Historic Preservation Awards Honor Restorations, Lifetime Achievement

The Lewis and Clark County Historical Society held its Annual Historic Preservation Awards ceremony on November 13, 2025 at the History Center in the Steamboat Block, 618 Helena Avenue. A Patch posting ahead of the event listed the award categories and named several recipients and projects that were celebrated that evening, including the Herb Jacobson Historic Preservation Award for Lifetime Achievement, major restoration work on the Montana Club, rehabilitation at 219 Blake Street, rock wall restoration on West Lawrence Street and recognition for Tom O’Connell among others.

Organizers framed the ceremony as both a celebration and a public accounting of preservation efforts across the county. The Patch listing served as an event notice and as a summary of the honorees, and it included contact information for the history center for residents who wanted follow up information about projects or award criteria. The awards covered a range of work from private building restorations to community level preservation projects and individual contributions to local heritage.

The projects singled out carry practical as well as symbolic value for the community. Restoration work on prominent buildings such as the Montana Club preserves architectural character that helps attract visitors and maintain downtown Helena as a destination. Smaller scale efforts such as the masonry repair at 219 Blake Street and the rock wall restoration on West Lawrence Street address public safety, curb appeal and the long term durability of neighborhood infrastructure. Recognition of individual contributors highlights the volunteer and professional capacity that local preservation depends on.

From an economic perspective, successful preservation projects can influence local property markets and municipal planning. Well executed restorations often stabilize or raise nearby property values, and visible historic investment can support tourism related spending in lodging, dining and retail. For policymakers the awards underscore the importance of tools such as preservation incentives, grant programs and coordinated permitting to reduce the cost and complexity of maintaining older structures.

For Lewis and Clark County residents the ceremony reinforced the message that historic assets require ongoing stewardship. The History Center and the Historical Society use events like this to build awareness and to connect property owners with resources. The Patch announcement acted as a public record of the 2025 honorees and as a prompt for residents to engage with preservation issues that affect neighborhood character, municipal budgets and the county economy.