PIP Awards Event - One of the Best Ever

Despite many days of cloudy skies and drizzle, the weather gods smiled on the Marston House formal garden for SOHO's annual People in Preservation Awards on May 30. Held in the late afternoon, the sunlight showed off the roses, jacaranda, bright blue lobelia, and geraniums to their best advantage. In centerpieces on tables elegantly covered in black, lovely bunches of coral and lavender tulips complemented the historic garden's finery.

The champagne flowed. The pineapple shrimp appetizers were mouth-watering, the poached pear salad refreshing, and the cannoli tantalizing. But, best of all, it was the awards program that filled everyone with inspiration.

David Goldberg, SOHO President, welcomed guests, noting that SOHO is celebrating its 50th anniversary year—a remarkable achievement. Later, David, a longtime SOHO member, hailed this year's event as one of the best ever.

In the introduction to Thomas Mayes' important preservation treatise, Why Old Places Matter, there is a sentence that captures the compelling spirit and motivation of this diverse group of winners. "Old places spur our memory, delight us with beauty, help us understand others, give us a deep sense of belonging, and perhaps, most fundamentally, remind us who we are," he wrote. Remarks from the podium by the gracious recipients proved that Maye's observations ring true. Here are several examples:

The Keeper of the Flame Award went to Klonie Kunzel and the La Playa Trail Association. Klonie explained that she has always been addicted to history. "Just ask my kids," she said. First used by the Kumeyaay Indians, the La Playa Trail then became the oldest European trail along the Pacific coast. The group raises funds to erect and repair historic monuments and markers along the way. They also sponsor a popular lecture series. Treat yourself to a walk along this historic bayside trail and you will likely appreciate San Diego history as Klonie does.

Girl Scout Troop 6786 received the Stewardship Award for their work in restoring the historic pillars at the entrance to Lemon Grove's first subdivision and the former Fisher Farm. It was gratifying to see these young women, proudly wearing their scout uniforms, vests covered with merit badges. Scout Danika Cuellar explained, "It was really hard work." The troop had to learn about historic plaster techniques, remove decades of grime and paint, and deal with erosion from the elements. "Those pillars are 100 years old. Just guess what history they have seen. We wanted Lemon Grove residents to know about them," Danika added. These teens represent the next generation of preservationists, and we hope this award will encourage them and others to embrace more preservation projects.

Jessica Johnson is shaping San Diego's future, too. She received the Town Crier award for her unique website Hidden San Diego. She also uses social media as a powerful tool for preservation. Her posts feature remote historic places, abandoned and haunted sites, old stage coach routes, and other "lost" history. Johnson has 22,000 Facebook followers and 1,600 Instagram posts. Her goal, she said, was to encourage her peers to put down their video games, and get out and explore.

Architect and developer Jonathan Segal captured a Commercial Rehabilitation award for his superb restoration of a 1926 Spanish Revival style bungalow court in Little Italy. Built for the working class, each cottage equals a 286-square-foot studio apartment. It's a vintage concept that could help ease the city's current housing crisis and provide quality, 21st-century accommodations as well. "Historic preservation is good business. My firm is committed to taking on one restoration project each year," Segal said.

Rebecca and Michael Murphy received a Residential Restoration award. Built in 1928, their Mission Revival style home in Mission Hills was in dramatic need of repairs to the foundation, windows, and roof. This is a well-loved family home. Its many issues were resolved, honoring the historic fabric of the house and faithfully restoring it to its original appearance. Michael Murphy told this heart-warming story: Four generations of his family have now lived in this home. In 1933, his grandmother moved in, and lived there until she passed away at 103. This home is the family legacy to future generations, and it demonstrates some of the most vital goals of historic preservation: continuity and community.

The special highlight of the program was the final presentation, the Life Achievement award. This recipient's accomplishments are truly outstanding. In presenting the award, SOHO noted that "If you were to name your three favorite historic buildings in San Diego, it's likely our honoree restored or rehabilitated them, or wrote the in-depth report that placed them on the national, state or local historic register. If you thought of the Santa Fe Depot, Mission San Diego de Alcala, and the Marston House, you'd be right! If you conjured up Balboa Park's Prado, the Spreckels Theatre, and the La Jolla Woman's Club, you'd be right again!…"

"This generous gentleman has probably served on every historic preservation board you can think of at the city, county, and state levels… He is also an art lover, historian, and an excellent writer, editing two seminal San Diego architecture guides…"

"His architectural and public service awards are too numerous to mention…With great admiration and appreciation, delight and pleasure, SOHO presents a Lifetime Achievement award to John Henderson, FAIA."

An enthusiastic eruption of applause and a spontaneous standing ovation greeted Henderson as he approached the podium. "I'll tell you one thing," he said. "It has been fun…The whole story is to look at the possibilities…Good clients and good institutions can bring old buildings back to health…One person may do something, but together many people can do anything!"

And that seems to be a fine summary for the collective efforts of this year's PIP award winners and of SOHO's long and successful history of preservation in San Diego.

All photos by Sandé Lollis

Stuart Hartley & Lois Cannady

Audrey Hamm, Helen Ofield, Rachel Romero

Helen Halmay

Jessica McGee

Alexandra Wallace, Maggie McCann

Anne Hartley, Stuart Hartley

Kim & Joe Grant

Andrew Goodrich, Katie Horak, Aaron Hyland

Alana Coons, Klonie Kunzel

Dan Soderberg

Eric DuVall, Joe Grant

Jordyn Gresham, Danika Cuellar, Lianne Alforque talking with Helen Halmay

Andrew Goodrich, Katie Horak, Todd Pitman

Todd Pitman, Carmen Pauli

Alana Coons, Sarai Johnson, Jennifer Macdonald

Left to right in the back Iris Engstrand, Patti Adams, Virginia Correia, Jen Schmidt, Klonie Kunzel, Pat Baker,
Pam Kelly. Front Eric DuVall, Kitty McDaniel, Barb Franklin, Marty Smith, Joanne Hickey, Karen Scanlon

Left to right in the back Maurcell Gresham, Carla Gresham, Jordyn Gresham, Lianne Alforque, Cher Flores, Danica Cuellar, Courtney Cuellar, Ariane Capps In front Audrey Hamm, Helen Ofield, Rachel Romero