First Quarter Newsletter
Feb. 2020
From the Executive Director

Greetings, Members and Friends! It's hard to believe that we're already in the second month of 2020. I hope that you've had a great year so far.

Many thanks to all who sponsored and attended the Arkansas Preservation Awards in January, and congratulations again to John P. Gill of Little Rock and all of our award winners! It was nice to start off the year with a celebration of outstanding preservation projects and the dedicated people who made them happen.

I hope to see you at a Preserve Arkansas event soon, and as always, if you need help with a preservation issue or see a preservation need in your community, contact Preserve Arkansas.

Best Regards,

Rachel Patton
Executive Director
Arkansas Preservation Awards
On January 17, Preserve Arkansas hosted its annual Arkansas Preservation Awards dinner and program to honor individuals and organizations for projects focused on historic preservation, education, and advocacy throughout the state. Honorees and guests celebrated with a reception and banquet at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock, followed by a program recognizing the award-winning projects. Joe David Rice of Little Rock served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. Silver Table Sponsors for the 2019 Arkansas Preservation Awards were the Division of Arkansas Heritage, First Community Bank and Mr. Michael Gillihan, and Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects.

Named in honor of Preserve Arkansas’s founding president, the Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement was given to John P. Gill of Little Rock. Little Rock attorney and historian John P. Gill has long had a keen interest in the preservation of Arkansas’s history and architecture. He has demonstrated a passion for preservation through his service on numerous boards and commissions and authored books about Arkansas’s historic county courthouses, Depression-era post office art, and the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. A tireless preservation advocate, Gill has worked on behalf of significant projects throughout the state.

Click here for more info on all of our award-winning projects.

Click here to access photos from the event.
Please credit all photos to Stephanie Dunn King Photography. Thank you!
L to R: Preserve Arkansas Board President Mason Ellis, Parker Westbrook Award recipient John P. Gill of Little Rock, and Preserve Arkansas Executive Director Rachel Patton (Stephanie Dunn King Photography).
Now Accepting Nominations for Most Endangered List
Preserve Arkansas requests the public’s help in identifying endangered historic places for the 2020 Most Endangered Places List. The annual list highlights historically and architecturally significant properties throughout the state that are endangered and worthy of preservation.

Preserve Arkansas is soliciting nominations from residents and organizations across Arkansas of buildings, structures, sites, and other places to be considered for inclusion in the list. The nomination deadline is March 6, 2020.

For more info or to nominate, click here.
Advocacy Updates
The Historic Tax Credit Growth & Opportunity Act ( H.R.2825 / S.2615) continues to gain support in Congress with the introduction of a Senate bill last fall. This legislation would eliminate the basis adjustment for HTC projects, making the credit more valuable. It would also increase the federal credit from 20% to 30% for projects under $2.5 million in QREs and make credits for small projects transferable as a tax certificate. We thank U.S. Representatives French Hill and Bruce Westerman for their support of this legislation!


National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week is scheduled for March 10-12 in Washington, DC. This annual gathering brings preservationists to Capitol Hill to meet with their members of Congress about ways to improve and strengthen preservation incentives and promote preservation-friendly policies. Preserve Arkansas Executive Director Rachel Patton will attend in March.

Check it out! Twenty-Four Reasons Historic Preservation is Good for your Community by PlaceEconomics is an excellent resource for preservation advocates (and there are some photos from Arkansas!). We can't wait to see the forthcoming study on the economic impact of historic preservation in Arkansas by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program and PlaceEconomics!

The Perry Depot was moved to its new site on January 6, and work began last week to construct a masonry foundation under the depot, which is currently supported by jacks and beams from Combs House Movers. When the foundation is completed, the other equipment will be removed. Many thanks to the Perry County Historical and Genealogical Society, Buford Suffridge, the City of Perry, and Michael Hibblen for their perseverance and support of this project!
Foundation work at the Perry Depot. Photo by Buford Suffridge.
Mid Mod Arkansas Heads to Fort Smith
Preserve Arkansas will hold its next “Mid Mod Arkansas” tour in Fort Smith on March 27-28. The tour series seeks to increase appreciation for Arkansas’s unique Mid-Century Modern architecture.

On Friday, March 27, guests will enjoy a reception and guided tour at the Oscar Chambers House, designed in 1963-64 by Fayetteville architect Ernie Jacks. On Saturday, March 28, guided tours and refreshments will be offered at the Dr. Neil Crow House and one additional home. The Crow House was designed in 1968 by John G. Williams, founding faculty member and longtime chair of the Department of Architecture at the University of Arkansas.  

Stay tuned for more details and ticket information. Interested in sponsoring this tour? Contact us!
Oscar Chambers House, Fort Smith. Courtesy of the Oscar Chambers House Facebook page.
Preserve Arkansas is the only statewide nonprofit advocate for the preservation of Arkansas's historic and cultural resources. Our organization works to build stronger communities by reconnecting Arkansans to our heritage and empowering people to save and rehabilitate historic places. Become a member today !