BRUNSWICK, Ga., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation earlier today presented 16 awards recognizing the best of preservation in Georgia during its annual meeting in Brunswick

The Porterdale Mill Lofts in Newton County received the Marguerite Williams Award, presented annually to the project that has had the greatest impact on preservation in the state. The building also received an award in the Excellence in Rehabilitation category.

The Lofts were recognized for the rehabilitation of a boarded-up 1899 textile mill into a mixed-use development with retail and restaurant space and apartment loft living.

This year, the Mary Gregory Jewett award was given to Bill Mitchell for his lifetime achievement of preservation service. A distinguished author of more than 15 preservation-related books, including J. Neel Reid, Architect, Mitchell was a founding Trustee of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation in 1973 and is currently the Chairman/President of the Southern Architecture Foundation, Inc.

Named for the founding President and CEO of The Georgia Trust and Georgia's first State Historic Preservation Officer, the Mary Gregory Jewett Award is the Trust's highest honor and recognizes an individual who has a long and outstanding history of dedication and distinguished statewide service in historic preservation.

Named in honor of a long-time volunteer and first-time winner, this year's Camille W. Yow Award honors Bonnie Dowling, who has spent almost 30 years volunteering with The Georgia Trust. She has chaired numerous committees and events, served as a member on the Board of Trustees, and has been a Hay House board member since 1988.

The Trust also presented one award for Excellence in Restoration, 10 awards for Excellence in Rehabilitation and two for Preservation Service.

The Excellence in Restoration winner was the Colonel Leander Newton Trammell House, Marietta.

Excellence in Rehabilitation winners were: Armory Building/Trading Post Building, Macon; Central of Georgia Railway Tender Frame Shop, Savannah; Crown Mill Village, Dalton; Glenn Building, Atlanta; Glascock County Courthouse, Gibson; Peebles House, Gibson; Hotel Indigo, Atlanta; Mitchell County Courthouse, Camilla; Steyerman Building, Thomasville; and the Historic Coast Guard Station and Maritime Center, St. Simons Island.

The Beltline Historic Resources Survey, Atlanta, was recognized with the Preservation Service Award. For the survey, the Atlanta Urban Design Commission and the Heritage Preservation Program of Georgia State University inventoried the historic resources throughout more than 40 historic neighborhoods to help preserve historic structures surrounding the Atlanta BeltLine.

The Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission also received a Preservation Service Award for its preservation service to the community, specifically in the areas of historic resource management and protection, public outreach and education.

"This year's winners represent a tremendous dedication to restoring and revitalizing Georgia's historic buildings and communities," said Greg Paxton, president and CEO of The Georgia Trust. "We are proud to honor such deserving projects and individuals."

For more than 25 years, the Trust has recognized preservation projects and individuals throughout Georgia who have made significant contributions to the field of historic preservation. Awards are presented on the basis of the contributions of the person or project to the community and/or state and on compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

With more than 8,000 members, The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is one of the country's largest statewide, nonprofit preservation organization. Founded in 1973, the Trust is committed to preserving and enhancing Georgia's communities and their diverse historic resources for the education and enjoyment of all.

The Trust generates community revitalization by finding buyers for endangered properties acquired by its Revolving Fund; provides design assistance to 107 Georgia Main Street cities and encourages neighborhood revitalization; trains teachers in 63 Georgia school systems to engage students in discovering state and national history through their local historic resources; and advocates for funding, tax incentives and other laws aiding preservation efforts.

For more information about The Georgia Trust and the Preservation Awards program visit www.georgiatrust.org.

Source: The Georgia Trust for Historical Preservation

CONTACT: Harry Hollingsworth of The Georgia Trust for Historical
Preservation, , or cell, , or

Web site: http://www.georgiatrust.org/