Periodically in this space, we’ll feature local historic preservation heroes. We all have a role to play in keeping Madison’s history alive. What’s yours? Submit suggestions for others we should feature at info@madisonpreservation.org.
As the Madison Trust celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we’re featuring the people who made the Madison Trust what it is today. Samantha Crownover, Madison Trust president from 1997-2002, recalls jumping in with a willingness to roll up her sleeves and work. Twenty years later, she won the Madison Trust’s Preservation Award for Brisbane House, a historically significant property she restored and turned into an Airbnb.
Read MoreDaniel Einstein says history is about significant people and events, so historic preservation isn’t just about buildings. Nearly two years after retiring from UW-Madison as the historic and cultural resources manager, he is back at his old job part time to “tie up some loose ends.” Below, Daniel reflects on his nearly 30-year career at UW and why history – and historic preservation – is important.
Read MoreState Historic Preservation Officer Daina Penkiunas understands the importance of establishing strong relationships with stakeholders. Seeing the big picture “makes us all better at our work,” she says.
Read MoreYou wouldn’t expect a bilingual elementary school teacher and a historic preservation consultant to have much in common. Beth Miller is both – and what she’s learned teaching diverse students has shaped her perspective on preserving our past, especially in underrepresented communities.
Read MoreSid Boyum (1913-1991) left an indelible imprint on Madison’s East Side through his concrete sculptures, from a whimsical polar-bear chair to Henry Moore-inspired abstractions. The non-profit group Friends of Sid Boyum inspired new interest in Boyum’s life and work, initially forming in 2015 to save Boyum’s abandoned house on Waubesa Street (and the many sculptures on the property) from a county tax auction. It is the preservation passion of Andrew Powers and Jules Arensdorf that have restored and brought back to life the Sid Boyum house as well as secured the memory of his works and legacy.
Read MoreAfter buying the historic Madison Candy Company building (former home of Eldorado Grill and Ground Zero Coffee) about 30 years ago, Madison architect John Martens spent 10 years analyzing its every nook and cranny. “I wanted to learn the history of the building and what the building wanted to be,” he says. That unique approach – acting as a sort of building whisperer – sets John apart from most architects.
Read MoreAs if owning a B&B during a global pandemic wasn’t challenging enough, imagine owning two. And both properties are on the National Register of Historic Places. Bob Klebba and his husband, David Waugh, learned a lot as they built two flourishing businesses.
Read MoreAt a time when women had considerably less power in the workplace, Kitty Rankin earned a seat at the table as decisions were made about developments that threatened Madison’s historic buildings. In her own words below, she describes her proudest moments and biggest challenges in her nearly 35-year career as a historic preservationist, first with the Wisconsin Historical Society and then with the City of Madison. “Maybe there is someone out there who knows more about historic preservation in Madison than Kitty, but I can't imagine who it might be,” says Kurt Stege, co-chair of the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation’s Advocacy Committee.
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