Preservation Awards

Bricks & Mortar Preservation Award

Commercial: 260 Bellevue Avenue, Bellevue Theater 

Owner: Jesse Sayegh, Doreen Sayegh, Paul Sayegh
Architect: Rachael H. Grochowski, RHG Architecture + Design
Contractor: Mark Tirondola

Restoring, renovating, and reopening the Bellevue Theatre represents a significant milestone not only in preservation but also in the revitalization of Montclair’s arts and culture sector. This state-of-the-art cinema is set to become a commercial anchor for the local business district, a vibrant community hub, and a major destination for visitors to the area. The restoration is a tribute to the collective effort to maintain the Bellevue as a cultural beacon, balancing a deep respect for its historical roots with the needs of contemporary audiences.

The Bellevue Theatre, which first opened its doors on May 13, 1922, has faced numerous challenges throughout its history. After its closure on November 12, 2017, when Bow Tie Cinemas vacated and removed all fixtures and equipment, the theater's future as a cinema was uncertain. The impact of technological advancements, changing cultural attitudes towards film consumption, and the Covid-19 pandemic added to the complexities of its preservation.

In 2019, a promising partnership aimed to breathe new life into the Bellevue with a renovation and reopening plan. Unfortunately, the pandemic halted these efforts, and by January 2021, it was announced that the project would not move forward. However, on May 13, 2021, exactly one year before the theater’s centennial, Bellevue Theatre President Doreen Sayegh, representing owner Jesse Sayegh, alongside Mayor Sean Spiller and Deputy Mayor Bill Hurlock, revealed plans for the theater’s restoration and reopening.

The Sayeghs have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to preserving the theater’s integrity and historic charm. As of August 2024, renovations are nearing completion, with an opening date anticipated soon. The Bellevue, originally designed by J.H. Phillips and constructed by Robert Anderson, gained national acclaim for its distinctive Tudor Revival style. Its grandeur was highlighted by a balcony, six chandeliers, a proscenium, wall tapestries, and Tudor-style wooden beams. In 1983, United Artists transformed the theater into a triplex, and later, Jesse Sayegh expanded it to a quad in 1997, altering some of its original design features but broadening its appeal.

Recent restoration efforts by RHG Architecture and Design focused on reinstating the building’s original symmetry and architectural features. This included exposing a boarded-up storefront, replacing broken windows, and repairing the stucco, marquee awning, and sign. These meticulous restorations, guided by the Historic Preservation Commission’s Design Review Committee, have reinvigorated the Bellevue as a key landmark in the Upper Montclair Historic District. The reopening of the Bellevue Theatre will not only honor its storied past but also ensure its continued role as a cherished cultural and community landmark for years to come.

Commercial: 20 Church Street, Diesel and Duke 

Owner: David Cusumano
Contractor: Marcelo Caguana
Architect: Zachary Gidich

The applicant worked closely with the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to restore the original storefront system after their initial request to remove the historic storefront and replace it with a modern anodized metal system.  20 Church Street, designed in the Art Deco Style dates from 1930 and incorporates six individual storefronts into the total façade. The building is a “contributing” asset in the Central Business Historic District. After initial discussions, the applicant stripped the original brass framing and replaced the deteriorated marble bulkhead in a marble which replicates the original. The applicant was able to retain the original glass windows and has restored the central lighting fixture. The applicant’s willingness to cooperate with the Historic Preservation Commission in this important project revealed an historic storefront which has become a highlight of the Church Street experience. 

Commercial: 467-469 Bloomfield Avenue, Hampton House Furniture Building

Developer: Dick Grabowsky and Gary DeBode, Grabowsky Development

Residents really appreciate developers who respect our historic districts and historic architecture. This project reflects respect and thoughtfulness. This building has housed the Hampton House Furniture Company since 1947 and has been a center piece in our town's downtown since 1890. Its facade has been Art Deco/ Art Modern since 1950 has been restored with matching materials and detail in inside and out.  A small addition housing an elevator, bathroom and mechanical equipment is barely noticeable on rear of the roof. Also noteworthy is that even the rear of the building restored to look neat and tidy for viewers coming up Fullerton to Bloomfield Ave. This project has contributed to preserving our downtown's character and Montclair residents really appreciate this care and effort.

Preservationist

Mary Delaney Krugman

Mary Delaney Krugman began her career in preservation after moving into a 19th-century house in Montclair. She was the first chairperson of the Montclair Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and played a key role in its creation. Mary holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University (1995) and a Juris Doctor degree from the Catholic University of America. After nearly 30 years as a cultural resource consultant, she recently retired from her firm, Mary Delaney Krugman Associates, Inc. (MDKA), which specialized in architectural history, National Register nominations, and regulatory compliance for historic properties.

