2004 Awards
In 2004, RIPS gave eight Awards and four Certificates of Recognition for work completed in 2003 or earlier.
AWARDS
Historic Quad Cities Tour Brochure, Honoree: Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau, Joe Taylor and Charlotte Morrison “Historic Quad Cities” is a 64-page walking or driving tour booklet produced under the leadership of Joe Taylor and Charlotte Morrison of the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau (QCCVB). Research, writing, and photography were contributed by volunteers representing Rock Island, Davenport, Moline, and Rock Island Arsenal organizations. This is the first Quad City Convention Visitors Bureau publication to focus solely on historic neighborhoods, commercial districts, homes, and historic sites. It includes maps, histories of the communities, as well as descriptions and photos of historic structures. We are pleased to recognize the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau for producing and distributing this informative booklet that will serve as a memorable guide to tourists and locals alike.
Stroll These Sidewalks Brochure, Honoree: Rock Island Preservation Commission Rock Island’s historic neighborhoods – those more than 50 years old – are richly diverse in history and architecture. A stroll down their sidewalks will take you from an exciting, arts-enriched downtown to streets lined with Victorian gems to neighborhoods with important ties to World War I and World War II. The Rock Island Preservation Commission has produced ae full color foldout guide to 14 historic neighborhoods, a perfect complement to the many other publications the Commission has produced. It continues the Commission’s on-going commitment to producing quality educational materials promoting historic preservation in Rock Island. Join us in recognizing the Rock Island Preservation Commission and their support staff from the Department of Planning and Redevelopment, Alan Carmen and Jill Doak, for the production of Stroll These Sidewalks. And as your own observance of preservation week, pick up a copy of the brochure and discover an historic neighborhood.
St. Mary’s School (Schroeder Hall) , 22nd Street at 5th Avenue, Honoree: St. Mary’s Church For over a century St. Mary’s School (now called Schroeder Hall) has anchored the northeast corner of 5th Avenue and 22nd Street and become a familiar sight at that busy intersection. Although the original red brick was covered with cast stone siding in past decades, the architectural features of the school – windows, entrance, roofline and shape – were intact. In September of the church’s sesquicentennial year, 2001, a roof beam shifted and fell setting off sprinklers inside. Water drenched everything, unobserved all night long. By the time it was discovered, interior damage was so extensive that the economic feasibility of saving the building was in doubt. RIPS recognizes the decision to repair the damage and save the building. Today from the street, the old school appears unchanged, and it continues house the Jordon Preschool. We are pleased to recognize this significant achievement.
Brick Sidewalk Restoration, Broadway Park, 23 St, 6-7 Avenue, Honoree: Broadway Historic District Association, Contractor/Advisor: Dan Carothers, Kodiac Site Contractors, Inc This award recognizes a very special and productive project initiated by the Board of Directors of the Broadway Historic District to restore one of the few public brick sidewalks remaining in Rock Island adjacent to a privately owned green space that is maintained for the use of Broadway residents. The sidewalk had slowly sunk below the level of the surrounding land and was weed-covered. The Board used this restoration as an opportunity to educate those who want to learn how to lay brick sidewalks or patios. With help from volunteer expert Dan Carothers of Kodiac Site Contractors, Inc., the sidewalk was restored by lifting the bricks, leveling the surrounding boulevard area, adding a stable substrate, relaying the bricks and finally sweeping sand into the interstices. The city of Rock Island played a major role by waiving permit fees and by providing the fine gravel substrate. Mr. Carothers and Kodiac provided the equipment to remove the bricks, level the site, and spread and compact the substrate. All this work was just preparation for the time and labor intensive brick laying. It took a few weekends and many volunteers both from Broadway and other Quad City communities. Neighbor and Board member Bill Rowand donated vintage paving brick from a nearby site to replace those broken and damaged. The Broadway board provided box lunches to the workers as well as a great deal of labor. We are pleased to honor the Broadway Historic District Association for this special preservation and educational project.
Murphy House Lofts, 2207-09 7th Avenue, Honoree: Tuscan Group; Architect: Jeff Dismer, Gere/Dismer Architects, Contractor: Bill Rowand, Renaissance Construction The Murphy House condominium project represents a museum quality exterior restoration on the house in addition to compatible infill in the new carriage house styled garages. Since the building is a designated local landmark, all exterior changes were evaluated and approved by the Preservation Commission. The conversion of the original 1870s Second Empire side-by-side duplex into four two-story condominiums is an excellent example of adaptive reuse. Exterior restoration included a new roof, extensively repaired and replaced windows and brick repair. A deteriorated and obtrusive front porch that dated from the 1900s was removed and a historically appropriate new porch was designed based on old maps and traces on the brick. The new carriage house is attractive, architecturally compatible, and functional. It will accommodate two autos for each condo and is appropriate to the scale of the house. Exterior landscaping and a period style iron fence mark the finishing touches to this project. The City of Rock Island deserves credit, as well, for its timely and appropriate use of Tax Increment Financing to enable a new life for this previously endangered building.
