Historic Preservation

Annually since 1997, the Oil Heritage Region Historic Preservation Awards have been co-sponsored by area organizations, with the awards administered by the Oil Region Alliance on behalf of all of the co-sponsors.

The purposes of this awards program include the following: to recognize projects that represent appropriate standards of preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation; to acknowledge individuals and groups for initiatives, services or commitment to preservation values; to create an advocacy for historic preservation through a greater public awareness of the built environment; and to enhance a region-wide preservation ethic in both the public and private sectors.

The 2007 sponsors are Crawford County Historical Society, Oil Region Alliance, Titusville Historical Society, Titusville Renaissance, Inc., and Venango County Historical Society. Each sponsoring organization provides a judge for the team which reviews incoming nominations, examines the relative merit of each nomination in relation to the eligibility criteria, views the visual documentation (especially ‘before’ and ‘after’ preservation work), and determines the classification of each nomination while selecting the award recipients from among that year’s nominees. Each sponsoring organization also introduces at least one recipient at the awards ceremony; the sponsors rotate in turns as the ceremony host. There is also a sponsorship fee to offset the administrative costs associated with this project.

Additional sponsors are welcome; please contact Toni Kresinski, ORA Events Manager, at 677-3152, Extension 110, tkresinski@oilregion.org for sponsorship opportunities.

Click Here for the Nomination Form for the 2009 Oil Heritage Region Historic Preservation Awards and for the Rules and Regulations.

The next awardes ceremony will be conducted on April 9, 2009 in Titusville, co-hosted by the Titusville Historical Society and Titusville Renaissance, Inc. Nominations may be submitted now.

Anyone may submit a nomination; if the nomination involves property, the owner’s signature must appear on the nomination form. Completed nominations should be submitted to the Oil Region Alliance office.

Eligibility is as follows:

Structures must be located in the Oil Heritage Region, which includes the City of Titusville and Oil Creek Township in Crawford County, and all of Venango County.
Individuals or organizations recognized must be situated in the Oil Heritage Region.
Structures must be at least 50 years old. They do not need to quality for National Register listing, but must be of recognized historical or architectural value. The structures may be commercial, residential, industrial, public, religious, or other properties. The recognized project may involve the interior and/or exterior of the structure.
The construction or enhancement project must have been completed in the last five years. If a project has received a previous OHR Historic Preservation Award, it is not eligible to receive another such award for a period of five years.

Congratulations to the 2008 Award Recipients

During the awards ceremony on April 10, 2008 held at the Barrow Civic Theatre in Franklin, the Oil Heritage Region Historic Preservation Awards were presented to the following 6 individuals, families, companies, and organizations.

Reconstruction -- Daryl O. Hicks and Dianne Hicks; for the reconstruction of the DayDia commercial building at 228 Seneca Street in Oil City, to contain multiple businesses plus the Hicks family residence
John “Skip” Homan and Suzanne Homan; for the restoration of their residence at 304 Orange Street in Oil City
Initiative -- Robert J. Finch; for a lifetime of service on projects involving the physical preservation of fountains, cemeteries, veteran memorials, residences, as well as serving as a guide on walking tours
Initiative -- Historic Franklin Preservation Association; for the volunteer-operated “Home Preservation Project” assisting owners of properties in the Franklin Historic District with exterior restoration work and providing a history on each house
Preservation Stewardship -- Timothy J. Hartle and Michelle Hartle; for the exterior and interior rehabilitation work performed on the Hartle Funeral Home at 1328 Liberty Street in Franklin; this building is also the Hartle family residence
Initiative -- Lynn Cochran; for her leadership as Chair of the Oil Region Alliance Preservation Committee, and especially for her marshalling the acquisition of the Tarbell House in Titusville