Before attending Columbia, Mary was a Trustee of the Montclair Historical Society. She joined a committee that worked to create Montclair’s first historic preservation ordinance, which led to the establishment of the HPC in 1994, where she served as the first Chairperson for four years. Under her leadership, the HPC secured grants, developed innovative surveys, and encouraged the inclusion of a Historic Preservation Element in the Master Plan.

Upon graduating from Columbia, Mary’s thesis on the evolution of American branch department stores won the Faculty Prize for Outstanding Thesis. She later served as the first Executive Director of Preservation New Jersey and founded MDKA. Mary continued to contribute to Montclair’s preservation efforts, writing reports on the historic cobblestone swales and the rehabilitation of windows at the Bellevue Avenue Branch Library.

Mary also served as a Historic Preservation Specialist with FEMA in Louisiana after Hurricane Rita and in New Jersey after Super Storm Sandy. She organized Resiliency Workshops for urban and coastal areas, co-sponsored by various preservation organizations. In recent years, she compiled studies on redevelopment zones and their impacts on historic properties.

Now residing in Montclair and a 19th-century farm in upstate New York, Mary remains involved in artistic pursuits. Her work in the early days of Montclair’s historic preservation emphasized the importance of legal knowledge and regulatory practices. Montclair acknowledges her expert leadership and significant contributions to the field of preservation.

Preservation Service Award

Michael Perrone - Belleville Historical Society

Michele Cammarata - Director of Recreation & Cultural Affairs

The HPC salutes Michael Perrone and the Belleville Historical Society for refurbishing the Edgemont Park and Watchung Plaza Memorials. Commendation is also extended to Michele Cammarata, Montclair's Director of Recreation & Cultural Affairs, for organizing these efforts.

Two weeks before the Memorial Day Service at Edgemont Park, the iconic statue by Charles Keck, dedicated in 1925 to honor Montclair's fallen soldiers, was vandalized with graffiti. Former Councilman and Mayor Bob Russo connected Michele with Michael Perrone, President of the Belleville Historical Society, who leads a group that cleans and refurbishes memorial statues at no charge. Within a week, the base of the Memorial was cleaned of graffiti using biodegradable, non-toxic agents recommended by the National Parks Service. The Memorial Day Service took place against the backdrop of the newly restored “Winged Victory” monument.

Mr. Perrone’s group also refurbished the bronze plaque at Watchung Plaza, and despite ongoing masonry repairs due to extreme heat, continues to restore gravestones, including creating a new gravestone for Black Civil War Soldiers in Bloomfield Cemetery. Last year, the group built a monument for 32 Revolutionary soldiers buried there, and they are currently working on military gravestones for Vietnam soldiers in Woodland Cemetery, Newark, with a monument installation planned for September. To date, over 500 military gravestones in Northern New Jersey have been restored.

Mr. Perrone, the proprietor of a masonry company in Belleville, uses his expertise to preserve historic monuments for the community. The HPC acknowledges his and the Belleville Historical Society’s dedication to preserving historic monuments.

Bricks & Mortar Preservation Awards

Commercial: 17 Watchung Plaza

Owner: Bravitas Group, Inc.
Architect: Paul Sionas Architecture, P.C.
Contractor: Jack Finn & Co.
Designer: RHG Architecture & Design
Tenant: Montclair Speech Therapy – Lori Caplan-Colon and Ben Colon

Nominator Kathleen M Bennett:
The Bravitas Group and Sionas Architects have successfully restored and adapted the Montclair National Bank, located at 17 Watchung Plaza. Designed in 1924 by John J. Jackson of Passaic, it was designed in the Colonial Revival style. The Bravitas/Sionas team converted the former bank into a single tenant building now occupied by Montclair Speech Therapy and MST Skills. This is an outstanding example of adaptive reuse as the design team preserved the original facade and successfully replicated original details.

The existing 1st and 2nd floor windows and infill were removed and replaced with aluminum windows similar in design to the original window configuration. The replacement aluminum and glass entry doors were replaced with new aluminum and glass doors in a style similar to the 1924 original. The original sign bank, which had been obscured has been replaced by letters proudly proclaiming "The National". Additional improvements in the interior, the parking and accessibility aspects have been addressed and designed to comply to current requirements. The building is an asset to the Watchung Plaza Historic District.

Commercial: 56 Park Street

Owner: Bill Connolly & family
Contractor: David Greene Construction, LLC
Painting: Machado Painting LLC and Sergio Machado of Bogota

Nominator Kathleen M Bennett:
This grand Queen Anne Victorian sits at the corner of Claremont Avenue and Park Street. Designed in 1890 by Paul G. Boticher, a prominent 19th century Newark architect, for the Philadelphia business-man Frederick J. Drescher and family, it was published in Scientific American Building Edition in the March 1897 edition. It now serves as the headquarters for William H. Connolly & Co., a full-service insurance broker established in 1950 and a member of The Hilb Group since 2020.

