Community

Springfielders recognized for devotion to history, preservation

SPRINGFIELD –  The Springfield Heritage Award ceremony – the first of its kind in the City – was hosted last week by Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon. The awards, developed by the Springfield Historic Commission and the Springfield History Museum, recognize a broad array of stewardship activities that increase awareness, appreciation and support an inclusive perspective of local heritage.

There are two award categories: the “Preservation Excellence Award,” celebrating projects including historic preservation, historical research and community outreach, and the “History Maker Award,” celebrating leadership in shaping, preserving and fostering appreciation of past present and future local heritage. VanGordon presented winners with their awards, reading from a packet compiled by Jenna Fribley, founder of Campfire Collaborative Design Studio. 

The Board member of the Emerald Empire Art Association (EEAA) for over four decades, Dottie Chase was awarded The Springfield Heritage History Maker Award for her expertise in fundraising, community relations, business management and special events. 

“I’m very proud of this organization because it’s become much more professional and aware … to be recognized for it was a big surprise,” Chase said. 

PHOTOS PROVIDED
The awards wood base is made by Urban Lumber Co. from the century logs reclaimed from the historic Booth Kelly Mill pond.

2022 marked the 20th anniversary of the EEAA becoming a non-profit and the grand opening of Emerald Art Center at 500 Main St. 

“Dottie continues to embody the Emerald Art Center’s mission … She is a guiding light, a source of endless ideas for encouraging visual and performing arts in Springfield. She is a force for good,” read VanGordon. 

Chase was instrumental in the installation of the “Oregon Trail Mural” by Ann Lousise Woodruff Murray in 1994 and “The Simpsons” murals on the west wall of the EEAA. Chase also chaired the Springfield Mayor’s Gala in 2019.

The other winner of the History Maker Award was the City Planning Citizen Planning Commission, formed in the 1990s in an effort to preserve Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park.  Esther Stutzman Kommema with the Cultural Protection Association and Lisa Ponder and Mark Andrew of the Willamalane Park and Recreation District were recognized for their work on the Kalapuya Talking Stones.

Installed in 2003 and 2011, The Talking Stones were designed to provide art, educate, revive the Kalapuya language and honor indigenous culture. There are currently fifteen basalt boulders in the Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park; five are located in the 46 acres of the park in Springfield. The word “Whilamut (pronounced “wheel-a-moot”) means “where the river ripples and runs fast.” Some linguists theorize that the name “Willamette” may have derived from this Kalapuya word.

“It’s been thousands of volunteer hours, not only to do the talking stones but to promote the Kalapuya, to work with ODOT .. the City of Eugene, and Willamalane. It was just wonderful to get that recognition 

… and it’s always great every time Kalapuya is recognized by a dominant culture … it’s really important,” said Charlotte Boem, veteran member of the Citizen Planning Commission. 

There were three winners for the Preservation Excellence Award: Selah Meyer, Vonnie Mikkelsen and John Davis.

Selah Meyer was awarded for her home at 745 C St. built in 1910, with materials and craftsmanship from that era. As a first-time homeowner with a family history of restoring historic homes, Meyer wanted to showcase the quality of the historic materials from 1910, maximizing the use of original materials. Most of, if not all, the wood that is found in this home was milled in the forest around Springfield. 

“The style, workmanship, and quality of a homebuilt over 100 years ago cannot be replicated, but it can be brought back to life with purposeful craftsmanship … The result is a house that looks like it was just built in 1910, with the structure and inner workings to be a safe and structurally sound home for the next 110 years,” read mayor VanGordon. 

Vonnie Mikkelsen, President and CEO of Springfield Chamber of Commerce, was awarded for the chambers’ work with local businesses and community partners to make spatial improvements and technological upgrades to the Springfield Business and Visitors Center at the historic depot  These improvements were made in honor of the building’s heritage and they exemplify the spirit of revitalization of downtown Springfield, uplifting the building’s presence both as a cultural asset to the city and as home to the Chamber.

“When your community recognizes your effort as having meaning and value, it’s a different kind of validation. In fact, it inspires you to do more,” Mikkelsen said. 

The final winner is John Davis, volunteer for Laurel Grove Cemetery Revitalization and chair of the Springfield Rotary Service Committee. Laurel Grove Cemetery board members and volunteers from the community, have been maintaining the grounds of the Cemetery for over a decade. Historically, Laurel Grove Cemetery has not been well cared for. The board has worked diligently to restore the cemetery through proper maintenance, comprehensive research and documentation of the cemetery’s history. Because of their work, Springfield is able to celebrate history, preserve monuments, increase accessibility and community awareness of the importance of this site. 

“I was very humbled and honored to receive an award. I really didn’t expect it,” Davis said. 

Davis wanted to recognize the people that also contributed to the project. For instance, Ron Rogers, who has been working with Springfield Rotary for over 10 years and getting volunteers out to help and Alice Morton, Laurel Grove Cemetery Board historian who works closely with Springfield History Museum. As a longtime Springfield resident, Morton is a descendant of a former mayor of Springfield who happens to be buried at the Laurel Grove cemetery. 

In July, Laurel Grove Cemetery was awarded a $1,700 heritage grant from the state, which paid for a training by HP Northwest, a company that specializes in how to maintain buildings, headstones and cemeteries. This led to more Springfield Rotarians and volunteers showing up to help Laurel Grove Cemetery, David said. 

“The coolest thing about the Laurel Grove Cemetery is the collaboration with the Springfield History Museum and city council president Steve Moe to recognize all the historic grave sites,” Davis said. Some of those buried are founders of Springfield, former mayors, and historical families. 

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