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Wilhauf House Wins Excellence in Preservation through Restoration at Arkansas Preservation Awards
The Wilhauf House in Van Buren was honored with the Excellence in Preservation through Restoration award at the annual Arkansas Preservation Awards hosted by Preserve Arkansas. The ceremony took place on January 26, 2024, at the Robinson Center, located at 426 W. Markham Street in Little Rock.
Tom Wing, Director of the Drennen-Scott House and Wilhauf House and Assistant Professor of the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith's Department of History, Social Sciences, and Philosophy, expressed his gratitude for the recognition. "We were honored by Preserve Arkansas at the Robinson Center, named for one of my favorite Arkansawyers, Joe T. Robinson, for our work to preserve and restore the Wilhauf House, and in a room full of friends and colleagues spanning my whole career, we had a wonderful time.”
The Wilhauf House's restoration was made possible by a 2020 grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC.) The $678,461 gift empowered Phase V of the Drennen-Scott site project.
Originally owned by Leonard Wilhauf, a German immigrant and veteran of the Mexican War, the Wilhauf House's addition to the Drennen-Scott historic site enables UAFS to illustrate the daily life contrasts between the 19th century's elite and working-class families.
The restored Drennen-Scott and Wilhauf sites serve as a laboratory to train museum professionals and historical interpreters through displays of original family furnishings and artifacts owned by the Historic Arkansas Museum. It offers UAFS students and researchers experience in archaeological digs, historic gardening, and horticulture.
Since acquiring the site in 2005 and opening it to the public in 2011, visitors from across the world have joined the thousands of River Valley students who have learned about the role of Van Buren, Crawford County, and Arkansas in American History.
“I appreciate all the congratulations and kind words said by so many." said Wing. "Working with John Mott, Travis Bartlett at MAHG, and Gary Crawford and the crew at Crawford Construction has been some of the best days of my working life. What an honor to complete these projects with so many dedicated professionals. Having Melissa Cobb Wick and Sandra Pearson there, whose father was my friend and who donated the Wilhauf house to the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, made the ceremony even sweeter."
The celebratory event began with a reception, followed by dinner and the presentation of awards. The Wilhauf House was recognized alongside other notable projects and individuals dedicated to historic preservation in Arkansas.
The full slate of honorees includes:
Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement
Historic Washington Foundation, Hempstead County
L. Cook Award for Excellence in Heritage Preservation
Eureka Springs Community Center, Eureka Springs
Excellence in Preservation through Rehabilitation
Martin Hall at Hendrix College, Conway
Excellence in Preservation through Restoration
Award: Willhaf House, Van Buren
Honorable Mention: Crittenden County Bank and Trust Building, Marion
Honorable Mention: Wingmead Cabin, Roe
Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Education
Ritter-McDonald Cabin, Springdale
Ned Shank Award for Outstanding Preservation Publication
“Cy Sutherland: Architect, Educator, Preservationist” by Andrea Cantrell, published in Washington County Flashback, Spring 2023
Excellence in Personal Projects
Wallace Stone of Hot Springs for Judge Glover’s Hideout at Malvern
Outstanding Achievement in Adaptive Reuse
Benton Federal Building, Benton
Outstanding Service in Neighborhood Preservation
Angela and Bobby Matthews and Lynn Boyd of Little Rock for the Chester Nests project at Little Rock.
Preserve Arkansas is the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to building stronger communities by reconnecting Arkansans to our heritage and empowering people to save and rehabilitate historic places. By presenting educational programs, advocating for preservation at the federal, state, and local levels, and assisting property owners with the means and expertise to preserve and restore their structures, Preserve Arkansas has been a statewide voice for preservation in Arkansas since 1981.
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- Hssp
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- Drennen-Scott House