heritage awards

The LHL Heritage Award is presented to individuals / groups who have contributed to local history in a significant manner since 1977.

2022:

Falls of Ohio River: Archeology of Native American Settlement 

ROOTS 101 Museum 

The Bellwether Hotel  

St Joseph’s steeple restoration 

New Albany City Hall renovation 

2021: No awards were presented due to the Covid pandemic

2020:  No awards were presented due to the Covid pandemic

2019:  Northeast Library

Immanuel Baptist Church for restoring their historic church at Fourth & Breckinridge Streets

Underhill Associates for restoring the historic Colonial Gardens

Ewing Fahey & the ENIDS for preserving the legacy of Enid Yandell

RLM Construction for the historic renovation of 1411 Willow Avenue

Michter’s Distillery for restoration of the historic Fort Nelson Building and creation of “bourbonism”

John Harralson, Jr., for decades of photographing Louisville history

Larry Johnson for advocacy of Seelbach Hotel history

2018: St. Brigid Catholic Church in the Goetz Center

Anne Jewel for preserving the historical legacy of the Louisville Slugger

Paul Olliges for interpreting Falls of the Ohio history

J Valle Jones for advocacy to preserve Whiskey Row

Jeanne Burke leadership in preservation and interpretation of the history of Clark County, Indiana

2017: South Central Library

Nancy Wetherby, Dudley Wetherby, and Mark Stigers for their volunteer curator efforts with the Middletown History Museum

Dell Courtney for her logistical coordinator efforts for the Heritage Weekends, civic parades, and other history events such as the Lewis & Clark Expedition bicentennial celebration.

Mike Kimmel for his advocacy of river history as Deputy Director of the Waterfront Development Corp., including preservation and development of the Big Four Bridge.

2016: Locust Grove

Jack Koppel for cemetery preservation advocacy

Don Haag for preservation of Schnitzelburg history

Ken McGuire for preservation of Camp Zachary Taylor history

Charles Arrington for preservation of Bowman Field history

Branden Klayko for featuring history and preservation on his blog "Broken Sidewalk"

National Jug Band Jubilee and the Kentuckiana Blues Society for historical headstones at Louisville Cemetery

2015: Frazier Historical Museum

Kentucky Historical Marker Program

Friends of Eastern Cemetery

David Barksdale, Floyd County, Indiana, historian

Little Loomhouse Volunteers

Indiana Landmarks, Greg Sekula

Samuel W. Thomas Book Award: "IRREPRESSIBLE: The Jazz Age Life of Henrietta Bingham" by Emily Bingham

2014: Southwest Library

Family Health Center for renovation of the historic American Standard headquarters building.

Leland Johnson & Chuck Parrish for the book: “Heroes at the Falls”

Cave Hill Cemetery for excellent stewardship of this historic scenic cemetery.

National Watch and Clock Collectors Society for restoration of the Tower Clock of Union Station

Solid Light for its creation of quality museum heritage exhibits

Samuel W. Thomas Book Award: Michael L. Jones for “Louisville Jug Band Music”

2013 Whitehall Historic House

Augusta and Gill Holland: history & preservation efforts

Castleman statue restoration by the Cherokee Triangle Association

Tonini Building restoration by Wellsrping and New Directions

Anchorage Place restoration by Neal and Anne Ramsey

Museum at Soldier’s Retreat by Brooks and Marilyn Bower

Martha Elson for history and preservation reporting with the Courier-Journal

Samuel W. Thomas Book Award: 2 Honorees:

Tracy K’Meyer for her book “From Brown to Meredith: The Long Struggle for School Desegregation in Louisville, Kentucky, 1954-2007”;

Sarah Garland for her book: “Divided We Fail: The Story of an African American Community That Ended the Era of School Desegregation”

2012 Kentucky School for the Blind

Adam Burckle for restoring the Louisville Clock

American Scholar House for renovating the Stoddard Johnston School

Bill Carner for his stewardship of the U of L Photo Archives

Samuel W. Thomas Book Award: “George Keats of Kentucky” by Lawrence Crutcher

2011 Frazier History Museum

Susan and Pip Pullen-Swope for renovation of the Marcus Lindsey Church

Warren and Jill Schimpff for Schimpff’s Confectionery

Joe Hardesty for heritage efforts at the Louisville Free Public Library

Carol Besse and Michael Boggs for support of history-related books at their Carmichael’s Bookstore

