These awards recognize and celebrate historic preservation leaders in the following categories:
- Dayton historic neighborhoods—Recognizes an outstanding preservationist in each of Dayton’s officially designated historic neighborhoods
- At-large—Outstanding preservationist(s) for the greater Dayton region
- Lifetime achievement—A major contributor to preservation causes over multiple decades
Criteria: Each award recognizes creative, inspirational leaders whose efforts have contributed to the protection, renovation, and revitalization of historic neighborhoods, individual structures, or strengthened the historic preservation movement or the quality of life in Dayton’s historic communities. Awards may celebrate neighborhood and community leaders, business owners and businesses, nonprofit organizations, government leaders, journalists and other dedicated individuals who have succeeded in protecting Dayton’s historic architecture and built environment.
Dayton View Historic District
Jeffery C. Marshall & Monte Spencer
The Herman Miller Mansion
Jeffrey Marshall and Monte Spencer have been dedicated owners and stewards of the Herman Miller Mansion since they purchased the home in 2013. Master builder, Herman Miller, took three years to build the home, finishing it in1928 for $95,000, an astronomical sum in the 1920s. Miller also built the historic terracotta commercial building at Salem and Grand.
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Grafton Hill Historic DistrictDan Barton & Chris Rashilla Barton
Multiple Properties
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Grafton Hill Historic District would not be the thriving neighborhood it is today without Chris Rashilla Barton and Dan Barton. For four decades, the Bartons have been at the forefront of renovating irreplaceable historic properties and innovative solutions to improve the Grafton neighborhood.
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Huffman Historic DistrictSeth & Ashley Doliboa
The Lift
The Lift came to life when Seth and Ashley Doliboa saw a 120-year-old building in downtown Dayton that needed a lot of love. With Seth's experience as a custom home builder and Ashley's expertise in interior design, the Doliboas put their talent to work to transform a vacant industrial building into a breath-taking, modern event space, The Lift.
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MCPHERSON TOWN HISTORIC DISTRICTLaurie Trick LaSelle & Mike LaSelle
Multiple Properties
Laurie Trick purchased her first home on West McPherson Street in 2002 with her brother Drew in 2002. This double had been mostly gutted and remodeled around 1994. The siblings burnt off the paint and repainted the entire exterior themselves—a multi-year endeavor. After Drew moved in 2012, Laurie renovated the entire home including new windows, roof, porches, paint, and a new kitchen in 2020.
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OREGON HISTORIC DISTRICTJana Fornario & Kyle Wilkinson
Multiple Properties
Jana Fornario and Kyle Wilkinson purchased their first historic home sight unseen. As a military family relocating to Dayton, they immediately fell in love with the historic charm, walkability, and friendliness of the Oregon District. When a fixer upper came up for sale at on East 6th Street, they took the plunge. An 1870s renovation to the home, coupled with 1913 flood damage and subsequent neglect, left the house structurally compromised. That meant replacing sill beams, pouring new footings, placing new stud beams between each old wall stud. The back kitchen had to be removed entirely so a new foundation and new kitchen could be built. On the exterior, fake brick asphalt siding was removed and the original siding was reclaimed or replaced with new siding. Due to the massive structural work, the interior was entirely gutted and refinished, turning a two bedroom and one bathroom home into a three bedroom, 2.5 bath home worthy of any HGTV home renovation.
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ST. ANNE'S HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT
Adrienne Lee & Ryan Simon
Eugene Dutoit Farmhouse
222 Dutoit is the location of the original farmhouse that was the first residence in the neighborhood that is now St. Anne’s Hill. Adrienne Lee & Ryan Simon took on the project of protecting this very important landmark head-on through extensive renovations since they purchased it in 2019.
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South Park Historic District
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Wright-Dunbar Village &
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At-Large Award
Jason Woodard & Woodard Development
Multiple Properties
If it weren’t for Jason Woodard’s creative vision and leadership, the historic South Park Methodist Church on Brown Street would be in a landfill today. As Premier Health’s new Brown Street facility was opened in early June, Jason Woodard said, “Making a positive impact on the community is a top priority” and that is truly evident in the many historic buildings Woodard Development has brought back to life.
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At-Large Award
City of Dayton Nuisance Abatement & Rehabilitation Team
Stephanie Halfacre, Ken Jackson, Tonya Morrow, Dave Wetzel, & Dennis Zimmer Time and time again, Preservation Dayton members and neighborhood leaders have contacted the nuisance team to safeguard our city’s most blighted properties—especially those significant historic properties recognized by the community as our Most Endangered Historic sites. Despite limited budgets and resources, the team has been highly responsive and continue to serve on the crucial front lines to prevent the loss of even more of Dayton’s irreplaceable architectural and cultural history. As one of the team members says, “We share the same goals as Preservation Dayton.” Thank you Denny, Ken, Tonya, Dave, and Stephanie for your dedication and hard work. |