Birmingham Historical Society

The Birmingham Historical Society (established in 1942) is a non-profit group committed to the preservation of and education about Birmingham's history. The organization is headquartered at Sloss Quarters, part of the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. The group sponsors frequent publications on historical topics, including the Journal of the Birmingham Historical Society from 1977 to 1987. It also publishes educational material for classroom use, leads tours of historic districts, and presents annual Preservation Awards. The current executive director is Marjorie Longenecker White.

Preservation Awards

2009

The 2009 Preservation Awards were presented at the Medical Alumni Building on March 29, 2009:

• Innovation Depot, "for recreating a new city center landmark."
• Shepura Men's Center, "for rescuing and reusing the historic school."
• Crane Works, "for sensitive reuse of the historic Shell Oil Plant

2007

The 2007 Preservation Awards were presented at the Young & Vann Building, now the Center for Regional Planning and Design, on May 17, 2007:

• Alabama Folk Art Gallery, Young & Vann Building, "for the exciting mix of folk art and historic fabric."
• Fish Market, Harris Transfer Buildings, "for creating a city center landmark."
• Isherwood residence, Ellard, LLC, Historic Renovations "for excellence in residential rehab."
• 16th Street Baptist Church, "for the exterior stabilization and restoration to its 1963 appearance."
• Davis Architects, BEBCO Building, "for the sensitive reuse of the historic BEBCO garage and warehouse."
• Rialto Theatre, "for the dramatic transformation of the historic Rialto Theatre to home and office."
• Eubanks Building, Jim and Tara Bryant, "for making the city center home."
• Bill Murray (Tutwiler Hotel); Rick Mumalo (McCants residence); and Bob McKenna (W. S. Brown residence/Women's Club House), "for passionate preservation."
• Sam Frazier; Norwood Resource Center; "No Elevated" (Citizens to Save 280); and Slossfield Community Center, "for supporting the public good."

2005

The 2005 Preservation Awards were presented at the Phoenix Building on May 12, 2005:

• Phoenix Building, "for Alabama's first mixed-income lofts."
• Ballard Building, "for salvaging and saving."
• Kress Building, "for returning a grande dame to glory."
• Penny, "for saving the Penny dog."
• Jefferson County Rehabilitation & Health Center, "for compassionate care amidst distinguished buildings."
• Center Point School, Robinson School, "for the rescue and reuse of historic schools."
• Zoe's in Forest Park, "for working hard to make it right."
• Cobb Lane Bed and Breakfast, "for pioneering historic hospitality."
• Oak Hill Cemetery, "for assessing resources and developing a conservation plan."
• Tannehill Ironworks and the Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama, "for exemplary collections and exhibits on 19th-century ironmaking."

2004

The 2004 Preservation Awards were presented at the Jemison Flats offices of Giattina Fischer Aycock on May 13, 2004:

• Jemison Flats, "for preserving and invigorating the spirit of the place."
• Center for Regional Planning and Design, "for respecting and reviving the historic distribution center."
• Dewberry Building and Phoenix Building, "for the rescue & rebirth of two of Birmingham's oldest business houses."
• Adamson Ford/Alberto Chiesa architect, "for preserving and enhancing an entire city block
• Walter Agee residence (Rucker Place), "for giving this grande dame great new life."
• Madame Blanche Bernard's (Jackson Galleries), "for sensitive and innovative preservation."
• Avondale Villa, "for vision, determination, and hard work."
• Safari Cup, Zoë's at One Federal Place, Sutton Candy Company (Sonya Faye's), and Café Dupont, "for enlivening urban life."
• Alison Glascock and the Highland Park neighborhood, "for advocating preservation in word and deed."

2003

The 2003 Preservation Awards were presented at the offices of Williams Blackstock Architects on May 8, 2003:

• Nelson Manufacturing/V&W Supply (2024 Building): "for preserving historic warehouse features in an innovative office environment."
• A. G. Gaston Building & L. R. Hall Auditorium: "for sensitive upgrading of Gaston’s seminal headquarters."
• Temple Emanu-El, "for respecting and reviving the historic temple and for sensitive new construction."
• Little Theater (Virginia Samford Theatre), "for preserving and invigorating the spirit of the place."
• Parkside, "for bountiful efforts to enhance the historic showroom and its neighborhood."
• Highland Coffee Company, "for raising the awareness of the 1950s architectural era."
• Slater Sales, "for recreation of an historic wooden storefront."
• Vogue Cleaners signs, "for restoration of historic signage"
• Newspaper Union Building/Magic City Casket, Seaboard Saloon (Brad Morton residence), and V & W Plumbing (Nathan & Nathan P.C.), special awards

2002

The 2002 Preservation Awards were presented at the Jefferson County Courthouse on May 16, 2002:

• Jefferson County Courthouse, "fore sensitive rescue and reuse of the historic interiors of this major public space."
• Birmingham Publishing Company (ArchitectureWorks), "for skillfull integration of old and new features and uses."
• Graymont School (Jefferson County Office of Economic Opportunity), "for restoring the spirit and physical structure of the school"
• Cathedral Church of the Advent, "for assessing and laboring to preserve the Ohio sandstone walls."
• Highlands United Methodist Church, "for effectively bridging the historic and the new."
• Tire Engineers Two, "for imaginative adaptation to automotive uses."
• Turkey Creek Preserve & Bettye Fine Collins, "for mapping historic and archeological[sic] resources in the future 700-acre nature preserve."
• Rhodes Park, "for championing careful construction."
• Arthur Brown residence, "for rescuing a tornado stricken landmark."
• Roebuck Springs Preservation Society, "for spearheading neighborhood conservation."
• Hardin residence, "for their boundless enthusiasm for living downtown."

1988

• Birmingham Ace Hardware building at 316-318 1st Street North by Citizens Federal Savings Bank
• Engel Building at 2126 Morris Avenue by Engel Realty
• Farley Building on 20th Street North at 3rd Avenue North by Farley Ltd and Hadley Church & Co.
• McAdory Building at 2013 1st Avenue North by Hadley, Church & Carlson
• Wilson Building at 2213 Morris Avenue by Nimrod Long & Associates, Renneker Tichansky Architects, Renneker & Co. and James H. Haggard
• The Tutwiler (Ridgely Apartments), 21st Street North at Park Place, by Tutwiler Ltd
• Wooster Lofts at 2321 1st Avenue North by Calder Associates
• Zinszer Building at 2117 2nd Avenue North by Second Avenue Historic Partnership

External link

• Birmingham Historical Society website