The building is an excellent example of the Queen Anne style exhibiting classic details such as an asymmetrical façade with projecting dormers, dominant turrets containing rounded glass windows, a port-cochere, dentil moldings and a brownstone foundation and first floor elevation with clapboard on the second floor and decorative shingles in the gable ends. Over time, many of the exterior elements started to show their age.

Bill Connolly, who recently passed away, started the restoration program for the exterior which included repairing the Yankee gutters, restoring the rounded glass windows in both turrets, stabilizing the brownstone foundation and replacing the port-cochere columns and additional carpentry work.

David Greene Construction, LLC. of Maplewood was in charge of the restoration of the windows which included replacement of framing, sills and lintels. They also managed the stabilization of the brownstone foundation and the repair and replacement of the Yankee gutters.

Machado Painting, LLC and Sergio Machado of Bogota aided in additional carpentry work and has started to paint portions of the exterior. Additional painting will be concluded during the summer months. The former residence, now containing offices for a thriving company has reigned on this prominent corner for the past one-hundred and thirty-three years. We are fortunate that the Connolly family has undertaken the formidable task of restoring the exterior with such dedication and an eye to the original spirit of the building.

Commercial: 61 North Fullerton Avenue

Owner: Nancy and Chris Sutherland
Contractor: Ed Lamson Restoration Contractor
Business Owner: Jonathan Echeverry

Nominator Carmel Loughman:
From an interview with the property owner, Nancy Sutherland, we learned that this prominent building was originally owned by the Celentano Brothers, a leader in the frozen food industry. In 1961 the corner space, where Paper Plane is now, became one of the original five Shop Rites in the area. At the time, Ms. Sutherland’s family operated “Jacks”, a convenience store, in three of the contiguous storefronts. When the Celentano Company was ready to sell the building, Jack bought it. This family business has operated continuously to this day with Nancy Sutherland, the owner of this project, as the current proprietor. A visit to Ms. Sutherland’s store should not be missed as it displays much ephemera from the years her family has owned the building and Ms. Sutherland has terrific stories to tell as well.

The photos below illustrate the “before” and “after” pictures of the nominated building. The work done included:
1. Painting the original interior tin ceilings.
2. Removing the paint from the transom windows to restore them to their original clear panes.
3. Repairing the lead around the windows.
4. Opening up the closed up storefront and installing folding windows that can open up to the sidewalk.
5. Removing the concrete below the windows and replacing it with slate.
6. Adding attractive copper trim to the doors and windows.
7. Adding brackets underneath the eaves.
8. Repairing worn/damaged concrete siding.
This work is a wonderful example of craftsmanship, loving restoration, creative additions that enhance the functionality of the building, and artistic touches, like glass etchings that highlight the beautiful features of the windows. This thoughtful restoration enhances this highly trafficked site. The owner, Ms. Sutherland, the operator, Mr. Echeverry and the skilled contractor, Mr. Lamson, should all be congratulated for the excellent restoration of this beautiful building.

Mixed-Use: 369-373 Bloomfield Avenue

Owner: Steven Plofker
Architect: John Reimnitz

Nominator Linda Cranston:
The renovation of the facade of the Diva Lounge front enhanced our main street simply with a variety of patterns of raised worn brick to provide both interest and texture which compliments other Bloomfield Ave historic buildings. The attached cement block building facing N. Willow is restored for reuse with the use of metalwork windows and balconies and industrial lighting to provide a modern industrial design look.

Preservationist

Betty Holloway

Nominator Montclair History Center:
With fondness and respect, the Montclair History Center nominates Betty Holloway for the 2023 Preservationist of the Year Award. Betty has researched, documented, and shared numerous facets of Montclair’s African American history over many years.

This year, her work has focused on the history and legacy of former enslaved person James Howe and the James Howe House at 369 Claremont Avenue. Betty is a member of the Board of the Friends of the Howe House. With passion and diligence, this group overcame daunting challenges to purchase the Howe House and property and begin their mission to convert it into a monument to and archive of local and national African American history.

Working individually and as part of the Friends of the Howe House Research Committee, Betty has extensively researched the history of the James Howe House to understand the changes of ownership and development of the property. She has also conducted research into the James Howe family, delving into census, genealogy, and property records for James, his wife Susan, and their children James Henry Howe and Mary Oliver. Betty continues to uncover resources and documentation to better understand the Howe family and their relationship to the property at 369 Claremont Avenue.

