The Galena Historic Preservation Commission voted to give this year’s historic-preservation award to the owners of 101 Southwest Street and to issue an honorable mention for the steps on Bench Street.

Commissioners discussed several candidates after staff said city archives yielded few useful historic photographs of a Park Avenue property that had been under consideration. Members praised the work at 101 Southwest Street as “about as clean a restoration as we’ve seen,” noting the owner has contracted work and was installing shutters and posts to restore the porch and balcony. The commission approved the award and separately recorded an honorable mention for the Bench Street steps.

Commissioners debated whether to split the award or to delay giving an award to the Park Avenue property while archives research continued; ultimately the commission decided to honor 101 Southwest Street and defer Park Avenue for future consideration.

The motion to give the award to 101 Southwest Street and an honorable mention to the Bench Street steps was made by Larry and seconded by Emily; the motion passed on roll call.

On the record, commissioners repeatedly emphasized that the commission’s awards aim to encourage work that restores historic character rather than projects that are primarily safety or maintenance upgrades.