From Greenwich Historical Society: Greenwich Historical Society's Landmark Recognition Program, an annual initiative that recognizes historic properties for their design excellence and value in preserving Greenwich's unique architectural heritage, will take place Sunday, April 28 at the Greenwich Country Club. Four properties will receive plaques and Preservation Leadership Awards will be presented to Martin and Anna Waters and the Greenwich Point Conservancy for the restoration and adaptive use of the Feake-Ferris House.

 

Each of the properties to receive plaques was constructed in the early 20th century. They include Greenwich Town Hall, a fine example of the Georgian Revival period; the imposing World War I Memorial in the Egyptian Revival style; and two distinctive Tudor homes: the Arthur & Ida Rinke House in Old Greenwich and the Paul Schwarz House in central Greenwich. More than 300 structures have received plaques since the program's inception in 1987.

 

"This long standing and defining event has added significance this year with the completion of our expansive new campus," says Historical Society Executive Director and CEO Debra Mecky. "We're now able to raise the bar on our programming and instill even greater community-wide support for preserving our architectural treasures and sense of place. We look forward to awarding plaques to hundreds more properties in the years to come."

 

 

Joseph Pell Lombardi, one of the first architects to specialize exclusively in restoration, preservation, adaptive use and contextual new buildings, will trace 50 years of his firm's worldwide historic preservation efforts in his keynote address: "Cabins, Houses, Lofts, Skyscrapers & Castles." Examples will include the National Historic Landmark Armour-Stiner (Octagon) House in Irvington-on-Hudson, N.Y., one of the most visually unique homes in the world and the only one known to be built in the form of an ancient Classical temple; and the Chateau du Sailhant, a dramatically situated thousand-year-old French château-fort, which recently completed a ten-year restoration.

 

 

Preservation Leadership Awards will be presented to Martin and Anna Waters and the Greenwich Point Conservancy for the restoration and adaptive use of the Feake-Ferris House, noted as the oldest house in Greenwich and one of the oldest in America. These awards are part of a related program, which recognizes projects of historical and/or architectural significance that demonstrate the aesthetic, cultural or economic benefits of preservation.

 

The Historical Society is grateful for the support and leadership of the Landmarks Recognition program committee, including Chairman Robin Kencel, John Dixon, Nils Kerschus, Rose Scott Long and Amanda Martoccio. Ex officio Selection Committee members include Debra Mecky and Christopher Shields, the Historical Society's Curator of Library and Archives. Trisha Estill contributed the photography of the properties.

 

The program is generously supported by Charles Hilton Architects and David Ogilvy Associates. Fairfield County Look is the official media sponsor.

 

A Champagne reception will precede the formal program.

Greenwich Landmarks Recognition Program
Sunday, April 28
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Greenwich Country Club, 19 Doubling Road, Greenwich.
Tickets are $75 per person; $250 for Patron level; $500 for Benefactor level.
Reserve by visiting greenwichhistory.org or calling 203-869-6899, Ext. 10.

More Information about the Properties Receiving Plaques​​​​​​​

 

 

This stately Georgian Revival style structure, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was designed by the renowned architectural firm Guilbert & Betelle to be Greenwich's second high school and served that purpose until 1970. In 1979 it become Greenwich's Town Hall following a remodeling. It is classically proportioned with a central pavilion, Iconic-columned portico and tall slim cupola. Guilbert & Betelle also designed the building that once housed the Glenville School and is now the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center.

 

 

Designed to recognize soldiers from Greenwich who served in WW I, this dignified monument was designed by noted architect and painter Charles A. Platt, who was President of the American Academy of Arts in Rome and a fellow of many societies. The imposing 41 foot triangular granite shaft was designed to correspond to the triangular park in front of the former post office, now Restoration Hardware, where the monument is situated.

 

 

An excellent example of the Early Tudor style, with its tower and recessed entry porch, this property's first owner was Paul Schwarz, a prominent cotton broker. It was designed by architects Henry C. Pelton, who was also responsible for the design of Riverside Church in Manhattan, and William Neil Smith, who designed many public buildings in upstate New York.

 

 

Built in the classic Tudor style popular in the 1920s, the property was the home of Arthur and Ida Rinke. A noted corporate tax lawyer, Arthur Rinke and his wife were actively involved in Old Greenwich's First Congregational Church. The property was built by Joseph T. Weir who also constructed the Edgewood Inn in Greenwich.