Nominations Sought for the Mayor's Awards for Historic Preservation

The Elgin Heritage Commission is seeking nominations for the 2025 Mayor's Awards for Historic Preservation. Applications are available on the City's website at elginIL.gov/mayorawards. Nominations are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21.

In addition to honoring Elgin citizens for preserving the city's heritage, the annual awards educate the community about Elgin's unique architecture, neighborhoods, and history. They also advance the Elgin Heritage Commission's goals of revitalizing neighborhoods and downtown for the benefit of the entire community.

The Mayor's Awards are given to persons, groups and organizations who lead a preservation project, save one or more historical properties, educate and promote an awareness of Elgin's heritage, conduct creative historic projects relating to archival or object collections, or maintain a continuous cultural or historical organization for 50 years or more.

Additionally, four special awards may also be presented:

• The Mayor George Van De Voorde Award is given to an individual recognizing the continuing vigor, imagination and persistence in preserving Elgin's heritage.
• The William Stickling Award honors achievements in the adaptive reuse of industrial and commercial buildings.
• The Artisan Award recognizes the exemplary work of a contractor, craftsperson or artisan in the preservation and restoration of Elgin's architectural heritage.
• The Henry Jensen Award recognizes extraordinary exterior and/or interior rehabilitation of work completed within the past year.

Elgin's Heritage Commission will select winners to be honored at the annual Mayor's Awards for Preservation, held each May during National Preservation Month. The 2025 event is set for Tuesday, April 29, beginning with a 6:00 p.m. reception followed by the awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m. at the newly renovated Hemmens Cultural Center.

For more information or to obtain a nomination form, please contact Historic Preservation Planner Christen Sundquist at 847-931-6004 or visit elginIL.gov/mayorawards.