage of time. The rehabilitation and improvements tie the Monroe Street Abbey's different lives together: a church, a ruin, and now a new community gathering space.
Randolph Community Historic District: A Landmark of Cultural Heritage
The Randolph Community Historic District is a singular example of an extant rural African American community in Arizona. It was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property. Jennifer Levstik, her staff at Westland, the Community of Randolph, and the Arizona State University Black History Archives collaborated on the preparation of this Historic District nomination. It is the first Black Traditional Cultural Place in Arizona and one of the first of its type in the nation. Community outreach and oral history interviews were a major part of this undertaking. Randolph residents, including Kyle Muldrow, Ronald Jordan, and Angela Acuña; historians Dr. Anthony Pratcher and Dr. Geta LeSuer; and librarians from ASU’s Black Archives played important roles in gathering this information and creating a still growing community archive. The official listing in the National Register gives the community the recognition it deserves as a traditional black community and provides some small level of restorative justice for the years of industrial impacts on the historic rural community.
Western Heritage Center: Preserving Prescott's Legacy
The Prescott Western Heritage Foundation opened the Western Heritage Center in May of 2019. In less than five years, the Western Heritage Center was transformed from an empty storefront to a destination for education, field trips, local visitors, and tourists. This unlikely concept filled an empty historic building on Whiskey Row with a remarkable number of exhibits displaying a variety of historical subjects. The Center exists to preserve and promote Prescott’s western heritage. Robert Greninger and Dennis Gallagher, along with the rest of the Foundation, fulfill this mission by showcasing exhibits from over 14 local heritage and history organizations. The Center does not charge admission, nor does it charge exhibitors for their space. This fully volunteer run foundation ensures Prescott heritage is available for all to see.
