DIRECTOR OF THE LANE COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM BOB HART PRESENTED CRESWELL HERITAGE FOUNDATION PRESIDENT VERLEAN MCCOY WITH THE LANE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S 2019 ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD ON FEB. 9. PHOTO PROVIDED/ Robert Voelker-Morris/ Lane County History Museum
On Feb. 9, Creswell Heritage Foundation (CHF) was presented with the Lane County Historical Society’s (LCHS) 2019 Organizational Excellence Award for their efforts in restoring Creswell’s Old Schoolhouse over the past two years.
CHF was organized in 2017, with its first established goal to restore Creswell’s historic schoolhouse and to return it to public use.
”This was a historical preservation project of note – for not only Creswell – but also the state historical preservation umbrella organization, Restore Oregon,” Bob Hart, executive director of LCHS said of the group’s preservation efforts.
This is the third year of the Lane County Historical Society’s History Excellence Awards, Hart said. Awards can be made in one of three categories – individual achievement, organizational excellence and lifetime achievement.
Verlean McCoy, CHF president, accepted the award on behalf of the nonprofit. She submitted the nomination for the board because, ”I am proud of how our board members have worked together and also contributed individually in time and effort,” she wrote in the nomination proposal.
She said each board member put forward their own strengths and talents, and she believes the result is truly organizational excellence.
”We are honored to be recognized beyond Creswell for our efforts,” McCoy said.
The organizational excellence award has only been made twice, Hart said. The first award was presented in 2017 to the Faye and Lucille Stewart Foundation for their longtime historical support given in Cottage Grove for the Bohemia Park, Bohemia Mining Museum and Cottage Grove Historical Society, he elaborated.
Last year, CHF received an LCHS Heritage Outreach grant for the preparation of construction documents for the Old Schoolhouse, Hart said.
”The LCHS was pleased to recognize their follow-through with an Organizational Excellence Award,” Hart said.
Schoolhouse news
In other restoration news, the Old Schoolhouse will soon have a new foundation.
The nonprofit recently selected Calvin L. Lewis Construction LLC as the general contractor for the Foundation and Porch Replacement Project.
”Cal is an historic preservation specialist and we are very pleased to have him on our team,” McCoy said.
The construction for the foundation project will be weather dependant, but is expected to be completed in the spring.
On Feb. 19, Lewis replaced the porch posts to stabilize the structure for when the building is lifted, and a construction fence was put up the next day.
Upon completion of the foundation replacement project, CHF will continue with the restoration of the exterior and interior of the schoolhouse, with the goal of completion in 2021.
”Things are moving fast,” McCoy said.
The board also recently held their second annual meeting and board election. Members are McCoy, president; Don Ehrich, vice president; Mary Ann Howard, secretary; Patty Birch, treasurer; and members Anna Dolan and Todd Kenefsky.
Board meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month. A regular place has not been determined, McCoy said, so for those planning to attend contact McCoy at [email protected] or 541-895-3726.
The Old Schoolhouse ”is an historic community building and we hope to make it a source of community pride,” McCoy said. It is the only building in Creswell listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The nonprofit’s mission is ”To collaborate within our community to enrich the lives of current and future generations by protecting and preserving Creswell’s physical and cultural heritage.”
For more information on CHF, visit creswellheritagefoundation.org.
