The Homestead Then & Now publication, a self-guided tour booklet of historic buildings in Homestead, was recently awarded the Silver Savvy Awards by the National City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA). The project, which was developed by the City’s Public Information Office with the help of a number of volunteers, was also recognized at the October City Council meeting by Councilman Stephen R. Shelley, who wanted to bring attention to its national recognition.
“It is important to bring attention to the various properties we have in Homestead that are on the local and national historic registry. We are proud of the terrific team who put this great idea together and especially of all the volunteers who donated their time and photos to make this project a reality,” said Councilman Shelley, Liaison to the City’s Historic Preservation Board. “The free Then and Now booklet is available to all our residents and visitors who are continuously picking up copies at the Historic Town Hall Museum and learning about our past and the historic architecture of our buildings. We are truly proud of this national recognition.”
The “Homestead Then & Now” booklet contains an easy-to-follow map of a historic tour that can be taken for the most part walking or by hopping on the free Homestead Trolley. The guide contains former and current photographs of each property, and they are each accompanied by a description of the architectural style and colorful stories of the historically-designated building and its proprietors.
The booklet was made possible thanks to the collaboration of various Homestead residents and organizations. Councilman Shelley recognized the following contributors: Begoñe Cazalis, City of Homestead Public Information Officer, who initiated and managed the project; Kim Foster, graphic designer; Yvonne Knowles, Chairwoman of the Homestead Historic Preservation Board and Executive Director of Homestead Main Street, who compiled the information, drafted the text of the guide and tracked down the historic photos; Robert Chaplin, from R.L. Chaplin Photography, who donated the current photographs of the historic buildings; Local historians Bob Jensen, George Grunwell and Larry Wiggins, who collaborated in providing and fact checking historic information; and Ruth Campbell from The Homestead Historic Town Hall Museum, as well as the Florida City Pioneer Museum, and the Gentner, Bow, McMichaels and Chipley families who donated the historic photography from their collections.
The Savvy Awards competition from 3CMA recognizes outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and citizen-government relationships. The Savvies salute skilled and effective city, county, agency or district professionals who have creatively planned and carried out successful innovations in communications and marketing. For more information on the award and 3CMA, visit them at their website: http://www.3cma.org/index.aspx?NID=59.
