Title
Approval of 2021 Heritage Award Nominations
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Heritage Commission and General Government Committee recommend approval of the 2021 Heritage Award nominees.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the recommended 2021 Heritage Award nominees.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the recommended 2021 Heritage Award nominees.
Staff Contact:
Marygrace Goddu, Historic Preservation Officer, Community Planning & Development, 360.480.0923
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
The members of the Heritage Commission have nominated four awardees for recognition in 2021. The nominations were reviewed by the General Government Committee and unanimously recommended for Council approval.
Following this unprecedented Pandemic year of 2020, in which the norms of human interaction had to be reimagined, these nominations recognize heritage, history, and culture bearers who have worked in a variety of mediums to creatively connect, educate, tell our stories, and share our past.
• Shane Anderson, Documentary Film maker and Storyteller is recognized for his historical and current documentation of the land, water, and wildlife in our region and the complexity of human efforts to protect them. Shane's films have educated the public, inspired public policy, and communicated calls to action to protect, honor, and preserve these places that backdrop our city, from the Olympic Mountains to our local waterways. Historical background is a strong component of each of Shane’s productions.
• Playwright Bryan Willis is nominated for his play, The Hotel Olympian 100th Anniversary Grand Gala Extravaganza, which successfully uses historic narratives to entertain and educate audiences. Using the 100th Anniversary of the Hotel Olympian in 2020 as his take-off point, Willis’ play is set in the Hotel’s Grand Opening event. With the clever use of a fortune-teller, he playfully takes observers on a 100-year, forward journey into Olympia’s history and current landmarks, invoking a renewed sense of community, longevity, and a few good laughs. Originally planned as a live on-location play, Willis reproduced this work as a radio play in response to the social gathering restrictions of the Pandemic and maintained a 2020 release coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of the Olympian Hotel’s opening.
• The Thurston County Historic Commission is nominated for their coordination and publication of Thurston County Water, Woods & Prairies, Essays on the History of Washington’s Capital County, an extensive account of the history of Washington’s Capital County, and the first published in 100 years. The entire project was conducted with unpaid volunteers starting in 2012. Featuring the work of nine local and regional historians and five essayists, this publication adds new information to the historical record of our region. The extensively researched and indexed publication provides valuable sources, including a wealth of historic images, drawings, and maps, for community historians. It was published in 2019 with support from the Thurston County Commissioners.
• Alicia Elliott for McIntyre House Restoration and Placemaking - Alicia Elliott’s innovative effort blends placemaking with historic preservation in a prominent block on Olympia’s Westside. Alicia’s 2012 vision to create a neighborhood center and gathering place on the site of the former Rowland Lumber building at the corner of Harrison and Division led to the creation of West Central Park. Building on this success, she acquired and restored nearby historic homes including the 1892 era McIntyre House, which has been carefully restored and is now a successful inn. In less than a decade Alicia has created new public green space, preserved historic sites, sparked local economic development, and promoted sustainable development, in a testament to what one person can accomplish and an example for others to follow.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
General community interest in preserving, enhancing, and championing people, places and stories that reveal our city’s unique character.
Options:
1. Move to approve the nominees for 2021 Heritage Awards.
2. Modify the list of awardees.
3. Do not move to approve the nominees for 2021 Heritage Awards.
Financial Impact:
Minimal cost to create certificates and awards using reclaimed City street bricks.
Attachments:
Anderson Nomination
Willis Nomination
Thurston County Historic Commission Nomination
Elliott Nomination