The Utah Heritage Foundation recently recognized two Utahns at its 1996 Heritage Awards dinner in the historic Salt Lake Hardware Building.
Each year through the Heritage Awards Program, the foundation recognizes projects, organizations and individuals throughout the state that exemplify a commitment to historical preservation.Peter Q. Freed received the Board of Trustees 10th Anniversary Award, an honor given to past members of the board. Freed, who with his family owns and operates Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington, has preserved several relics of Utah's past.
Amid the park's supersonic 21st century rides, Freed has preserved several structures significant to Utah's history. The Pavilion was part of the original Lagoon resort built in 1893 on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. Today the upper and lower levels of the original structure serve as two separate pavilions.
Lagoon's Victorian Carousel was built in 1893 and arrived in the park in 1906. Fewer than 300 carousels with hand-carved wood figures are now in operation in America. In addition, Lagoon's wooden roller coaster, built in 1921, is one of the country's few continuously operating wooden roller coaster.
In the Pioneer Village section of the park, Freed has gathered an important collection of early Utah artifacts ranging from guns to telephones to numerous historical buildings moved to the site from around the state. Most recently he has opened two new museums, one showcasing historical currency and the other featuring historical toys and dolls.
A long-time financial supporter of the Utah Heritage Foundation, Freed served on the board of Trustees from 1988 to 1993.
Helen Brown Romney was honored with the Lucybeth Rampton Award, the highest honor bestowed by the foundation. Romney helped build the preservation movement in Utah.
As a part of her job with the state Legislature, Romney became familiar with historic buildings in each of Utah's 29 counties. As her political connections grew, she was invited to sit on many boards, including the founding board of the Heritage Foundation in 1966.
The Heritage Teas and Heritage Day events she organized were successful at both raising money and increasing public awareness.
Romney also played a critical role in involving the Junior League in foundation activities. She encouraged the league to survey the buildings in the Salt Lake City Avenues. The league's survey was the first attempt to systematically document the historical fabric of a neighborhood in Utah.
In addition, Romney's knowledge of politics was key to helping the foundation secure the passage of early preservation legislation.
Furthermore, as a member of the State Parks Board, Romney helped establish what the now This Is the Place State Park and advocated the creation of a park on Antelope Island.
Romney's contributions to preservation as a private individual are also notable. She has lived in, owned and restored several historical homes, including a rock house in Centerville.
Along with the awards to Freed and Romney, the foundation honored 11 restoration projects.