In addition to her work on the research committee of the Friends of the Howe House, she has:
• Researched her own family genealogy and worked with the Montclair African American Genealogy Group as well as the St. Mark’s United Methodist Church Archives Project.
• Extensively researched Alice Hooe Foster, the groundbreaking founder of Montclair’s YWCA, and her family. Through exacting research, Betty uncovered the story of this entrepreneurial family which moved to Montclair from Virginia in 1874 during the Great Migration and owned several successful businesses, including a news dealer business on Bloomfield Avenue.
• In 2017, Betty Holloway and Barbara Sanders-Harris published a historical document called the “St. Mark’s UMC, Church History and Art.”
• In 2019, with the Montclair African American Heritage Foundation, Betty conducted a Historical Trolley Tour of the African American Community in Montclair.

This body of work is notable for shedding light onto the accomplishments and impact of the Black community in Montclair. We consider Betty’s work—including her persistence to uncover difficult to find information, commitment to evidence-based research, excellent writing, and engaging and informative communication of her findings—worthy of individual spotlight and recognition as Preservationist of the Year.

Preservation Service Award

Friends of the Howe House

Nominator Montclair History Center:
The importance of the James Howe House has been brought into focus more than ever this past year through the grassroot efforts of the Friends of the Howe House organization. With passion and diligence, this group overcame daunting challenges to purchase the home and property. Now they are on their way to creating a monument to, and archive of, local and national African American history and a place to further the contemporary needs of racial justice.

It is the Montclair History Center’s pleasure to nominate the Friends of the Howe House organization for a 2023 Service Award.

While those on the Montclair Township Historic Preservation Commission may be aware of the history of the small clapboard home at 369 Claremont Avenue built circa 1780, as well as its significance as the home of James Howe, the first freed enslaved person in Montclair, many in our community are unaware of this important site.

Given the swiftness with which the Friends of the Howe House has mustered to purchase the home when it became available in 2022, as well as the awareness they have already raised about the home, its importance, and their plans and vision for it, we believe that this important site will not only be known locally, but far wider, as their plans evolve.

As summarized from the Friends of the Howe House website, the home is significant in part because:

“One of the oldest structures in Montclair, dating to the Revolutionary era, this house helps tell the story of freedom and slavery, the development of a black community, and also the founding of Montclair as a town.

James Howe worked as an enslaved man for Major Nathanial Crane in the early 1800s. After over a decade of servitude, Crane manumitted Howe, ending his enslavement. In his 1831 Testament and Last Will, Crane left Howe the house, $400, and approximately six acres of land. Howe used the home and the property to support his family and there is evidence to suggest that a small black community developed around the James Howe House.”

We believe the Friends of the Howe House is very deserving of the 2023 HPC Service Award, and we thank you for considering it.

The Montclair Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC), established by ordinance in 1994, is responsible for protecting Montclair's architectural heritage and increasing public awareness of the unique historical and cultural dimensions of the Township's buildings, streetscapes, and landscapes.

Bricks & Mortar Preservation Awards

Residential: 25 Princeton Place (Buzz Aldrin House)

Craftspeople and Contractors: Sally Ross, David Greene Construction, Peter Willcox, John Cosgrove, Mike McCue, Jimmy Hemmerich

When the former childhood home of Buzz Aldrin (resident from 1930 to the early 1950s) changed hands in February 2021, after the previous, post-Aldrin owners had occupied the home for six decades, preservationists felt trepidation regarding whether historically insensitive alterations might befall the house. A campaign to make the home an Aldrin house museum had not come to fruition, and an effort by the Township to designate the
surrounding Oakcroft neighborhood as a historic district had not succeeded. This tangible link to perhaps Montclair’s most famous resident seemed vulnerable and uncertain.

The heartening news is that the new owners, Elyse Moody and Jim Connolly, cherish the home’s Craftsman architecture and its history, and have carefully and sensitively burnished its defining features and made functional changes that are respectfully compatible with its original character. They are the good stewards this significant home deserves.

Residential: 88 Grove Street

Craftspeople: Gikas Contracting and Wilbur's Painting

The owners have taken a forlorn and highly altered Queen Anne style house and returned it to its best self. They've removed aluminum siding to reveal whimsically shaped shingles, recreated the historic front porch, returned two-over-two windows and a welcoming entrance, and are in the process of painting it in a polychrome Victorian paint scheme. The work has brought life and pride to a busy intersection in the heart of Montclair.

Commercial: 111-113 Grove Street

Architect: Paul Sionas Architecture, PC

This corner upscale commercial building enhances the neighborhood by using quality materials and simple details for interest to create this contemporary industrial architecture. Overhangs surround the building using iron and to contrast the brick façade. Simple details add interest on the brick structure. A brick wall, wood fencing and stone walkways frame somewhat mature landscaping. We appreciate design and construction which celebrates Montclair historical neighborhoods.