Previous Recipients of the Oil Heritage Region Historic Preservation Awards

2007 Winners presented May 16, 2006 at DeBence Antique Music World

Reconstruction -- Rev. Robert Guy, Pastor, Barkeyville Church of God; for the restoration of the former Barkeyville Academy
Residence Restoration -- Duane and Wendy Sheatz; for the work on their home at 1040 Elk Street in Franklin
Preservation Initiative -- Wendell E. Schwab; for the work underway restoring and then furnishing the former Kapp School House in Pinegrove Township
Preservation Stewardship -- Bob and Kathy Grossman; for the work on their residence and the other apartments in their building at 207 South Park Street in Franklin
Reconstruction -- Farmers National Bank; for the rehabilitation of the bank headquarters building at 612 Main Street in Emlenton
Honorable Mention for Rehabilitation of a Structure -- Allegheny Valley Trails Association; for the innovative work on the Sandy Creek Tunnel in Venango County along the East Sandy Trail, involving building a smaller tunnel inside the original and lining the gap between with recycled tires
Honorable Mention for Preservation Initiative -- County of Venango; for the interior restoration and enhancements of Court Room #1 of the Venango County Courthouse on Elk Street in Franklin

2006 Winners presented May 4, 2006 at Titusville Towne Square

Initiative -- Ronnie Beith, Penny Minnick, and Joyce Neidich of Franklin; for the Franklin Walking Tour Brochure
Initiative involving Youth -- Darlene Fescenmyer; for her instruction of Christian Life Academy students at Seneca in the art of stained glass construction and repair
Reconstruction -- Bob and Sandy Fry; for Short Street Motor Cars building at 119 East First Street in Oil City
Residence -- Gary and Sandy Baker; for the work on their home at 504 Fifteenth Street in Franklin
Rehabilitation -- Titusville Redevelopment Authority; for the work on Titusville Towne Square at the intersection of West Spring Street and South Franklin Street in Titusville

2005 Winners presented May 2, 2005 at Drake Well Museum

Enhancement -- Faith Holiness Church; for exterior work at 1101 Buffalo Street in Franklin
Initiative -- James Moltz of Oil City and Don Heeter of Venus; for the documentation and restoration work at cemeteries and iron furnaces throughout Venango County
Initiative -- Lynn Pacior-Malys of Oil City; for multiple preservation projects involving artwork, historic buildings, and commemoration of projects throughout the Oil Heritage Region
Initiative -- David Weber of Pleasantville; for researching, documenting, and writing histories of historic buildings, events, people, and companies throughout the Oil Heritage Region
Reconstruction -- Amy Whitehill; for work on Amy’s Closet at 203 Main Street in Emlenton
Honorable Mention for Reconstruction -- Regis Brick; for the work on Brick’s Antiques at 5434 Pittsburgh Road in Barkeyville
Honorable Mention for Reconstruction -- Mike and Cathy Irwin; for the exterior and interior work on Bluegill Graphix (former synagogue) at 318 North Franklin Street in Titusville
Structure -- Brian T. Best of Emlenton; for work restoring the Beringer Cemetery

2004 Winners presented May 10, 2004 at Drake Well Museum

Reconstruction -- James E. Thomas; for the work on the Brundred- Thomas Bed & Breakfast at 315 West First Street in Oil City
Reconstruction -- Thomas and Kelly Sauber; for the work on the interior of Four Sons Brewery Restaurant at 113 South Franklin Street in Titusville
Historic Structure -- Grove Hill Cemetery Association; for the gate and fence enhancements at 131 Cedar Avenue in Oil City
Preservation Stewardship -- Emanuel Lutheran Church at 220 West Elm Street in Titusville; and Arthur W. Carlson, III, Supervising Professional for exterior and interior work on this building
Preservation Stewardship -- First United Methodist Church at 1100 Liberty Street in Franklin; and Scott Greene, Supervising Professional for exterior and interior on this building
Preservation Initiative -- Bureau of Forestry, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; for restored Oil Engine House in Kennerdell Tract of the Clear Creek State Forest in Venango County
Preservation Initiative -- Lois S. Minnigh of Franklin; for multiple historic building, vintage clothing, historic preservation events, and projects concentrated in Franklin

