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Cullen Chambers was a man who set out to make a difference in preservation from restoration of the Key West Light House Station and the St. Augustine Lighthouse Station to, most notably for Savannah, the restoration of the Tybee Island Lighthouse, a project that took more than 10 years to complete.
Chambers died in January, but Wednesday at the annual Historic Savannah Foundation awards luncheon he was honored with the President’s Award and foundation president Daniel Carey said Chambers’ legacy is one that still lives on in every project of which he was a part.
View photos from the awards luncheon.
“If you never had the chance to meet Cullen, all you have to do is visit Fort Zachary Taylor, the Key West lighthouse, the St. Augustine lighthouse or, of course, the Tybee Island lighthouse,” said Carey,
“Cullen is there in every board that was sanded, nailed and painted,” Carey said. “He’s there in every person who experiences one of the many historic sites that he’s saved, and he’s there in every lesson applied today by a young person who learns something of a gentleman and a true preservationist.”
Chambers’ widow, Christine, and members of the Tybee Island Historical Society accepted the award on Chambers’ behalf.
“It’s very emotional and moving. I don’t really know what else to say. It’s pretty overwhelming,” said Christine Chambers. “All Cullen wanted to do was make a difference, and I think he has.”
Since 1955 the Historic Savannah Foundation has saved more than 350 buildings from demolition, and each year they honor organizations and individuals that demonstrate their mission to preserve and protect Savannah’s historic structures.
Others honored on Wednesday included a number of formally blighted properties, Drayton Tower and United Community Bank on Johnson Square.
The Joe Murray Rivers Jr. Intermodal Transit Center project was also honored for reducing operating costs and retaining and reusing many features from the original Greyhound terminal built in the 1960s, including the original terrazzo flooring and exposed concrete structures. Carey said the project encourages future economic development and opportunities along the Oglethorpe Avenue corridor.
The Historic Savannah Foundation also honored Aaron Levy with the Nichola Parker Coe Volunteer Award for his work on the foundation’s board, and Savannah Arts Academy senior Liana Mosley was presented with the Davenport House Museum Service scholarship.
2014 HISTORIC SAVANNAH FOUNDATION PRESERVATION AWARD WINNERS
• 415 E. 40th St. — Project partners: Leah and Seth Michalak and Wells Anderson Construction and Real Estate
• 1117 Habersham St. — Project partners: Justin Gunther
• 224 W. Park Ave. — Project partners: Mike and Alexandria Nelson and Commonwealth Construction
•25 Bluff Drive — Project partners: Vincent and Lisa West, Greenline Architecture, J.T. Turner Construction Co., Carter Kay Interiors, Linn Gresham Haute Decor and the Nelson Group Inc.
• 4 West Taylor St. — Project partners: Reed and Meredith Dulany, Daniel Snyder, Architect P.C., Algar Thagne of Daniel Snyder, Architect P.C., Bloomquist Construction Inc.
• 306 W. Waldburg St. — Project partners: Tommy and Jamie Linstroth, Paul McKeever, R. Peacock Construction, Trident Sustainability
• Drayton Tower — Project partners: Flank Inc., Hansen Architects P.C., DPR Hardin Construction, Sebring Engineering Inc.
• The Joe Murray Rivers, Jr. Intermodal Transit Center — Project Partners: Chatham Area Transit Authority, Cogdell & Mendrala Architects, PC, Elkins Constructors, Inc., Wendel Duchscherer Architects & Engineers
• Cathedral of St. John the Baptist — Project partners: Catholic Diocese of Savannah, Rives E. Worrell, a JE Dunn Construction company, F. Michael Sikes P.E. LLC.
• Hayman’s Hall — Project partners: Savannah College of Art and Design, Hansen Architects P.C., Pinyan Company, Sebring Engineering
• United Community Bank — Project partners: United Community Bank, Brian K. Felder AIA, Johnson Brothers Services Inc.