Longview Park Entrance Columns, 17th St at 13th Ave, Honoree: Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department – William Nelson, Parks Director The severely deteriorated square concrete and stucco columns framing the northeast entrance to Longview Park were restored in the spring of 2003 as part of the Whitewater Junction project at the park. This pair of columns is one of the few structural features left of the original, early 1900s, O.C. Simonds design for Longview Park. O. C. Simonds was a nationally known landscape architect from Chicago. His designs for the park included curved pathways, open vistas and two lagoons connected by natural waterfalls designed to enhance the natural beauty of the site. The historic entrance columns – honored here tonight – could easily have fallen to the wrecking ball. Instead they were restored with appropriate materials. We are pleased to recognize the Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department for preserving this significant piece of our history.
(RIPS NOTE: These columns were demolished a few years later because the interior deterioration could not be stopped.)
House at 1301 17th Street, Honoree: Rock Island Economic Growth Corp. Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation continues its commitment to Rock Island’s historic neighborhoods and significant architecture with the restoration of the home at 1301 17th Street. Selecting a home on a major thoroughfare that was in danger of demolition, the Growth Corporation completed a total exterior restoration including roof, gutters, downspouts and painting. Inside the home many of the original wood floors as well as the wood beamed ceiling in the dining room were restored.
House at 1215 20th Street, Honoree: Michelle Funke, Contractors: Renaissance Construction; Gomez Painting This classic American Foursquare house has its historic appearance, thanks to the lots of work on the part of owner Michelle Funke. Her efforts have included removal of the old roof and replacement with architectural shingles that enhance the bellcast shape of the eaves. New gutters were added. A new historically compatible four-color paint scheme subtly emphasizes the architectural features such as the unusual square paneled front porch columns. Old screens enclosing the front porch were removed, resulting in a significant improvement in the appearance. Concurrently, steep rotting steps, plain 2×4 railings and deteriorated under-porch skirting, were removed and replaced with functional yet appropriate features. Energy efficiency – always an important ingredient in any building improvement — has also been addressed with blown-in insulation and new wood storm windows. We are pleased to recognize Michelle Funke with this historic preservation award.
CERTIFICATES of RECOGNITION
Cottage at rear of 603 23rd Street, Honoree: Donna Rogers The George Oscar White House at 603 23rd Street is a Rock Island Landmark. The large brick home was restored several years ago, but a small cottage at the rear still needed work. It had started life as a workshop for Mr. White and had also been used as a rental house over the years. In 2003, the owner decided that, with extensive refurbishing, it could be used once again as living quarters. Because the site is landmarked, the Preservation Commission was involved by approving a “Certificate of Appropriateness” for Ms. Rogers plans. Acting as her own contractor, and doing much of the work herself, especially inside, she created a cottage that has become a charming addition to her historic home and neighborhood.
1606 2nd Avenue, Honoree: Stanley Goldman In the early 1900s, 1602 2nd Avenue was a restaurant serving patrons of the adjacent Illinois Theatre. Later it became a furrier shop and finally an annex to Hyman’s Furniture when it occupied the theatre building next door. For many years, the only access to our building was through Hyman’s. But when the YWCA acquired the old theater building for their programs storefront access to our building needed to be reinstalled. Mr. Goldman has created a new recessed entrance similar to the original in configuration. The original ceramic tile floor in the entry, which had been covered, was revealed. A new glass ceiling was installed in the entry to expose the beautiful embossed metal ceiling inside to view.
House at 2208 7th Avenue, Honoree: Dr. Francy Ricketts, Contractor: Bill Rowand, Renaissance Construction After receiving a special use permit to use this house as a small psychology office, Dr. Ricketts took on the task of restoring a building which had been vacant and unkempt for many years. Both interior and exterior renovations and restorations were in accomplished in a remarkably short time. The exterior received a new roof and multicolor paint scheme as well as needed repairs and restorations. Among these are new front steps and replacement of an added second story back door with an appropriate window. The garage, which had been built in the 1970s, received new narrow cedar beveled siding, trim, and a new door. Landscaping and a carriagelike driveway were also installed.
Clipper Condos and Stores, 2nd Avenue at 16th Street, Honoree: Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation; Architect: Gere/Dismer Architects; Contractor: Baxter Construction The historic integrity of Rock Island’s downtown is legendary. When a new structure is added to the streetscape, it is important that it be compatible with the scale and massing of the vintage structures already there. The Clipper Condo and storefront building contain the first newly constructed residential units in downtown Rock Island in decades. They anchor one end of an important block and they do so in a structure that looks like two separate buildings on 2nd Avenue. Ground level commercial units are in keeping with the size, scale and usage patterns of the nearby business buildings. Behind the sensitive façade the living units offer modern amenities, secure parking integrated into the design, and roof top decks with spectacular river views.