2010 Presentation Academy

Phoenix Investments: Bellamy – American Standard

Billy Hertz: neighborhood revitalization 

Cynthia Cooke: Bashford Bed & Breakfast

Sam Thomas: “Louisville Architecture” book

2009: Scottish Rite Temple

Kirchdorfer Building restoration

St. Cecilia renovation 

Rosemary McCandless & Stefanie Buzan, authors of the book "A View from the Top"

Madrid Building renovation

2008: Mercy Academy on Fegenbush Lane

St. James Catholic Church for church restoration

Joseph & Joseph Architects for landmark renovations

The McGoodwin Company for the Reynolds’s Lofts renovation

Michell Mahbubani for renovation of GQ Fashions

2007 Muhammad Ali Center

Bannon Homes renovation and restoration by the Michael Quinlan Brain Cancer Foundation 

Quartermaster Depot redevelopment by City of Jeffersonville, Indiana

Howard – Hardy House renovation by Christ Church Cathedral

YWCA / Henry Clay revitalization by City Properties LLC

Edith Henchey for granting a conservation easement of the Herr-Hite family home and property 

Renovation of 821 East Market Street by Action Graphics 

Jeffersonville Carnegie Library renovation by the Remnant Trust

“Louisville: Then & Now” book by Greater Louisville Inc.

2006: St Augustine’s Church - Jeffersonville

Jefferson County Public Schools for renovation of Bloom Elementary School

Jeffersonville Main Street, Inc., for revitalization and preservation efforts

Friends of the Division Street School for renovation of New Albany’s Historic Division Street School

University of Louisville for the preservation of the Unity Place Houses

2005: Undercroft at Cathedral of the Assumption

Walter Hutchins: African American historian

K. Norman Berry Associates architectural firm for preservation efforts

Joanne Weeter: Landmarks Commission staff and author of the book “Louisville Landmarks”

Louisville District Corps of Engineers

Kentucky Heritage Council

Bardstown Road Overlay Review District

2004: St. Francis High School (Third & Broadway)

Martha Cull (Main Street Association)             

Hurstbourne Stone Cottage (renovation) 

St. Francis High School (renovation)          

Gardencourt Carriage House (renovation)

2003: Scottish Rite Temple

Wanda Clark (organizer of Southwest Preservation Committee)

Dolores Delahanty (for support of local landmark designation for five county buildings)

Jim Holmberg (editor of a new book about William Clark letters)

Gayle and Herb Warren (for restoration of DuPont mansion on South Fourth Street)

Brown-Forman Corp. (for renovation of a West Main Street building)

2002: Spalding University Center

Citizens Working For Bloom's Future (Bloom Elementary)

Sallie Bingham (conservation easement)

Henry Wallace and Family (conservation easement)

Steve and Devona Porter (Tucker House)

Jefferson County Public Schools (dedication to preservation)

Christ Church Cathedral (sanctuary renovation)

2001: 

Save The Olmsted Park (for saving Shelby Park)

John E. Kleber and Mary Jean Kinsman (The Encyclopedia of Louisville)

City of Louisville Landmarks Commission (ongoing preservation efforts)

Public Radio Partnership (renovation of HSA Broadband building) 

2000: Old Male High School auditorium

Nailah Jumoke-Yarborough (development of Harriet Tubman Cultural Center)

Spectrum LLC (renovation of old Male High School)

Old Louisville Neighborhood Association (preservation of Old Louisville)

Courier-Journal (coverage of Old Male and making site available for Central stadium) 

1999

City of Louisville (West Main Street)

Actors Theatre of Louisville (renovation of old Bank of Louisville)

Fund for the Arts (renovation of W.L. Lyons Brown Theatre)

Stock Yards Bank (renovation of Stock Yard Exchange Building)

New Directions Housing Corp. (developing Roosevelt School) 

1998

Dr. Peter Ross (renovation of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ)

Louisville Water Company (renovation of pump station on Zorn Avenue)

U of L Photo Archives (for record keeping)

J.B. Speed Art Museum (renovation of facility) 

1997

Olmsted Conservancy (renovation of Olmsted Parks)

H & B (development of the Louisville Slugger Museum)

African American Heritage Committee (work in locating significant African American sites) 

1996

Housing Partnership, Inc. (renovation of St. Patrick’s School and Baurman House)

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (restoration of steeple)

Prof. Lee Shai Weissbach (for book Synagogues of Kentucky)

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (restoration of church)

Humana Inc. (renovation of Clock Tower building)

