By Martin J. Kidston
by Martin Kidston
Thursday, May 20
In 1989, the Historic Preservation Committee drew a network of boundaries over the streets of Havre and dubbed the area within as historic. Now, thanks to efforts of many, that historic district is coming back to life and protecting the original flavor of Havres past.
This is the 28th annual Historic Preservation week, said Emily Mayer-Lossing of the H. Earl Clack Museum Foundation. Our theme this year is Protecting the Irreplaceable.
Efforts to protect the irreplaceable will pay off when the H. Earl Clack Museum Foundation presents six awards to five different home owners. In the eyes of the foundation, the recipients have attempted to renovate and preserve the history of their home, and their efforts should receive notice.
They have been informed of the award, and they are very excited, Lossing said. They are happy that someone has noticed whats going on.
Lossing said the foundation wants the event to be annual, and in January of 2000, it will call for next years nominations from the community for the preservation award, given annually in May.
We want this to be a yearly happening, Lossing said. The foundation is very interested in historic preservation. Weve lost so much of it, we cant afford to lose any more.
In order to qualify for the annual award, Lossing said there are three prerequisites: The home owner must demonstrate a record of historic preservation, the house has to be within the historic boundaries as drawn up in 1989, and the house has to be a class A, B, or C historic home.
She explained a class A historic home as one that hasnt changed much over the years. In contrast, a class C historic home is one that has changed, but not so much that it cant be identified. A class B home is somewhere in the middle.
There are quite a few people in Havre who have worked to preserve their home, Lossing said.
The winners of this years H. Earl Clack Museum Foundation Historic Preservation Award are: Mary Van Bushkirk and Roger Barber at 436 Fourth Ave., Keith and Bonnie Doll of 202 Third St., Karl and Laura White of 412 Second Ave., the Ted Thompson Family of 419 Fourth Ave., and the Castle at 26 Third St., which received two awards; the Pasma Family (prior owners) and the Swansons (current owners.)