2003 Awards presented April 24, 2003 in the Quality Inn at Franklin

Historic Structure -- County of Venango; for decking Dotter Road Bridge
Residence -- Glenn and Linda Grose; for work on their home at 2386 Millbrook Road, Kennerdell in Irwin Township
Enhancement -- Terry and Charlene Ruot; for exterior rehabilitation of Charter Plastics, Inc. multiple buildings in Titusville
Reconstruction -- Samuel and Pamela Dockery; for the Galena-Dockery Building at 1140 Liberty Street in Franklin
Preservation Initiative -- Richard Castonguay and the Venango Economic Development Corporation; for multiple community revitalization projects incorporating preservation practices throughout Venango County and the Oil Heritage Region
Preservation Initiative -- Carolee Michener of Franklin; for multiple research, documentation, writing, and educational projects incorporating the preservation of buildings, historic sites, artifacts, and events throughout the Oil Heritage Region

2002 Winners presented on May 13, 2002 at Drake Well Museum

Residence -- Dennis and Nancy Clifford; for the work on their home at 415 West Second Street in Oil City
Residence -- Emerson Place; for the work on this nursing home building at 701 North Perry Street in Titusville
Residence -- T. George and Suzanne G. Ingham; for the work on their home at 309 West First Street in Oil City
Residence -- Reed Johnson and daughter Willow Johnson; for the work on their home at 204 West First Street in Oil City
Residence -- James and Areta Johnston; for the work on their home at 1152 Elk Street in Franklin
Residence -- Dale and Mary K. “Kathy” Wilson; for the work on their home at 1158 Elk Street in Franklin
Residence -- William Wilson and George Thompson; for the work on their current law practice office, in a former residence at 1162 Elk Street in Franklin
Enhancement -- Cynthia and Mark Hoopes; for the Faded Fence Gift and Antique Shop in a former hardware store at 105 East First Street in Oil City
Enhancement -- Stephens Real Estate; at 121 West Spring Street in Titusville
Enhancement -- City of Titusville; for Titusville City Hall building at 107 North Franklin Street in Titusville
Preservation Stewardship -- William Bowen of Oil City; for multiple projects researching and preserving historic buildings, artifacts, and materials
Preservation Stewardship -- First Presbyterian Church; 216 North Franklin Street in Titusville
Preservation Stewardship -- St. Stephens Catholic Church and Cemetery; Spring Creek Road in Titusville
Preservation Initiative -- Ronald Gustafson of Oil City; for multiple projects by Gustafson General Contracting and the Gustafson family as volunteers involving historic buildings and their preservation
Preservation Initiative -- Neil McElwee of Oil City; for multiple projects involving the research, documentation, writing, and presentation of public programs about historic buildings, artifacts, events, and people throughout the Oil Heritage Region
Honorable Mention for Reconstruction -- Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry at 270 Seneca Street in Oil City; for the restoration of the peacock statues from the Latonia Theatre in Oil City
Reconstruction -- Oil Heritage Region, Inc., Third Millennium Architects of Oil City, and Gustafson General Contracting of Oil City; for the relocation of the McClintock-Steele-Waitz House (aka Coal Oil Johnny House) to 167 Old Bankston Road in Cornplanter Township

2001 Winners presented April 26, 2001 at The Arlington Hotel in Oil City

Residence -- James and Rachel Ashbaugh; for work on their home at 1428 Elk Street in Franklin
Enhancement -- Neil and Lois McElwee; for work on their home at 711 West First Street in Oil City, called the Alvin Drake Deming House
Enhancement -- Gary and Nancy Kingsley; for work on their home at 414 Highland Street in Emlenton
Enhancement -- Larry W. Sehman; for work on the exterior of Sehman Tire Service at 606 - 622 Thirteenth Street in Franklin
Reconstruction -- Allegheny Valley Trails Association; for work on the Belmar Bridge across the Allegheny River at Belmar
Reconstruction -- Emlenton Presbyterian Church; Main Street, Emlenton
Reconstruction -- St. James Memorial Episcopal Church; for the rehabilitation work including the restoration of the 1909 Austin Organ at 112 East Main Street in Titusville
Reconstruction -- Jae Ann Brown; for work on her home, the Charles F. Koos Building on Main Street in Emlenton
Preservation Initiative -- Urania Belle “Rainy” Linn of Franklin; for multiple projects involving the preservation of historic buildings, artifacts, vintage clothing, events, and publications about the history of Venango County

