BERRYVILLE, VA (May 26, 2021) The Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has selected the recipients of its 22nd annual Historic Preservation Awards. The awards are announced each May — National Preservation Month — to honor residents who have made distinctive efforts to preserve and maintain historic structures and places that are essential to defining Clarke’s unique cultural identity. The 2021 award recipients are White Post Village Association, Frank S. and Luanne T. Carey, Patricia L. Corbat, and Dion Bernier.
“It is an honor to recognize the owners of these properties for their investments in preserving Clarke County's historic built environment,” said Betsy Arnett, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission. “We hope that by recognizing them, we encourage other property owners to preserve and rehabilitate their properties as well. Every building that is saved and brought back to useful life strengthens Clarke County’s historic character.”
For the second year, the traditional May awards luncheon was canceled because of COVID-19 restrictions. The HPC is planning an event in July to celebrate the 2021 award recipients as well as the 2020 honorees (Matthew Hannan, Josephine and Steven Fleming, Bill and Anne McIntosh, and the late Jay Hillerson).
White Post Village Association
“Certificate of Merit” for the rehabilitation of the White Post gas station at 221 Berry’s Ferry Road
In 2017, the White Post Village Association was gifted an abandoned 1930s-era gas station located in the heart of White Post. After careful consideration, Association members decided to restore the building to replicate its original Sinclair gas station appearance, including the unusual “pebbledash” stucco infused with colorful glass bits from the Fenton Glass factory in West Virginia. The Association raised the considerable funds necessary for the building’s restoration and went even further, adding new “vintage” gas pumps, lights, and signage. As work progressed, enthusiasm grew. The project not only brought a unique structure back from near ruin, it also rallied White Post residents who worked together to create a point of pride for their village. Historic Preservation Commission members recognize the sensitivity, love, and hard work that went into the rehabilitation of this building and are pleased to present the White Post Village Association with a 2021 Certificate of Merit.
Frank S. and Luanne T. Carey
“Certificate of Merit” for the rehabilitation of 8 E. Main Street in Boyce
Luanne and Sumner Carey purchased 8 E. Main Street in Boyce in 2020 and, in a short time, brought the house back to its former glory. The circa-1900 frame house is considered the town’s best example of the Queen Anne style. The Careys meticulously renovated the large dwelling while maintaining its historic character and ensuring its preservation for decades to come. Its prominent location near Boyce’s main intersection is an invaluable asset to the small town’s historic streetscape. The HPC presents Luanne and Sumner Carey with a 2021 Certificate of Merit for the sensitive rehabilitation and preservation of their beautiful property.
Patricia L. Corbat
“Certificate of Merit” for the rehabilitation of 41 Lanham Lane near Old Chapel
In 2018, Patricia Corbett purchased the large, Victorian frame dwelling located across Bishop Meade Road from Old Chapel Episcopal Church. The house had been neglected for years, and it required much work. Patricia rehabilitated the house, bringing it up to modern standards while not negatively effecting its historic integrity. Located on land originally owned by Warner Washington and later David Sowers, who in the 1830s built the nearby Woodley estate, the land was sub-divided in the 1880s, creating the lot on which the Lanham Lane house stands. The lot was sold to Isham K. Briggs, who was postmaster of the newly created Briggs railroad stop. Briggs likely constructed the house soon after acquiring the land. A store and post office building were located just to the east, right off the railroad tracks. The “Isham House” sits in a prominent location, and it now enhances a historic area of Clarke County. For her hard work, HPC members are pleased to present Patricia with a 2021 Certificate of Merit for the rehabilitation of 41 Lanham Road.
Dion Bernier
Certificate of Merit for the Rehabilitation of 27 Old Waterloo Road in Boyce
Dion Bernier purchased a property on the southern edge of Boyce in 2018 after it sat abandoned for several years. Historically associated with the Jackson and Carter families, the house at 27 Old Waterloo Road was constructed in the early 1900s. Dion’s sensitive rehabilitation of the house has brought it back to life. HPC members are particularly thrilled about this project because for several years the house was listed on the HPC list of historic properties threatened by “demolition by neglect.” The rehabilitation illustrates how historic buildings are often well built and in sound condition and should be restored rather than demolished. For his efforts to save a beautiful old home, the Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission presents Dion Bernier with a 2021 Certificate of Merit for the rehabilitation of 27 Old Waterloo Road.
For more information about the Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission, its annual awards, and Clarke County history, contact architectural historian Maral Kalbian at (540) 955-1231, maral@mkalbian.com, or Clarke County Senior Planner & Zoning Administrator Jeremy Camp at (540) 955-5131, jcamp@clarkecounty.gov.
