Knox Heritage Distributes Awards

John Craig opens the Knox Heritage Annual Meeting, November 2010.

The annual awards ceremony was held at the Bijou in which Knox Heritage recognizes those who have distinguished themselves in the local world of preservation. The meeting also served as the annual meeting and new members were added to the board as old members moved on.

Jim Samples, President of HGTV, speaks to Knox Heritage members, November 2010.

After an interesting lesson in the physics of preservation and energy (it really was interesting) by John Craig, president of the Knox Heritage Board, Jim Samples, president of HGTV, gave the featured address. He talked eloquently of the soul of a city and how he found it downtown when he came for his interview at HGTV.

Tim Burchett, Knox County Mayor takes the microphone for a spontaneous comment (imagine that) while Kim Trent looks on.

Kim Trent then took center stage to distribute the fantastic fifteen awards as well as others. Here are the winners with connections to downtown:

Preservationist of the Year: Pete Debusk (for the renovation of the Old City Hall/LMU Law School

Mary Holbrook (shot not taken at the meeting!) got one of the largest ovations of the night! (Yea, Mary!)

Volunteer of the Year: Mary Holbrook

Bill Lyons gives the Mayor's Award, Knox Heritage, November 2010.

Mayor of Knoxville Award (presented by Bill Lyons): Minvilla Manor, LP/Allan Associates Architects for Minvilla, 447 N. Broadway

Knox County Mayor Award (presented by Tim Burchett): Kevin Murphy/C. Randall De Ford Architecture for Murphy House, 4508 Murphy Rd.

Greystone Award: Johnson Bible College/Brewer Ingram Fuller Architects for the White House, River Court Road

Media Award: WBIR, Erin Donovan and Jake Resler for If These Walls Could Talk

The Fantastic Fifteen went to the developers, organizations, architects and regular folks for the following buildings which have been lovingly preserved. Here are the winners in and near downtown Knoxville:

The Ziegler Building, 9 Market Square

Daylight Building after dark.

The Daylight Building, 505 Union Avenue
PSCC Magnolia Ave. Campus, 1610 E. Magnolia Aven.
West Jackson Workshop, 514 W. Jackson Ave.
3,5, 7, 13, 15-17, 23 Emory Place
Condominiums: The Lucerne, 201 W. Fifth Ave., The Sterchi Oaks, 209 W. Fifth Ave. and Patterson Cottage, 605 King Street
2921 N. Broadway
2743 Wimple Avenue
726 Burgess Avenue
1126 Luttrell Street
2019 Washington Avenue
Fourth United Presbyterian Church, 1323 N. Broadway
2701 Woodson Dr.

I'm assuming that  a complete list of the winners, along with photographs should soon be posted on the Knox Heritage website. It was a good night for a great organization that anyone with a love of history and a respect for those who've gone before us should support. Go to the website and join. It's simple and it helps save the soul of Knoxville. Who could oppose salvation?