24TH ANNUAL ROCKLAND COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S HISTORIC PRESERVATION MERIT AWARDS

PRESS RELEASE 

New City — The Historical Society of Rockland County (HSRC) is pleased to announce the 24^th annual Rockland County Executive’s Historic Preservation Merit Awards. These awards are given in recognition of outstanding historic preservation in Rockland County. In honor of National Historic Preservation Month in May, the awards will be presented at a country supper on the grounds of the Historical Society’s historic Jacob Blauvelt Homestead in New City on Sunday, May 18, 2014.

The winners of Rockland County Executive’s Historic Preservation Merit Awards for 2014 are:

• Herbert H. Dahm: Margaret B. and John R. Zehner Award for contributions to the county’s history and for underscoring the value of historic preservation to the community.
• Kathy and Harold Jones, stewards of the DeWint House: Preservation Leadership Award for individuals, groups, and government agencies that display outstanding leadership or continuing contribution to the preservation of historic resources in Rockland County.
• Heritage of West Nyack: Preservation/Restoration Award for their preservation of Pye’s Corners (a.k.a. Richard’s Corners) in West Nyack.
• Suzanne Barclay & Walter Aurell: Preservation/Restoration Award for their restoration of the Aurell/Barclay House (a.k.a. Mabie House) in Orangeburg.
• Walter Cain and Paulo Ribeiro: Rescue Award for saving the Heitman House, Piermont, from demolition.
• Nick Loucas: Continuing Use Award for Lucas Candies in Haverstraw

With special commendations going to

• Joel Epstein, Code Enforcement Officer, Town of Clarkstown; and
• Sisters of St. Dominic, Sparkill, upon the 100th anniversary of the Sacred Heart Chapel.

All of the awards made by the HSRC in 2014 underline the positive effects of preservation on the community. For example, the excellent restoration of the Heitman House, which had been threatened by demolition, has helped to maintain the integrity of a Piermont Historic District. Lucas Candies, a Haverstraw family business that has been operating out of the same nineteenth-century building since its inception, contributes positively to the village’s rich history. The municipal restoration of a public space by Heritage of West Nyack’s anchors a well-traveled Clarkstown crossroad, inspiring passersby.

For information about attending the awards ceremony and country supper, to be held on the grounds of the Jacob Blauvelt house on May 18, 2014, visit www.RocklandHistory.org.

For more information on the award process, or to find out how to attend the Country Supper visit www.RocklandHistory.org or contact the Historical Society of Rockland County at 845-634-9629.