The trust’s annual preservation awards will be given to a 1959 Mid-Century Modern home owned by businessman and entrepreneur Jeno Paulucci, and a circa 1921 frame vernacular home reconditioned by Kevin Best and Bill Williamson.
The nonprofit trust also will present a certificate of appreciation recognizing the 1925 entrance to the San Lanta neighborhood along Sanford Avenue.
The gateway and 1920s-era homes in San Lanta were designed by architect Elton J. Moughton. During the 7 p.m. awards program, Sanford’s historic preservation officer and community planner Christine Dalton also will present a program about Seminole County’s first licensed architect.
The goal of the annual awards is to acknowledge and promote faithful restorations, repairs and maintenance of the city’s historical structures that are at least 50 years old.
This year’s winners have maintained their properties “faithful to the original design,” said Alec Then, chairman of the trust’s preservation-awards committee.
The trust has been presenting the awards since 1993.
“Since those first years, the quality of repairs and maintenance to the city's historic sites and buildings has increased greatly,” Then said.
The winners:
• 2020 Washington Ave. (Paulucci) has about 4,200 square feet of living space made of concrete block and brick, with a sleek structural canopy connecting the north and south wings.
The architectural style is classified as Mid-Century Modern, which was influenced by several design principles as well as the work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Paulucci is the original owner and still resides in the home.
Some of Paulucci’s many companies include Jeno’s Pizza Rolls, Chun King brand Chinese food, Luigino’s Inc., and Michelina’s Inc.
• 309 W. 5th Street (Best and Williamson) is classified as the National Style, which developed with the expansion of the railroad system from 1850 to 1890. As lumber became more available to local markets, sawmills became common. The new houses were easily constructed with balloon framing, and sheathed in wood siding. This house was occupied for about 30 years by Clarence R. Jones, a conductor with the Atlantic Coast Line Railway.
Best and Williamson purchased the house in 2005 and have reconstructed the front porch, repaired/restored the original siding and windows, and performed a complete interior restoration.
Originally, they planned to replace the original exterior with siding materials, and windows with insulated vinyl windows.
“The building had been neglected for quite some time and was suffering from deterioration as a result,” said Dalton. “After a series of meetings and extensive information exchange they began to respect and understand the value of their historic building. Ultimately, they threw themselves into the preservation project and they are extremely proud of the end result – as they should be. They love the historic district and are already daydreaming about the next ‘old beauty’ they can save.”
• The San Lanta entranceway leads into the neighborhood at Plumosa Drive along Sanford Avenue. The neighborhood was designed as Sanford’s exclusive residential community in the 1920s. The gateway and homes were designed by Moughton in the Spanish Eclectic style. A certificate of appreciation will be given to the City of Sanford and San Lanta resident Jody Drane, who were instrumental in the repair and preservation of the gateway.
Dalton will show photographs and drawings of some of the buildings designed by Moughton, considered to be Sanford’s master architect.
He designed the Woman’s Club of Sanford, Mayfair Hotel (now New Tribes Mission), First National Bank (now Wachovia) Sanford Masonic Lodge, the 1916 wings on both ends of the Student Museum, and the former Sanford City Hall, which was razed in 1978 to make way for the current city hall’s parking lot.
Dalton has been doing research on the architect, and asks that anyone with photographs, drawings, abstracts or other information bring them to the meeting or contact her at city hall.
The preservation awards coincide with National Preservation Month and will be presented at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Bettye D. Smith Cultural Arts Center, 119 W. 5th St.
A reception will be held afterwards across the street at the Higgins House Victorian Bed & Breakfast, 420 S. Oak Ave., hosted by owners Sharon and Lou Jobin.
“When Sanford’s homes or businesses were built, the architecture was a key element to the styles or circumstances of those eras,” said Nancy Kruckemyer, president of the trust. “The reason for the trust’s preservation awards is to keep that part of our history alive.”