Elgin to honor preservation efforts at Mayor’s Awards May 5
The Elgin Heritage Commission will honor individuals and organizations preserving the city’s history at the Mayor’s Awards for Preservation ceremony at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at The Lodge Performing Arts Center, 18 Villa Court.
The public is invited to attend in person. Seating is limited, and RSVPs are required. The ceremony will also be livestreamed on the City of Elgin’s YouTube channel.
Presented annually upon recommendation of the Elgin Heritage Commission, the Mayor’s Awards for Preservation recognize efforts to preserve and promote Elgin’s historic architecture, neighborhoods and cultural resources.
Nine recipients were selected from peer nominations this year.
The 2026 Mayor’s Awards for Preservation recipients are:
• Benjamin Glunz for the adaptive reuse of the historic 1960s PNC Bank into apartments and studio space for Judson University graduate architecture students, now known as Glunz Hall, 28 N. Grove Ave.
• Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church for fundraising efforts to restore and display the beloved stained-glass window salvaged from its former church at Fulton and Villa streets, which was razed in 1957.
• Chuck Keysor for assisting in the historically accurate rehabilitation and reconstruction of the front porch at 140 N. Porter St.
• Elgin Public Museum and James Eby for installing eight custom-designed display cases installed in front of the 30-inch-high historic railing at the second floor. This thoughtful design provides more exhibit space, does not alter the site lines of the 1904-07 architecture and provides a safety barrier without alteration of the original oak woodwork.
• Elizabeth Marston for her 28 years of dedication as the director of the Elgin History Museum and preserving, promoting and enriching residents and visitors of the cultural and architectural history of Elgin. She will receive the Mayor George Van de Voorde Outstanding Service Award.
• Jim Turner for his volunteerism at the Elgin History Museum since 2012 with tours, greeting visitors, answering questions, playing folk music for museum events among countless other museum tasks.
• Legend Partners — Courtyard 40 for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of 40 DuPage Court, historically the 1893 Spurling Block Building, into a five-story mixed used redevelopment. Receiving the William Stickling Award for best adaptive reuse of a commercial building.
• Mary Alice and Michael Benoit for the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the 1927 Elks Lodge into The Lodge Performing Arts Center.
• Myles M. Godinez for creating an interactive presentation board for his eighth-grade project that highlights the Elgin National Watch Co. and its impacts on Elgin’s history. The project was named a finalist at the state-level National History Day competition.
In addition, eight heritage building plaques will be awarded to homeowners who researched the history and architecture of their properties. Since the program began in 1986, more than 500 plaques have been presented.
The 2026 plaque recipients are:
• Angela and Kellen Smith, 43 Hamilton Ave.
• Abby and Jack Trimble, 820 Mill St.
• Janis and Robert Heidemann, 739 W. Highland Ave.
• Celeste Sonnier and Stephen Donahue, 844 Bellevue Ave.
• Dan and Karen Fox, 890 Douglas Ave.
• Domingo and Guillermina Gonzalez, 117 Monroe St.
• Jacquelyn and Roger Lauger, 427 DuPage St.
• Caroline Oswald and Doug Rockar, 223 N. Worth Ave.
For information or to RSVP, contact Historic Preservation Planner Christen Sundquist at (847) 931-6004.
About the Heritage Commission
The Elgin Heritage Commission is a citizen’s advisory commission that promotes Elgin’s historic preservation activity through the protection, maintenance and preservation of the city’s architectural, historic and cultural resources. The commission is composed of nine voting members appointed by the Mayor and Elgin City Council.
About the City of Elgin
Founded in 1835, the City of Elgin is a dynamic community known for its historic architecture, vibrant arts and cultural scene, and scenic setting along the Fox River. As the sixth largest city in Illinois, Elgin has a growing and diverse population and a rich history that distinguishes it within the Chicago metropolitan area. Guided by a forward-thinking city administration, Elgin continues to invest in infrastructure, economic development and community services to support sustainable growth, enhance quality of life and build an inclusive, resilient future.