Preserving the city

The Chico Heritage Association honored five organizations and individuals May 25 at its Preservation Month awards ceremony held in the Old Municipal Building downtown.

Four of the winners are shown above (left to right): Andy Patel, representing Chico Hospitality Group, for preserving the Thunderbird Lodge sign; David Meraz, for his preservation of the old Reformed Latter-day Saints church at 12th and Locust that is now his home; Chico Mayor Ann Schwab, for the recent restoration of the Old Municipal Building; and Mendel Tochterman, for his family’s recent restoration and repainting of the Waterland-Breslauer building at Fourth and Broadway.

Wayne Cook, recipient of the “Outstanding Individual Contribution to Historic Preservation” award for his restorations of the Third Street language houses, the Hotel Diamond and numerous other historic structures in Chico, was unable to attend.