2003: Durant-Peterson House Museum Prairie Children Program Wins Award

"In February of 1996, a charming letter from a fourth-grade girl who had recently visited the Durant-Peterson House Museum inspired us to begin the volunteer program for youngsters which evolved into the Prairie Children corps [now Junior Docent program]. Seven years later, that nine-year-old is a junior at St. Charles East High School--and still a committed volunteer at our historic site... Linda Saxer, director of the Durant-Peterson House Museum deserves all the credit for starting this program, training youngsters to serve as competent guides, and offering them such perks as candlelight hearth dinners every November.

An extra perk for us: these children are much better than our adult docents at steering visitors to the Donation box!

We feel extra pround about [this award from the Illinois Association of Museums] because we are up against the 'big boys' in the Museum world when these awards are handed out. It's nice to know that when it comes to excellence, we are every bit the equal of the Field Museum and the Chicago Historical Society."

If you are interested in volunteering with this award-winning program, please click the box below for more information.

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SOURCE: "Younger Generation Earns Kudos Too," Advocate (Winter/Spring 2003): 2.

2013: Driehaus Award for Preservation Advocacy for Saving Pure Oil Station

Led by Geneva residents Colin and Glorianne Campbell (pictured on either side of former PPFV executive director Liz Safanda), Preservation Partners assisted in the saving and repurposing of the Pure Oil Station in 2012. A Dreihaus Award for Preservation Advocacy was awarded for those efforts in 2013.

The Pure Oil Station at 502 W. State Street in Geneva was built by prolific Geneva builder August Wilson in 1937. By the time a demolition permit was considered in 2012, the former gas station was one of the few remaining of the Tudor-Revival style.

The developer wanted to raze the structure to build a new bank but was denied a demolition permit by the City of Geneva because it was considered a contributing building to Geneva's Historic District that could be rehabilitated. Through cooperation between the developer and preservationists, a plan was developed to turn the former Pure Oil station into a drive-through for the bank (now Geneva Bank & Trust). Creativity also included the signage which remained in the same style as the original Pure Oil sign.

Landmark Illinois remarked that the resolution proved that historic preservation is "a key revitalization strategy for business, government and community purposes." While many complained that preservation hinders development, an editorial in the Geneva Republican admitted, "This shows how gridlock can sometimes lead to better results."

Thank you for reading! If this story interested, inspired, or informed you, please consider subscribing to our monthly e-newsletter so more of these stories come right to you!

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SOURCES: "Say it in Unison: This Place Really Matters!" Advocate (Fall 2013): 1; "Plan for New Bank Clashes with History, Business Owner, Geneva Republican, March 1, 2012; "Pure Oil Building Will Be Saved as Bank is Constructed," Geneva Republican, September 13, 2012; "Pure Oil Building Earns Accolades," Geneva Republican, November 7, 2013.