Preservation Service Award

History at Home

Conveyor: Montclair History Center

The Montclair History Center continued to fulfill their mission to preserve local history and share the stories of the people of the township who made it what it is today by offering virtual talks on various aspects of local history. The "History at Home" series offered 22 talks during 2021, educating the community to some well-known and some not-so-well-known topics during afternoon and evening hours twice a month, excluding the summer. The series featured topics such as the architecture of Montclair Heights, architectural styles, local train stations, Bloomfield Avenue, South Mountain Avenue, local cemeteries, iconic houses, the Nolen Plan and images of the past portrayed in a Magic Lantern slide show plus some interesting stories of the local population. All provided the audience with a better understanding of the many important people and architectural treasures centered in Montclair. Speakers included architects, historians. MHC trustees, a Montclair University professor. a curator of the Yogi Berra Museum and the township historian. The Montclair History Center offered an educational and informative outlet for their various audiences to combat the isolation brought on by pandemic restrictions.

Bricks & Mortar Preservation Award

Residential: 50 Label Street – Eshelman House

Ms. Eshelman notes that she has restored "every square inch of my house, from chimney liners and a new roof to asbestos abatement for basement flooring and everything in between.” Built as workman's housing prior to 1908 (Montclair map) it is situated across the street from Erie Park, a stone yard at the turn-of-the-century. Restoration of the exterior facade included re-shingling and replacement of windows in the original configuration when the originals could not be salvaged. An Arts and Crafts aesthetic guided her choices for the details. From the weathervane to the lattice work; from the front door to the exterior lighting; all exhibit the hand-made look of the era.

Mixed-Use: 256 Park Street – The Westerly

The newly constructed Wesley building stands out in town with its use of quality materials and its design. Although it’s one story higher and bulkier than adjacent properties, the developer complimented the Watchung Plaza Historic District’s architecture with an engraved building name, layered dental molding and a brick exterior in a variety of colors and patterns to provide the texture and interest of bygone craftsmanship. The building is elegant in its simplicity, combining historical features with a now popular industrial look of iron balcony railings and black awnings.

Commercial: The Shade Store, 513 Bloomfield Avenue

The Shade Store, a national franchise, recently opened a retail store in the Town Center Historic District in Montclair. They took a "tired" storefront and transformed it into a brand identifying facade while working with the HPC to ensure that the new store-front conformed to the district guidelines.

Employing the company's distinctive branding look, they faced the non-original facade with aluminum panels and used brushed steel, edge-lit letters in a dark bronze finish to identify their location. Unearthing the existing facade, they confirmed that none of the original remained before commencing with the work. Their message of mass customization with a national reach continues into the interior, which is light and airy. This is a successful example of how a nationally recognized company worked with the local HPC to revitalize a historic building facade.

Restaurateurs Dominique Paulin and Oliver Muller have taken a former mid-century bank building on Bloomfield Avenue and transformed it into a lively and chic dining spot in the Town Center Historic District. Capitalizing on an adjoining exterior patio, the restaurant spills into bi-level garden space complete with a water feature. Metal, wood, and glass accents combine to create a modern ambiance with a French accent. Care was taken to clean the brick facades and maintain the original window openings. This adaptive-reuse project within the historic district demonstrates the success of renovating, restoring, and reusing a historic building. The modern vibe works perfectly with the ca. 1948 exterior both inside and out. This Bricks and Mortar Award demonstrates the successful result of entrepreneurs, architects, landscape, and interior designers in the historic district.

The Paper Plane Coffee Company opened in September 2019 in a circa-1928 Gothic Revival commercial building developed in the 1920s by the Chancellor Development Corporation of Newark. This project preserved and maintained the largely original exterior, with respect for its design integrity and materials. On the interior, it enhanced the historic features that give the space character. Overall, the revitalized storefront has added vibrancy to the building and elevated its historic character.

Preservation Service Award

The Women's Club of Upper Montclair is celebrating their centennial in 2020. A member of the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs of the GFWC - Liberty District, the Upper Montclair Club incorporated in 1920, has a long history of community involvement including Autism Awareness, Operation Smile, Canine Companions for Independence, and their current project as Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Jersey (CASA). For the past century the club house, constructed in 1923 and designed by famed local architect, Francis Augustus Nelson, has been maintained by the Club. The building, an outstanding example of Colonial Revival is one of many designed by Nelson in Upper Montclair including the Upper Montclair post office, the library, St. James Memorial tower plus numerous notable residences. It is in the Upper Montclair Historic Business District. The Upper Montclair Women's Club members have been faithful stewards in preserving both the exterior, interior and the grounds of this unique example of Women’s' Clubs of the era. It is fitting that we celebrate their century of work and dedication to the community with this Preservation Service Award.

The age of Covid-19 restrictions did not deter the Montclair History Center from celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Women's Suffrage Movement. Combining an online lecture, a blog posted on their website and a magazine article in a local journal, the History Center celebrates the women's fight-to-vote movement of the 1920s and brings it forward to our era. Research based on the History Center's archives highlight the local proponents of the movement within the Montclair Equal Suffrage League. Lucy Stone, who lived at 119 North Mountain Avenue and created the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869 was not the only suffragette to have lived in Montclair. This local involvement makes it especially significant to understanding the nascent tenets of the movement. The History Center has done an outstanding job in presenting this important narrative in the various formats available in our own time.

