The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission’s annual Historic Preservation Award identifies individuals or organizations who have made a significant contribution to the identification, study, or preservation of Decorah’s historic built environment.
2024
To Lois, Dean and Chanda Humpal for their long-standing commitment to rehabilitating historic properties.
2023
At the June 2023 statewide historic preservation conference in Sioux, City, Iowa, the Decorah Historic Preservation Commission won a “Preservation at its Best” award for its Charles Altfillisch project. The multi-year research project led to a brochure and extensive web materials focused on Decorah’s most important architect.
To Vesterheim for their imaginative publicly-accessible landscaping, which builds new appreciation for their outdoor collection, especially for the uniquely important Dayton House.
To the Depot, during its fiftieth anniversary year, for its long-standing and wide-ranging support of local historic preservation–perhaps stimulated by its beginnings in its namesake, the 1888 Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul train depot.
2022
To Kevin Lee for his wide-ranging historic preservation work, including masonry and cemetery preservation.
To the Porter House Museum for its ongoing historically-appropriate restoration and maintenance of the Porter House at 401 West Broadway.
To Rachelle and Mark Branum for their thoughtful, multi-year restoration of the 1875 historic brick and limestone building at 207 Washington Street.
Decorah Public Opinion, Monday, May 2, 2022
2021
To the Winneshiek County Historical Society for its thoroughly-researched, historically-sensitive restoration of the 1860 Landers-Adams-Bodensteiner house.
To City Engineer Jeremy Bril for his enthusiastic, consultative work on such local historic preservation projects as the Court Street brick paving, the Locust Road Cave, the Commercial District National Register signage, and map preparation for several city preservation projects.
Decorah Public Opinion, Thursday, June 3, 2021
2020
To Stan Fullerton for his sensitive rehabilitation of the former J.C.Penny’s building at 101 W. Water St. in downtown Decorah, and to David Wadsworth for the full-scale rehabilitation of a historic home at 409 E. Main Street.
Fullerton and Wadsworth Presented Annual Historic Preservation Awards Press Release
2019
Steve and Alice Runde for their commitment to the careful and historically appropriate restoration of the Poultry House and Carriage House on the Weiser Mansion property at 608 W. Broadway.
St. Benedict Parish for their decision to continue to use their architecturally important church building in Decorah’s historic and civic center; for their preservation of the historic building itself; and for their sensitive development of the church’s addition, which defers to the original building while replicating some of its key features.
Decorah Journal Thursday, May 9, 2019
2018
Five homes designed by local architect Charles Altfillisch between 1920-1960 were recipients of the 2018 award.
Decorah Journal Thursday, May 10, 2018
2017
Norb Bohr, Pete Meyer, and the Decorah Street Department for their ongoing maintenance of the brick paving on Court St., now a contributing object to the National Register of Historic Places Decorah Commercial Historic District.
Decorah Journal News Article – May 4, 2017
Decorah Public Opinion News Article- June 6, 2017
2016
Hacker, Nelson & Co. accounting firm for the sensitivity and community spirit represented in the rehabilitation of their building at 123 West Water Street, particularly in their restoring of the elaborate stonework that graces their building’s corner turret.
Decorah Newspapers Release – May 12, 2016
Decorah Public Opinion News Article – May 19, 2016
Decorah Journal News Article – October 6, 2016
2015
Elizabeth Lorentzen and Ed Epperly for their research, fund-raising, organization, and commitment that led to the thirty signs included on the Decorah “Walk Into the Past”.
Decorah Public Opinion News Article – April 28, 2015