This year’s Histroic Preservation Awards were presented on Jan. 18 by Fran Schierenbeck, chair of the Museum’s Historic Preservation Committee. The Commercial Historic Restoration award went to Mike and Chris Welty for their building at 141 North Street. The Residential Historic Preservation award was given to Therese Shere and Eric Monrad for the Wilson House at 7566 Eastside Road.
Since 1991 the Healdsburg Museum has recognized the owners of deserving local buildings by presenting these annual awards. Buildings are selected for exceptional work performed by owners, architects and contractors to preserve the heritage of our city and region.
The Welty building is an American Foursquare with Colonial Revival elements, constructed in 1909. It was one of the first apartment buildings in Healdsburg and was known as Skinner Apartments. In 2006 the building was badly damaged by fire. The Weltys spent three years restoring the building in an exemplary, authentic fashion. The building now hosts the Welty Law Offices and several other businesses.
The vernacular Wilson House dates from the 1870s and was originally the residence of Matthew Alexander Wilson and his wife Fannie. The house stayed in the Wilson family for over 100 years. Therese Shere and Eric Monrad, along with Therese’s parents Charles and Lindsey Shere, purchased the house in 1983. Therese and Eric have resided there for the past 35 years and have maintained the character of the home.
The museum uses the Secretary of the Interior’s preservation standards as guidelines in selecting recipients for the preservation and restoration awards, and was very pleased to honor this year’s awardees.
— submitted by Tom Devitt
