On Sunday, November 10, the Landmark Society of Western New York presented the Clarkson Historical Society (CHS) with its Stewardship Award for the restoration of the historic Clarkson Academy building. Mary Edwards, president of CHS, received the award at the Landmark Society’s annual Preservation Awards event held in Rochester’s City Hall.
The award was one of several in different categories presented to 11 individuals and organizations in a nine-county area for “outstanding efforts in the preservation of their homes, historic properties and landscapes.” CHS was the sole winner of the Stewardship Award which recognizes “continued care of and commitment to the preservation of an architecturally and/or historically significant property … over a period of years,” the Landmark Society literature states.
The Greek Revival two-story brick schoolhouse was built in 1853. For over 100 years it served elementary and high school students in two classrooms. Adjacent to the Clarkson Community Church at the four corners in Clarkson, the building was vacant and deteriorating for over 20 years. In 2003, the Clarkson Historical Society organized to restore the building, a project that took a decade under the leadership of Don Lage, a prior president of the CHS. The story of the project and celebration of its completion appeared in the Suburban News, Hamlin-Clarkson Herald on August 18, 2013 (www.westsidenewsny.com).
“Receiving the Landmark Society’s Stewardship Award today was a great honor,” Mary Edwards said. “It is gratifying that this prestigious organization recognized our persistent hard work over a decade, adhering to their standards. The award reaffirms the importance of our mission to continue our work in preserving the unique architectural history of Clarkson.”
Provided photo
11/17/13
