HELENA — The City of Helena and Lewis & Clark County Heritage Tourism Council celebrated their annual Preservation Awards this week, honoring people and groups for their commitment to keeping Helena historic.
The five winners were nominated by others in the community and received their awards at the Farmers State Bank atrium.
Historic Preservation Officer Pam Attardo said, “We are honoring people who have done things that relate to history. It can be an installation, it can be research, it can be art, it can be all kinds of things.
Of those nominated, John Barrows received the Herb Jacobsen Lifetime Achievement Award, for more than 30 years of volunteering in Lewis and Clark County.
“He’s been doing this for years, and he just hasn’t stopped. He loves it,” said Attardo.
You may have seen Barrows performing with the Montana Living History Program as Doctor Glick; a role that he studied 18th century medicine for. He’s also volunteered with the East Helena Historical Society, Shrine Temple and the Masons.
As one of the last railway workers at the East Helena Depot, remembering is important to him.
For Barrows, history isn’t just something we learn in school; it’s who we are.
“It’s part of our parents and our grandparents. It serves as a background to understand who and why we’re doing things today.” Barrows said.
He will be performing Doctor Glick once again this July.
The other winners this year include:
- Matt Egan for the restoration of the Ft. Harrison Service Club Mural originally painted by Shorty Shope.
- Montana Military Museum for the installation of the Camp Rimini War Dog Memorial Pavilion.
- Don Reich – Old Garage Works who creatively preserves and reuses pieces of history through his art. Don will be available at 4:30 in the Farmers State Bank lobby to discuss and answer questions about his art.
- “Rodney Street Is” neighborhood project, spearheaded by Krys Holmes and Amanda Reese.
