What’s happening: A total of seven historic preservation projects were recently honored by Governor Gretchen Whitmer as part of the 22nd annual Governor’s Awards for Historic Preservation, and several of them are located in Michigan’s more rural communities. A ceremony was held at Heritage Hall at the Michigan State Capitol earlier this month.
Rural focus: Four of the seven winning projects are found in rural Michigan, with the remaining three in Detroit. Those rural communities include Charlevoix, Niles, and Rogers City.
Smiles in Niles: Two of the four historic preservation projects in Michigan’s rural communities can be found in the same community. Awards were presented to representatives of the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project and rehabilitation of Chapin Mansion. The former features an archaeological dig led by nearby Western Michigan University, examining a recently rediscovered Fort Saint Joseph first established by the French in 1691. The latter recognizes the rehabilitation of the Victorian-era Chapin Mansion, a project that has totaled more than $1.5 million invested since its launch in 2012.
Charming Charlevoix: The Charlevoix Historical Society itself took home an award, presented for its decades of accomplishments since its founding in 1972. Those include the Harsha House (built in 1892), Chicago & West Michigan Railroad depot (1892), and the Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse (1948).
“We in Northern Michigan have watched our region grow and change over the decades, so it is particularly important that we remember our heritage,” reads a statement from state Senator John Damoose. “Nowhere is this truer than in Charlevoix. Anyone who knows the history of Charlevoix knows the unique interplay between industry and tourism that has defined the area from the beginning. I congratulate the recipients of today’s award for the rehabilitation and long-term stewardship of the Harsha House, Chicago and West Railroad Depot, and the South Pier Lighthouse. Your work will ensure the lessons of our own history are alive for generations to come.”
A spotlight on Rogers City: And finally, the restoration and preservation of the Rogers Theater earned its stewards at the Presque Isle District Library along with a team of collaborators the Governor’s Award. Ongoing efforts have restored the theater’s iconic Art Moderne facade, among a host of additional preservation projects completed and planned.
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