Altfillisch Project Given Statewide Award

Posted: June 12, 2023 in City News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Decorah Historic Preservation Commission

Contact: Mark Z. Muggli, DHPC Chair (historicpreservation@decorahia.org; 612-720-5795)

Decorah Altfillisch Project Given Statewide Award

Decorah, IA (June 12, 2023) — The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission’s Charles Altfillisch project won a “Preservation at its Best” award at the “Preserve Iowa Summit” in Sioux City, IA, June 1-3, 2023.

The “Special Project” award citation cited “the ambitious volunteer effort that resulted in extensive online resources,” including a biography, details on sixty properties organized into four tours, and information on other Altfillisch and misattributed non-Altfillisch properties. The award was presented by the statewide non-profit Preservation Iowa.

Decorah Commission member Judy van der Linden noted, “Our small printed brochure, available at the Decorah Chamber of Commerce, leads to city website materials that provide an affordable format for preserving the rich historical information gathered by the Commission’s seven members.”

Decorah Hotel/Motel taxes and city historic preservation funds covered the project’s modest cost. Chamber of Commerce personnel Jessica Rilling and Amanda Streeper provided design, layout, and project oversight. City engineer Jeremy Bril created the maps. IROC Web Design Services of Calmar formatted the internet materials.

The “Preserve Iowa Summit,” presented annually by the Department of Cultural Affairs State Historic Preservation Office, is the premier statewide conference for historic preservation. More than 220 architects, developers, historic preservation professionals, government officials and others attended the three-day event.

Decorah Commission members Hayley Jackson and Mark Z. Muggli also presented a conference session on “A Big Architect in a Small Town: Charles Altfillisch in Decorah.” They outlined the challenges and opportunities in a project conceived and executed by volunteer members, rather than professional consultants.

At the end of the Jackson and Muggli presentation, Preservation Iowa vice-president Laura Carstens said, “Now you know why we presented this project with an award.”

The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission is a state-certified city board established in 2007 to promote the public’s educational and economic welfare through the recognition of historic sites. Contact: historicpreservation@decorahia.org.

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