Lacordaire Academy opened its doors in 1920 as an independent educational facility by the French branch of the Dominican order. The mansion, which was the convent for the school until three years ago, was built in 1894 for Dr. Morgan Ayres and his extended family. Commanding pride of place on the north-west corner of Lorraine Avenue and Park Street, this structure was considered one of the "finest residences in Upper Montclair" at the end of the 19th century. Known as "Homeland" on the 1906 Essex County tax map, it was built in a Richardsonian style with a massive brownstone foundation. It also boasts delicate Queen Anne detailing in its fanciful column capitals and elaborate scroll-work in the entry gable. The imposing turret and broad front porch epitomize the high Victorian style. The grand entrance hall is fitted with mahogany spindles, fretwork, stained glass, and a staircase inglenook. The Dominican sisters have been faithful stewards in their maintenance of the house, carriage-house, and the grounds. In this year of the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the school and the 125th year of the creation of this magnificent mansion, it is fitting we acknowledge their dedication with a Preservation Service award.

Preservationist of the Year Award

Ilmar Vanderer has long been a community leader advancing preservation and promoting Montclair history, particularly the Bellevue Branch Library, the Bellevue Theater, the Mount Hebron (Buzz Aldrin) Middle School, and the Oakcroft neighborhood.

The Bellevue Branch Library

In 2010 he was a founding member of Friends of the Bellevue Avenue Library, formed in response to the town’s closure of that branch. He went on to become its vice president and then its president. As an avid Bellevue Branch patron since boyhood, Ilmar recognized the importance of the branch to the community and the significance of the building to the historic fabric of Upper Montclair. He understood that if the building were closed, the fate of that 1914 Francis A. Nelson Carnegie library would be in jeopardy.

Along with other concerned citizens, Ilmar worked strategically and tirelessly to build a coalition for keeping the branch open, to raise money, to organize volunteers, and to demonstrate public demand for the branch’s services. He was often the public voice of the Friends, speaking at township council meetings and to the media, as well as acting as a diplomatic lobbyist. The result of all this hard work is that the library was closed for only six months rather than permanently. Not only did the Township reopen the branch in June 2011 but it invested money into protecting the structure’s historic integrity by restoring its character-defining Austral windows.

For the branch’s centennial in 2014, Ilmar and others planned a yearlong celebration with 16 community programs attended by about 1,000 people. These entertaining and educational events included a presentation on the library’s history and a community gathering in the library with a descendant of Andrew Carnegie. Ilmar would be the first to say he did not do all this alone, which is certainly true. But as an energetic advocate, he was instrumental in bringing likeminded people together to successfully achieve daunting preservation- and history-oriented goals.

Honoring Buzz Aldrin

Growing up just one block from the boyhood home of the Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Ilmar has a deep enthusiasm for that hometown hero. In March 2015 he joined the “Man on the Moon” Committee, which had the goal of renaming Mount Hebron Middle School in honor of Aldrin. Ilmar spoke at School Board meetings and carried out other advocacy work with the committee to ensure that Aldrin’s historic achievement would be commemorated in a substantive, enduring fashion in Montclair.

The Bellevue Theater

When this beloved community landmark suddenly closed in November 2017, Ilmar quickly responded by creating the Save Montclair’s Historic Bellevue Theater Facebook page. Less visibly, he took a lead role as a volunteer matchmaker, working with the theater’s owner to find a new tenant or buyer to reanimate the darkened theater. He spent hours speaking with different parties and arranging and attending meetings in the service of bringing the theater back to life.

The Bellevue, built in 1922, is a key building in the Upper Montclair Historic Business District. Ilmar understands its significance as both a community touchstone and as an architectural anchor in Upper Montclair. He is also keenly aware that bad things can happen to old buildings that remain vacant and therefore worked with a sense of urgency to help find a tenant that would be a good steward of the building’s Tudor Revival architecture. When the new tenant proposed plans for adaptive reuse to the Historic Preservation Commission in 2019, Ilmar attended and commented. He has also been in conversation with the Montclair Public Library to present a slideshow there on the history and future of the theater.

Although the pandemic has slowed the progress of the team preparing to revitalize the Bellevue, Ilmar’s efforts to propel its rebirth should not be diminished.

Oakcroft Potential Historic District

As a resident of Montclair’s historic Oakcroft for a half-century, Ilmar has a firm grasp of what makes this early 20th-century suburban commuter neighborhood architecturally cohesive and historically rich. He also understands the benefits of protecting those qualities by having the neighborhood designated a local historic district.

