FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          August 7, 2007

                                                                                                  
Contact:                                              Morgan Devlin                                 

                                                          Newport Restoration Foundation         

                                                          401-849-7300 x14                           

                                                          morgan@newportrestoration.org       

 

Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards to Honor Noreen Drexel

 

(Newport, RI) — The first annual Doris Duke Historic Preservation Award for Distinguished Stewardship will honor Noreen Drexel for her strong commitment to philanthropy and preservation in Newport for more than half a century.  Created by the Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) and the City of Newport to celebrate local excellence in historic preservation, the Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards will be presented in September.  The awards are made possible this year in part by a generous grant from BankNewport.

Three other awards will be granted to distinctive projects that have contributed to preserving the historic fabric of Newport’s community.  Nicholas Scheetz will receive an award for his restoration of 40 Division Street which incorporated modern conveniences into an 18th-century single-family home while respecting its historic significance.  The Redwood Library & Athenaeum will be honored for its recent project that involved rehabilitation as well as new construction on this National Historic Landmark site.  Lila Delman Real Estate, located at 3 Memorial Boulevard, will be recognized for its successful integration of a contemporary business into a restored historic building.  Each recipient will receive a handcrafted glass obelisk, designed and created by Rhode Island artist Steven Easton.

This year’s honorees were chosen by a committee comprising representatives from the City, the Newport Restoration Foundation, and individuals involved in historic preservation at the local, state and national levels.  Karen Jessup, Chair of the Board of Advisors of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, notes that, "Newport's historical and architectural significance has long been recognized nationally, and now its many decades of exceptional preservation efforts will be recognized locally by both the public municipality as well as one of its most esteemed private preservation organizations."  Recipients will be publicly acknowledged on September 12 at City Hall.  A formal celebration and awards ceremony will be held at Rough Point on September 14 in support of the Doris Duke Preservation Grant program, which funds preservation projects of local civic and non-profit organizations.

Additional support for the awards program has been provided by California Paints; Franklin & Co.; Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty; Slocum, Gordon & Co.; Tofias PC; and Vitetta Architects & Engineers.

For more information on the Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards, visit www.newportrestoration.org or call (401) 849-7300.

 

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