Heritage Society presents preservation awards
No worldwide pandemic could deter the Eureka Heritage Society from presenting its annual awards to those who have worked to preserve the city’s remarkable historical architecture. Here are the society’s 2021 winners:
• The Lifetime Achievement Award in Preservation has been posthumously awarded to Melanie Kuhnel. During a period of 25 years, she was primarily responsible for the restoration and preservation of the Magdalena Zanone House at 16th and G streets and the original Zanone House next door, as well as the houses at Eighth and M and Washington and A streets. Through her efforts, these homes made their way onto the Local Register of Historic Places, and the Magdalena house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Kuhnel was one of the principal advocates for the creation of a Clark Historic District, and she worked tirelessly developing the project. It all began when a homeowner wanted to build an apartment complex on Clark Street. It was Kuhnel’s testimony before the city council that convinced Jack Keller to cast the deciding vote against the complex. Designation of the Clark Historic District has yet to be achieved, but the mountain of documentation collected by Kuhnel and others is there for the next push.
Kuhnel also served 11 years on the Eureka Heritage Society’s board of directors, 15 years on the city’s Historic Preservation Commission and made many appearances before the planning commission and city council. She was also instrumental in designing the gardens at the Eureka Heritage Society’s home, the Annie B. Ryan House.
• The Commercial Preservation Award was presented to Matson and Vallerga Architects Inc. for its offices at 3234 T St. This award underscores the point that contemporary mid-century modern styles are now firmly viewed as historical treasures.
Designed by local architect Gerald Matson in 1960, the building was erected per his specifications to serve as the home of his firm. That year, Peter Vallerga joined the firm.
The structure has many appealing elements, especially the simple verticality of construction materials and floor-to-ceiling windows that let light in and offer views of the lush landscaping. The interior is a symphony of mid-century modern: vertical woodpaneled walls, custom-built sliding doors, asymmetrical ceilings with skylights, wide and flat Bakelite light switches, a built-in period clock and a custom-made curly redwood table with turquoise Formica legs made specifically for the conference room.
While many mid-century modern buildings have been remodeled, this prime example is an unaltered treasure.
• The Residential Preservation Award has been presented to Ray and Randy Swedenburg for the major restoration of their home at 2424 B St.
The 1909 Queen Anne/ Neo-classical bungalow was showing its age by the time the Swedenburgs took up residence in 2007. Although the couple received help from local experts, Ray did much of the restoration work himself after he had honed his skills in College of the Redwoods’ Historic Preservation and Restoration Technology Program. Randy also got involved, and she scoured myriad issues of Old House Journal for inspiration on everything from wallpaper to kitchen light-switch plates.
In the kitchen, a drop ceiling was moved, door and window casings were constructed to match the rest of the house and new period-styled cabinets were installed. Now, the room honors the history of the house while still offering all modern amenities.
Work throughout the house has included restoration of the original windows as well as foundation work — before and after a sizeable quake. A bedroom and bathroom were remodeled, and acoustic tile ceilings were removed. All floor coverings were removed and the Douglas fir and redwood floors were refinished. Period-style replica wallpaper was then installed, adding one of the final touches to this small gem of a house.
• The Community Preservation Award has been given to the Eureka First United Methodist Church at 520 Del Norte St. Members of this congregation have always been proud of their church and of the volunteer work they have done on it during the past 90 years. Built in 1931, the church reflects characteristics of Georgian and Greek Revival architectural styles. Both styles are part of a class of architecture that began in ancient Greece and spread over the centuries to all of Europe and then to North America.
Methodist churches around the country reflect various architectural styles, and it is not known why this Eureka church was designed in this way. Perhaps it was a nod to the denomination’s emergence in early American history: Georgian Revival was widely popular in the 18th century, and Greek Revival was predominant in the mid-19th century. The latter is also believed to have been the first American architectural style to reach the West Coast.
Several features of these styles are prominent on this church, including round columns and a prominent
steeple. The building originally had another familiar element: dentil cornices. They were removed for safety reasons, but one was saved, and the congregation hopes to replicate it in the future.
• The Preservationist of the Year is Bob Felter. After moving to Humboldt County in 2003, he was so impressed by the area’s extraordinary architecture he decided to enroll in CR’s Historic Preservation and Restoration Technology Program.
Since then, Felter has volunteered for many preservation projects, including helping with the restoration of the Eureka Heritage Society’s Annie B. Ryan House. As a member of the Timber Heritage Association, he helped repair the Samoa shops and roof the roundhouse. He also provided much-needed repairs to the Gross-WellsBarnum House, home of the Humboldt County Historical Society.
Felter has fixed many old wood windows, and he recently rebuilt 12 window sashes for the North Coast Land Trust in Freshwater. As a member of Arcata’s Historic Landmark Committee, he also created a presentation on why old windows should be saved. Additionally for the town, he researched the state’s Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program and was instrumental in guiding the city council in adopting it. Now, qualified owners of historic properties can receive financial assistance with renovation and maintenance.
Felter is also teaching community reinvestment grant classes through the Jefferson Community Center. Since introducing restoration skills to recovered addicts, his students have helped with various restoration projects, including the three turn-of-the-century houses in which they live.
“It’s the most satisfying work I’ve ever done,” he said. “I feel like I’ve changed lives.”
• The Redwood Community Action Agency has been honored for the restoration of its headquarters, the historical Simpson Vance House at 904 G St.
This regal Queen Anne was built in 1892, and at the time the Daily Standard declared it to be “one of the handsomest in town.” It features a prominent two-and-a-half story polygonal tower topped with a conical dome. Other finery includes half-circle pediments filled with ornamentation, coffered panels, molding brackets and a slew of scrollwork.
RCAA bought the house in 1980, but by then it was a dilapidated shadow of its former glory. Board members knew extensive restoration was needed, and this was underscored one day when the front parlor ceiling collapsed during a meeting.
RCAA first had the building placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Then, the work began on everything from the foundation to the finial atop the tower. Inside, virtually all historical elements had been stripped, so the to-do list was lengthy. It included replicated paint, wallpaper, window lifts, light fixtures and doorknobs. Outside, much of the scrollwork had to be reconstructed, and the carriage house was repaired.
The work culminated in 1991 when the exterior was painted blue with red and white trim. Since then, RCAA has continued to maintain this high-end Victorian, which is why it is still one of the handsomest in town.
• The Adaptive Reuse Award went to the Benbrook family for the preservation of the 118- year-old Colonial Revival house at 1590 Myrtle Ave. An iconic building on the busy thoroughfare, it has been the Benbrook family home for 55 years. It has also been the location of their place of business, the Tuxedo Den.
Adaptive reuse is the process of reusing a building for a purpose other than which it was originally designed, and it is a valuable tool in saving historic structures. It also ensures that vital historical visual elements remain intact.
In this instance, the definition is only half correct. The Tuxedo Den was located downstairs, while the family lived in the bright second story of the house. On the first floor, two walls were removed to allow for sufficient showroom space. They were replaced with large redwood beams made from timber salvaged from the 1964 flood and were in keeping with the quality materials already in the house.
A sensitive addition for inventory space was added onto the back of the house, and its roof became a deck for the second story. Cove moldings milled in Arcata were also installed, and a fireplace was relocated from the first to the second story. Both floors remain accessible by the original staircase.
While the Tuxedo Den has recently been moved to a new location, the second story is still the cherished home of Benbrook family members.
Kathy Dillon is a retired journalist and a member of the Eureka Heritage Society Board of Directors. To read more about the Eureka Heritage Society’s upcoming “Vintage Holiday Boutique,” go to Page B3.