Riverfields, Inc. (for leadership in protecting Ohio River waterfront) 

1995

Cathedral Heritage Foundation (renovation of Cathedral of the Assumption)

Roger Allen (reuse of old Jewish Hospital)

620 W. Main Associates (renovation of Doe Anderson Building)

Clarksville Riverfront Foundation (Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center)

Godsey and Associates (renovation of German Insurance Bank building)

Martin Schmidt (for his book Kentucky Illustrated)

John Siegal, Jr. (renovation of Palace Theatre)

Schuster Partners (renovation of Schuster Building)

Historic Homes Foundation (renovation of Whitehall)

John Kleber (Kentucky Encyclopedia)

Mason-Parkland Limited, Underhill & Associates and Dr. John Mason (Mason Parkland Project)

635 W. Main Street Partnership (renovation of 635-637 W. Main buildings) 

1994

Louisville Water Company (renovation of Water Tower)

Friends of Olmsted Parks (restoration of Olmsted Parks)

Friends of Crescent Hill Library (preservation of Crescent Hill Library)

George Wright (for studies and writings on Louisville and Kentucky's African Americans) 

1993

Archdiocese of Louisville (renovation of Ursula Home and dePaul School)

Presbyterian Theological Seminary (renovation of Gardencourt)

Jefferson County Fiscal Court (renovation of Farnsley-Moorman House)

Belle of Louisville Operating Board (for maintaining Belle) 

1992

Kenny Karem (for book Discover Louisville)

Portland Museum (for preserving the history of Portland)

Bravura (renovation of old Belknap Warehouse #2)

Chance School (renovation)

H. Kevin Hoskins (renovations in Highlands neighborhood) 

1991

Bruce White (renovation of Seville Row and home renovation in Cherokee Triangle)

U of L (renovation of Art Center Building)

Hawkins Argabite and Associates (renovation of old Hartzman Hardware on Frankfort Ave.)

Bellarmine Women’s Council (for sponsoring Designer Showhouse) 

1990

Elmer Blackburn (renovation of the Blankenbaker Cabin on Rehl Road)

First Unitarian Church (rebuilding of church after fire)

Missy Kuhl and Safari Inc. (restoration of Finzer House)

Brown-Forman/The Forester Center (Adopt-A-Neighborhood program)

C-J Neighborhoods section (for its “A Place in Time” series) 

1989

LG&E (publication of "Light Years: History of LG&E")

Housing Authority of Louisville (renovation of Lourdes Hall, College Court, and Clarksdale)

Hilliard and Lyons (renovation of old Stewart’s Building)

George Yater (republication of "Two Hundred Years at the Falls of the Ohio")

David Jones (bringing Presbyterian USA to Louisville & renovation of Belknap Bldg.) 

1988

The Filson Club (renovation of Ferguson Mansion)

Chestnut Manor Apartments

The Valentine House

First Trust Centre 

1987

George Underhill and Associates (renovation of Oak/Brook Street)

600 Associates (renovation of Billy Goat Strut)

Liberty National Bank and Trust (television ads on Louisville’s history) 

1986

Iroquois Amphitheater Association 

1985

Frank Metts / Old Ky. Real Estate Investment Trust (reuse of Levy Bros. Building)

Sharon Potter (Kentucky Show) 

1984

None awarded 

1983

Helen Abell (continuing contributions)

Stewart/Winner (reuse of Mary D. Hill School) 

1982

George Yater (study of history)

Joseph Argabrite (adaptation of Union Station) 

1981

Potter and Cox Architects (renovation of 600 W. Main and efforts to save Will Sales Building)

Sharon Wilbert (dedication to preservation)

Allan Steinberg (dedication to League) 

1980

Mitch McConnell and Sherrill McConnell (creation of Jeff. Co. office of Historic Preservation)

Jefferson County Medical Society (renovation of Louisville Medical College)

Roger Davis and Gil Whittenberg (renovation of Seelbach, Dartmouth, Willow Terrace,Commodore) 

1979

Ray Schuhmann (renovation of Cloister)

Art Center Association (use of Water Tower)

American Builders Supply and Henry Bickel (renovation of Eclipse Woolen Mill)

Harvey Sloane (support of preservation) 

1978

Mrs. Macauley Smith

Anchorage Civic Club (preserving Anchorage history)

Millard and Receveur (restored YMCA) 

1977

Helen Abell

Charles Farnsley

Junior League of Louisville