2000 Winners presented May 8, 2000 at Drake Well Museum

Enhancement -- Anderson Furniture Company; for exterior and work at their store at 225 Thirteenth Street in Franklin
Enhancement -- Joseph Brozeski of Oil City; for exterior work on both Pastel Music and the Pierogi Palace at 15 Spring Street in Oil City
Initiative -- Joan Search Hanson of Franklin; for extensive work researching, documenting, and writing about historic buildings, families, genealogies, public records, events, and companies in Franklin
Residence -- William and Sonja Hawkins; for work on their home at 305 West Fourth Street in Oil City, known as the Innis House

1999 Winners presented May 10, 1999 at Drake Well Museum

Enhancement -- Arthur A. and Jane Covell; for work on their home at 211 West First Street in Oil City
Honorable Mention for Enhancement -- Barrow Civic Theatre; 1223 Liberty Street in Franklin
Honorable Mention for Enhancement -- Oil City Civic Center, Inc.; for work on the National Transit Building at 206 Seneca Street in Oil City
Initiative -- Vision Quest based in Franklin; for significant volunteer assistance to multiple historic preservation projects throughout the Oil Heritage Region
Initiative -- Joanne Long Wagner of Clarion; for multiple projects involving the preservation of historic buildings, artifacts, vintage clothing, historic sites, events, and companies in the Emlenton area
Reconstruction -- Gene and Donna Best of Nickleville; for the work on the Red Brick Inn Bed & Breakfast
Residence -- Bill and Kathy Goetz; for work on their home at 1339 Otter Street in Franklin
Stewardship -- City of Titusville and the Board of Directors for Woodlawn Cemetery in Titusville; for ongoing stewardship for the overall Woodlawn Cemetery and especially the Drake Memorial

1998 Winners presented April 27, 1998 at The Franklin Club

Initiative -- Cemetery Records Committee of the Venango County Historical Society based in Franklin; for documenting and publishing multiple books about cemeteries throughout Venango County
Initiative -- Scott McMasters of Franklin; for ongoing preservation work individually and as a leader of scouts and other volunteers at the site of the lock on the French Creek Slackwater Canal system in Sugarcreek Borough
Initiative -- Guy Slaughtenhupt of Franklin; for work researching and presenting programs about historic buildings, events, and people in Franklin
Stewardship -- First Baptist Church; for the exterior and interior work on the church building and parsonage at 1041 Liberty Street in Franklin

1997 Winners presented May 12, 1997 at Drake Well Museum

Enhancement -- Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County; for work on their headquarters building on Seneca Street in Oil City (former office of National Fuel Gas Company)
Honorable Mention for Enhancement -- Christ Episcopal Church; 16 Central Avenue in Oil City
Honorable Mention for Enhancement -- River Ridge Farm in Cranberry Township; for restoration of the gatehouse located off Bredinsburg Road
Honorable Mention for Enhancement -- Oil City Library and the City of Oil City; for work on the Oil City Library at 2 Central Avenue
Initiative -- John Cenedella of Franklin; for volunteer efforts to preserve the Bredinsburg Cemetery in Cranberry Township
Initiative -- Betty McElhattan of Franklin; for multiple projects involving the preservation of historic buildings, artifacts, events, and structures (such as fountains) throughout Franklin
Initiative -- Samuel T. Pees of Meadville; for multiple projects involving the research, documentation, writing, and presentation of public programs about oil history sites, oil field equipment, artifacts, people, events, companies, and historic sites throughout the Oil Heritage Region
Reconstruction -- Thompson’s Drug Store; 105 South Franklin Street in Titusville
Reconstruction -- Galaxy Federal Credit Union; 1313 Liberty Street in Franklin
Residence -- Frank and Phyllis Weltner; for work on their home at 1421 Elk Street in Franklin
Stewardship -- National City Bank in Titusville; for the ongoing preservation of the exterior and interior of this branch at 127 West Spring Street in Titusville, especially the interior ceiling mural depicting oil history

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