Summary

Executive Constantine honored recipients of this year’s John D. Spellman Awards for historic preservation, including the city of Kirkland’s effort to protect buildings surrounded by new development.

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced recipients of the 2017 John D. Spellman Awards, honoring people and organizations that protect and restore significant historic resources. Recipients include the city of Kirkland, which has worked to protect historic buildings that reflect the community’s identity under intense development pressure.

The awards are named in honor of John D. Spellman, former King County Executive and Washington State Governor, who established the county’s Historic Preservation Program 39 years ago.

“John Spellman is a good and noble man who humbly stewarded his county and the state. The Spellman awards honor the stewards of our shared history,” said Executive Constantine. “At a time of unprecedented growth and change, these awardees are protecting, restoring, and interpreting the places that tell the story of a proud and still young region.”

The 2017 recipients of Spellman Awards for historic preservation are:

See images of all 2017 recipients

• Diana Keller, for rehabilitation of the 1910 Hill Crest Barn in Carnation. With funding from King County’s Barn Again grant program, combined with her own cash match and labor, Keller wasted no time upon returning home from college to lift the barn, install a new foundation and floor slab, replace siding and repaint the exterior of this iconic community landmark.
• Fall City Historical Society, for achievement in education for implementing an ambitious program of activities, events, and projects that educate the public about Fall City’s fascinating history, including an interpretative signage program that gives visitors glimpses into the community’s past; and creation of a traveling scale model of the fragile 1888 Fall City Hop Shed.
• City of Kirkland, for identifying and planning for the protection of the historic buildings that give Kirkland its character and sense of place. Amidst intense development pressures, Kirkland has identified and catalogued its most significant buildings, adopted zoning incentives that help maintain neighborhood character while accommodating development, and found a creative alternative to demolition of one of its earliest residences, the Dr. Trueblood House.
• Stacey Kroeze, for restoration of original features of the Barton House in Kent’s Mill Creek historic district. With historic photos of her house as her guide and grant funds from 4Culture, Kroeze reversed a 1950s alteration that detracted from the house’s original character by restoring a curved inset second floor window. Today, the Barton House looks more like it did in 1909, and her project is encouraging others in the district to restore their historic homes.

Honoring the owners and stewards of historic landmarks

At the ceremony at the historic Kirkland Woman’s Club, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Director Christie True also awarded certificates to owners and stewards of properties that were recently designated as landmarks.

• Peggy and Toby Wenham, were honored for designating the 1923 Enumclaw National Bank building as a city of Enumclaw landmark. Located in the heart of Enumclaw’s historic commercial district, this stately building is associated with Enumclaw’s business and building boom of the 1920s.
• Wayne Gullstad, was honored for designating the majestic Stewart Barn, which has stood as a visual landmark in the Snoqualmie River Valley since 1928. The property marks the history of dairy farming in King County and the barn features a unique, soaring Gothic arch truss roof.
• Bethlyn and Mark Miller, were honored for designating King County’s first midcentury modern residence as an Issaquah landmark. Located on the north side of Squak Mountain, the house was built for Atomic Energy Commission Manager William Conrardy, who chose this location to take advantage of the natural protection from his feared nuclear attack on Fort Lewis and McCord Air Force Base. In addition to midcentury modern design features, the house includes a bomb shelter in the basement.

The King County Historic Preservation Program was established in 1978 to identify, document, and protect King County’s significant historic resources. The Historic Preservation Program staffs a nine-person Landmarks Commission, conducts environmental reviews in cooperation with other agencies and jurisdictions, manages a regional preservation program in partnership with numerous suburban cities, maintains an inventory of historic resources, and develops and implements incentives to support and encourage restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties.

Relevant links

• King County's Historic Preservation Program
• VIDEO: Preserving King County's historic barns

Quotes

John Spellman is a good and noble man who humbly stewarded his county and the state. The Spellman awards honor the stewards of our shared history. At a time of unprecedented growth and change, these awardees are protecting, restoring, and interpreting the places that tell the story of a proud and still young region.

For more information, contact:

Chad Lewis, Executive Office, 206-263-1250