At meetings of the Historic Preservation Commission in 2019, it took courage for Ilmar to speak in favor of designation when angry residents, some of them his neighbors, spoke against it. Although the designation effort did not proceed because of opposition, Ilmar contributed an important voice in favor of residential districting in Montclair.

Bricks & Mortar Preservation Award

• Residential: 20 Clinton Avenue – Thomas House

  Homeowners John & Elizabeth Thomas and Francis C. Klein & Associates Architects will be recognized for the reconstruction of an historically accurate porch that returned this 19th century house to its original charm. In keeping with the historic period, the homeowners and Francis C. Klein & Associates also removed the 20th century additions of a classical pediment, sunray transom window and lighting fixtures. The fish scale and diamond shingles coexist happily with the new metal seam roof. In addition, the removal of the shutters further enhances the Queen Anne character of this house.

• Residential: 21 Plymouth Street & 41 Plymouth Street

  Developer Sustainable Sanctuary Homes, LLC and Sionas Architecture, P.C. will be recognized for the rehabilitation of these two vintage Montclair homes, one from the 1890's and the other from the 1910's that have been renovated and rehabilitated into multi-family dwellings. Paul Sionas and Sustainable Sanctuary Homes have adaptively reused two prime examples of Montclair's architecture. Restoring and improving the two exteriors reinforces the domestic character of Plymouth Street, reminiscent of the time when one family homes lined the street. Removing aluminum siding, improving the driveway, adding substantial landscaping and removing medical office space has vastly improved 21 Plymouth Street. The work on 41 Plymouth Street maintains its Colonial Craftsmen stucco exterior while offering modern amenities in two units. This type of adaptive reuse is encouraged and ensures that Montclair's streetscapes will maintain their attractive charm and character.

• Non-Residential: 222-230 Bloomfield Avenue

  Property owner WE MCL Holdings, LLC, design firm Green Stories, LLC, architect Mark Bess and American Terracotta LLC will be recognized for the restoration and replication of the historic façade of this building. Hidden beneath aluminum siding, the team has worked to remove the non-historic elements and restore the façade to its prior condition. American Terracotta, LLC replicated historic terracotta elements. The restoration of the façade maintains the historic building in the Town Center Historic District and improves the commercial area.

• Non-Residential: 237-249 Lorraine Avenue – Warner Building

  Property owner Michael Pavel and architect Jarmel Kizel will be recognized for their restoration of this Harmonizing building in the Upper Montclair Historic Business District. The restoration of the historic building and the sensitive new addition to the rear retains the historic character while providing modern amenities.·

• Institutional: Montclair Public Library – Bellevue Branch

  The Bellevue Avenue Branch Library, designed by Francis A. Nelson, a Montclair resident working in the New York architectural firm of Nelson and Van Wagenen, is a Carnegie funded library dating from 1913. It is listed on the New Jersey and National registers of historic places and the local historic district of Upper Montclair Business District. In 2016, the Montclair Public Library decided to repair the historic "Austral" windows which are a character defining element of the building. Working with Mary Delaney Krugman, Preservation Specialist, these patented self-balanced windows were repaired and returned to working order. Dell-Tech was selected as the restoration contractor because of their experience with rehabilitation of historic windows. Ms. Krugman and the project team of Morse Associates of Poestenkill, NY and DBC Preservation Architecture of Glenmont supervised the entire restoration. Historic paint samples from the building were uncovered and the Austral windows were returned to their original condition. The finished project has enhanced one of the most important buildings in the Upper Montclair Historic District.

Preservation Service Award

• Friends of Anderson Park
  Anderson Park is an oasis of greenery and tranquility adjoining the Upper Montclair Historic Business District, the Boonton-Greenwood Lake commuter train line and the residential areas of Oakcroft and North Mountain Ave. An Olmsted Brothers designed landscape gives Anderson Park a naturalistic setting with informal plantings and winding pathways. Scott Kevelson, president and founder of the Friends of Anderson Park, a non-profit conservancy, has worked tirelessly to promote the natural, cultural, historic and educational qualities of the site. Their stewardship includes maintenance and replenishment of the original Olmsted plantings. Since 2006, they have planted 160 trees and 60 shrubs, including a rose bed, in cooperation with the Essex County Parks. They host an annual "Music Under the June Moon" event, plus numerous educational incentives such as the short-story contest and art projects. Nominated to the State and National registers in 2009, through the efforts of Lisanne Renner, Anderson Park with Scott Kevelson at the helm, continues to surprise and invigorate the current residents of Montclair.

Preservationist of the Year Award

• Donato DiGeronimo

  Mr. DiGeronimo is a Board Member of the Montclair History Center and a partner with Montclair State University to preserve the diverse and varied histories of Montclair. He is a fount of information about Montclair history from one corner of the town to the other, a booster of Montclair’s history through his involvement and leadership in scores of civic committees over the years, Donato is a homegrown historian helping to capture and make more widely known the multiethnic history that has made Montclair into a culturally rich community.

