Historical Society Calls for Award Nominations

The Belmont Historical Society invites you to nominate projects that have furthered preservation efforts in Belmont for the David R. Johnson Preservation Award. Properties throughout the town, not just in the historic districts, are eligible. There are six categories of projects for nomination:

• Private residences;
• Commercial properties;
• Publicly owned properties;
• Properties owned by nonprofit institutions;
• Landscape projects; and
• Preservation of open space and land conservation.

Individuals, companies, or institutions that have made significant contributions to historic preservation in Belmont will also be considered. Awards will be presented at the society’s annual meeting on May 16. Congratulations to last year’s awardees:

• The ad hoc group chaired by Angelo Firenze in recognition of its efforts to clean and rehabilitate the historic 1907 stone railroad bridge at the gateway to Belmont Center. (The Belmont Citizens Forum participated in this project by raising funds from many town residents and businesses.)

Cleaning the Belmont Center railroad bridge. (BCF photo)

• The Belmont Veterans Memorial Committee, chaired by Brigadier General Kevin Ryan, Retired, in recognition of its restoration of Belmont’s World War I Memorial on Common Street, in front of the Lions Club.
• Nichole and Alan Savenor in recognition of the restoration and preservation of their historically significant mid-century modern house on Snake Hill Road.
• Roger Webb in recognition of his efforts that led to the formation of the Wellington Historic District in the 1970s; the preservation of the 19th-century Morton House in Arlington slated for demolition by moving it to its present location at 30 School Street in the 1960s; and the preservation of a historic 1840 Greek Revival church building in West Thompson, Connecticut, by moving it to Belmont and reassembling it as Hamilton Chapel on the Belmont Hill School grounds in 1963.

We encourage everyone to look around town for projects worthy of recognition this year. Nomination forms are available online at www. belmonthistoricalsociety.org or by calling 617-993-2878. Please submit your nominations by April 20 to Belmont Historical Society, PO Box 125, Belmont, MA 02478.