The City of Springfield invites all community members to submit nominations for the 2022 Springfield Heritage Awards, a new program to recognize significant achievements in stewardship of the physical and cultural heritage of the geographic area we now call Springfield, Oregon. The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m., July 29, 2022. Nominations will be accepted online. The nomination packets may be found on the https://springfield-or.gov/springfield-heritage-awards/. For questions and more information, contact Melissa Cariño, Historic Commission Staff Liaison, at mcarino@springfield-or.gov or 541.744.4068.
Presented by the Springfield Historic Commission and the Springfield History Museum, these awards recognize a broad array of stewardship activities that increase awareness, appreciation, and support an inclusive perspective of local heritage. There are two award categories. The “Preservation Excellence Award” celebrates outstanding projects of many types including historic preservation, historical research, and community outreach. The “History Maker Award” celebrates a person or entity that demonstrates leadership in shaping, preserving, and fostering appreciation of local heritage – past, present, and future. Up to three awards per category may be presented each year.
Springfield Historic Commission and the Springfield History Museum are community partners that have collaborated to launch this new Springfield Heritage Awards program. Both groups are comprised of volunteers appointed by the City Council.
The Springfield History Museum, established in 1979, serves a mission to foster an awareness of the history of Springfield, provide a link between our past and present, and promote an appreciation of the diverse communities that call Springfield and rural east Lane County home. It is the City’s official historical repository and interpretive center. The museum collects and cares for stories and artifacts, creates thoughtful and engaging programs and exhibits, and encourages historical research and documentation.
Established in 1977, the Springfield Historic Commission serves to advance the identification, protection, preservation, education, and interpretation of Springfield’s cultural heritage and history. As such, the Historic Commission organizes projects and programs to encourage stewardship of the community’s historic assets.
“The new awards program is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the hard work and ingenuity of folks in this community who explore, study, and preserve Springfield’s history,” said Commissioner Charlotte Helmer, who is also a member of the awards subcommittee. “The award categories are broadly inclusive, reflecting our belief that historic preservation is about much more than permits. We look forward to celebrating people and heritage projects that are making meaningful contributions in the present day.”
The awards program was kicked off with an honorary award to Bruce Berg, previous City Councilor and Chair of the Historic Commission who provided decades of service to the Springfield community and recently passed away on February 16, 2022.
Award recipients will be selected by the Mayor, with input from a jury that includes representatives of the Historic Commission, the History Museum Committee, and members of the community selected by the Mayor. Anyone who wishes to serve on the Springfield Heritage Award jury is invited to contact Melissa Cariño, Historic Commission Staff Liaison, at mcarino@springfield-or.gov or 541.744.4068.