• Lisanne Renner

  Lisanne Renner has shown a passion & commitment level to Montclair 's history and preservation over many years. This includes special projects (e.g. researching, compiling and presenting the History of The Bellevue Theater) or her Friends of Anderson Park ongoing community outreach (e.g. annual historical walking tours of Upper Montclair Village and Anderson Park). She regularly attends township meetings and community functions to further historic preservation understanding and practice. She is one of Montclair's most ardent advocates of Historic Preservation.

Preservationist of the Year Award – Special Recognition

• Rev. Royal F. Shepard, Jr.
  Mr. Shepard will be recognized for his special contribution to the Township of Montclair. Mr. Shepard was sworn in as Township Historian by the Township Council on July 23, 1996 and served in the role until 2004. During this time, he also served on the Montclair Historic Preservation Commission beginning in March 1999 and serving as Vice Chair of the Commission from February 2000 until his resignation from the Commission in December 2002. He also served as a Trustee for the Montclair Historical Society (now the Montclair History Center).
  
  Mr. Shepard was born and raised in Montclair, loved the history of the Township and shared his knowledge of the history with many. In 2003, he published the book “Montclair” with his daughter Elizabeth Shepard. In addition, he provided contributions to the Montclair 125th anniversary book, Montclair 1868-1993, and Montclair Millennium Book 2000-2002.
  
  Mr. Shepard also created the Montclair History Roundtable, a forum to discuss the Township’s History, led walking tours, conducted presentations, and served as a regular contributor and historic verifier for the Montclair Times.
  
  Mr. Shepard passed away earlier in 2019 and the Montclair Historic Preservation Commission is proud to recognize his many significant contributions to the Township’s history.

Bricks & Mortar Preservation Award

• Timothy Bray will be recognized for his rehabilitation of the residential dwelling at 107 Claremont Avenue, a vernacular Queen Anne home, built in 1881.
• Willow Street Partners & Sionas Architecture will be recognized for their rehabilitation and restoration of the Georgian Inn, now known as The George Hotel, at 37 North Mountain Avenue.

Preservation Service Award

• The Montclair History Center and Montclair Public Library will be recognized for collaborative effort to further the aims of historic preservation by co-hosting the popular “Researching Your Home’s History” series with the Montclair Historic Preservation Commission.
• The Montclair Rotary Club, the Family of Don Miller and Mr. Frank Gerard Godlewski will be recognized for their collaborative effort to preserve Montclair’s history by permanently installing a copy of Montclair native Don Miller’s The Martin Luther King Freedom Mural for local viewing at the Montclair Public Library.

Preservationist of the Year Award

• Ms. Jane M. Eliasof, Executive Director of the Montclair History Center, will be recognized for her passion for history and commitment to listen to and share all voices in Montclair’s history in the programs and initiatives she has implemented at the Montclair History Center.

Bricks & Mortar Preservation Award

• The Deron School was recognized for their work on the former Grove Street School building and grounds at 130 Grove Street.
• Willow Street Partners & Sionas Architecture were recognized for their rehabilitation and restoration of the former Inspection Station building, located at 16 Label Street.
• St. James Episcopal Church and its team were recognized for the restoration of the Bell Tower at St. James Episcopal Church at 581 Valley Road in Upper Montclair.

Preservationist of the Year Award

• Mr. Michael Farrelly, Trustee of the Montclair History Center and Township Historian, was recognized for his passion for history, thorough and detail-oriented research, and generosity in furthering public education of the town’s history and promoting its historic preservation.

Bricks & Mortar Preservation Award (Non-Residential)

• The Montclair Historical Society was recognized for their efforts to rehabilitate the Crane House & Historic YWCA, located at 110 Orange Road
• Notchwood, LLC was recognized for their redevelopment work of the Upper Montclair Train Station

Bricks & Mortar Preservation Award (Residential)

• Goran & Selma Avdicevic and Classics Reborn were recognized for their efforts to restore the porch of the Harry Fenn House located at 208 North Mountain Avenue.

Preservation Service Award

• The Montclair Garden Club was recognized for their continued efforts to maintain and protect the Avis Campbell Memorial Garden, located behind the Social Services Building at 60 South Fullerton Avenue

Preservationist of the Year Award

• Mr. William Fischer, local historian and former Local History and Community Information Supervisor the Montclair Public Library, was recognized for his commitment to preserve and share Montclair’s history
• Dr. Susan Nowicki was recognized for her dissertation entitled “Montclair, New Jersey: the development of a suburban town and its architecture” which was published by the City University of New York.
• Mr. Frank Godlewski was recognized for his efforts to host events and promote the historic fabric of Montclair.