Preservation Group Accents The Positive Awards Plenty Of ‘Orchids,’ But Not A Single ‘Onion’

The Idaho Historic Preservation Council’s 19th annual Orchid and Onion Awards includes plenty of “Orchids,” but no “Onions” for work harmful to Idaho’s historical heritage.

“We received no nominations,” Kris Major of the Idaho Historical Society said Wednesday.

The Orchid Award for historic building preservation went to The Archery Shop Building, one of the oldest remaining residential structures in downtown Boise.

The building, which dates to 1897, housed an archery shop until 1992.

CSHQA Architects, with offices in the old fire station next door, decided to expand and bought the shop. The firm repaired the historic windows and removed non-historic interior partitions in its 1994 renovation project.

One of this year’s Friend of Preservation honors went to the man who founded the awards two decades ago - Boise architect Ernie Lombard.

“Mr. Lombard has given hundreds of Boise-area residents an appreciation for the importance of preserving our state’s historical areas,” the council said, citing his classes in photography and Idaho ghost towns in the Boise Schools’ Community Education program.

Lombard said the awards had helped raise awareness about protecting buildings. In fact, some Onion recipients have gone on to win Orchids.

Other Orchid winners:

Sheri Freemuth, a Boise planner. A Friend of Preservation, for helping preserve the Bown House and advocating preservation of the Royal Block.

Perrault-Fritchman Building, Main Street and Capitol Boulevard in Boise. Historic building renovation.

Castle Rock. Preservation of the old Indian sacred site in East Boise.

Sterry Hall, Albertson College of Idaho in Caldwell. Historic building rehabilitation.

Wendy McClure of Moscow and Jerry Meyers of Pocatello, distinguished preservationists.

Victor Railroad Depot in Victor, Hunter’s Inn in Cambridge and Mullan Community Center in Mullan. Historic buildings.

First Security Center in Pocatello and Land of the Yankee Fork Interpretive Center in Challis. New construction.

Bryan Cash, for his contribution to the Tolo Lake Mammoth Excavation Project near Grangeville.