PND Seeks Nominations for Awards Programs

Preservation North Dakota seeks nominations for the annual 3 Most Endangered Places List as well as the Success Story  and Honor Awards.  Nominations are due April 15, 2012 forms are available online.

The 3 Most Endangered Places List, Success Story and Honor Awards will be announced during PND’s 19^th Annual North Dakota Historic Preservation Conference May 18-20, 2012 in Wishek, ND.

3 Most Endangered Places

Created in 2000, the 3 Most Endangered Places list includes sites which have historical, architectural or cultural significance and are in danger of demolition, deterioration, or substantial alteration due to neglect or vandalism. Being named to the list is often a first step or a much needed boost towards preserving these historic places. The list often draws public attention to historic preservation issues, sparks debate about cultural and architectural heritage preservation, and sometimes even attracts a new owner or developer to a historic site in desperate need of a new and creative solution.

Success Story Award

Each year PND also invites nominations for the annual Success Story Award.  This award is given to a site having a historical, architectural, or cultural significance, which has been restored. The work must have been completed within the last five years. The award also draws attention to historic preservation issues and demonstrates how historic places can be restored and adaptively reused for both historical and practical purposes.

Honor Awards

The Preservation North Dakota Honor Awards recognize outstanding achievements and excellence in historic preservation across the state of North Dakota in four categories; Preservation Excellence Award; Legacy Award; Volunteer of the Year Award; and the Artisan Award. Recipients are selected by the award committee from a pool of nominations submitted by peers, building owners, and the public at large.

2011 Honor Awards - Legacy Award

Legacy Award

The Legacy Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in preserving the historical, architectural and cultural environment of North Dakota.

A long-time resident of Jamestown, Barb Lang is a retired banker and cable TV operator. For over twenty years, Barb has dedicated herself to volunteering for several historic preservation groups, including: State Historical Society of ND Foundation, 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse Committee in Jamestown, Preservation North Dakota (past president and board member), National Trust for Historic Preservation (past North Dakota advisor, member of the Board of Advisors, and Chair).

Barb was instrumental to PND’s success with the Prairie Churches of North Dakota project and in the restoration of the historic Franklin School in Jamestown.

Barbara S. Lang



2011 Honor Awards - Volunteer of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual for extraordinary dedication to volunteer service in the field of historic preservation in North Dakota.

Marilu Person - Hillsboro, ND
Marilu Person became an advocate for historic preservation when Union Block – a commercial building in downtown Hillsboro – was threatened. She and her husband, Bruce, purchased the building for back taxes and donated it to the newly formed Hillsboro Community Partnership for restoration.

In addition to co-founding HCP and taking on a significant restoration project, Marilu also joined the PND board of directors. Her particular expertise on the PND board focused on the Local Affiliate Program. As the Local Affiliate Coordinator, Marilu helped set up new affiliates, kept the affiliate paperwork updated, and successfully streamlined the program to increase its efficiency and ensure compliance with all IRS regulations.

Marilu continues to serve on the Local Affiliate Committee, the Traill County Historical Society Board of Directors, and, of course, the Hillsboro Community Partnership board of directors. We are pleased to present this award in honor of her dedication to preservation in North Dakota.

Marilu Person

2011 Honor Awards - Preservation Excellence Award

Preservation Excellence Award

The Preservation Excellence Award recognizes excellence in the preservation of an historically significant building, structure, resource, or site that has contributed in a tangible and exemplary manner to furthering preservation in North Dakota.  

Manfred is a small community in Wells County right along ND Highway 52. In 2000, descendants of the original settlers founded Manfred History & Preservation, Incorporated to preserve the community’s history and restore some of the existing buildings. Preservation and restoration efforts in this small community have been so successful that several off-shoots of the original nonprofit have formed through PND’s Local Affiliate Program to take on specific projects. There are now four nonprofit organizations operating in Manfred. As a preservation project concludes, the building is accessioned into the Manfred Heritage Museum Complex.

In addition to the museum complex and the preservation projects, Vang Lutheran Church in Manfred has an active congregation. The members of the various nonprofits continue to help the congregation preserve their beautiful church.

The cooperation among various groups in this small rural community has been instrumental in the success of this ambitious project to preserve and celebrate the heritage of rural America.

1910 Manfred School

1899 Solheim House

2011 Honor Awards - Artisan Award

 The Preservation North Dakota Honor Awards recognize outstanding achievements and excellence in historic preservation across the state of North Dakota.

Artisan Award

Bradco Restoration, Inc. of Fergus Falls, MN was nominated for their excellence in historic masonry preservation. Notable tuck-point and stone repair projects of theirs include Fargo, North Dakota’s Gardner Hotel, St. Mary’s Cathedral and the former Northern School Supply Building, now known as NDSU’s Renaissance Hall. In 2010, one of Bradco’s projects was masonry storefront restoration of Union Block’s south half in Hillsboro, ND for Hillsboro Community Partnership (HCP).

 The Union Block masonry restoration began with skillful removal of the c.1890s deteriorated mortar. Broken bricks were replaced as the storefronts were re-pointed with tinted mortar that matched the original in color and strength, according to National Park Service standards. The mortar was expertly tooled and finished to match the original. The repairs to cracks and delaminated areas of the storefronts’ sandstone detailing were artistically matched to original color and texture. The restored architectural grandeur of these storefronts can now be enjoyed for decades to come due to the superior craftsmanship of Bradco Restoration, Inc.

Bradco Restoration, Inc. has received the 1989 Craftsman of the Year award by North Dakota American Institute of Architects and 1991 Craftmanship Award by Fargo Heritage Society. Their remarkable expertise is highly deserving of this additional honor.

Union Block - Hillsboro, ND

Union Block - Hillsboro, ND