Coeur d’Alene announced that the first winner of the Heart of History Award is the Hamilton House in a Monday press release:
“The Coeur d’Alene City Council and Historic Preservation Commission will be recognizing the Hamilton House’s volunteers, visionary leaders, and property owners who successfully saved the structure from demolition with the first ever Heart of History Award at the March 7, 2023, Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. being held in the Library Community Room (downstairs) located at 702 Front Avenue.
Built in 1908 for the 2nd mayor of the city, Boyd Hamilton and his wife, Alta, it has been the home of a number of notable residents of local, state, and national prominence.
Its architectural style, design, and prominent location sets the cornerstone of the historic character of the entire Government Way neighborhood corridor. While serving and enhancing the culture of the community as the home of the Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene, it stands as a beacon of community cooperation and resolve in the face of looming demolition.
The Historic Preservation Commission created the Heart of History Awards Program to recognize historic preservation efforts and encourage other historic property owners to preserve their properties. Awards are available for preservation of historic structures (commercial and residential) including period appropriate restoration, successful listings on the National Register of Historic Places, adaptive reuse of historic buildings, and other honorable preservation efforts. The City’s first Heart of History Award will be presented to the Hamilton House.
The City’s Historic Preservation Commission recognizes the efforts of the current owners of the Hamilton House, Former Mayor Steve Widmyer and Don “Pepper” Smock (Windermere/Coeur d’ Alene Realty, Owner and President), Julienne Dance (Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene, Founder and Director), and historical researchers such as Deb Mitchell, Cindy Nunn, and other collaborators for engaging effectively and steadfastly in rallying the community to act in saving this historic residence, representative of the period and the iconic Government Way neighborhood character, and pursuing a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The volunteers who saw its higher and larger purpose, the visionary leadership, the donors, and particularly the generous investors who purchased it and continue their stewardship and generous philanthropy for community use are collectively recognized. They truly have exhibited a “Heart for History.”
The City of Coeur d’Alene Historic Preservation Commission was formed in 2019 to promote the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the public of the City of Coeur d’Alene through the identification, evaluation, and designation of those buildings, sites, districts, areas, structures, and objects that constitute, or contain significant elements of, historic, architectural, archaeological, and cultural interest reflecting the heritage of the City, the State, and/or the Nation. The City’s Historic Preservation Plan was adopted in 2021. The plan outlines a vision statement, mission statement, goals and an action plan. For more information about the Commission, visit https://www.cdaid.org//historic-preservation-commission
For more information, please contact Hilary Patterson, Community Planning Director, 208-769-2270 or hpatterson@cdaid.org.”
