Big Recognition for a Small Volunteer Organization

The Sammamish Heritage Society (SHS) was recognized for its exceptional work to save the historic Jacob and Emma Reard House at an event attended by over 300 people at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle on April 23, 2013.

SHS received the John D. Spellman Award for Exemplary Achievement in Historic Preservation in the Advocacy category from Dow Constantine, the current King County Executive. The award is named for Governor John D. Spellman who was the King County Executive responsible for creation of the King County Historic Preservation Program and Landmarks Commission. The prestigious award is given annually to groups showing outstanding dedication to historic preservation. Board members of the Heritage Society accepted the award and were grateful for recognition of their work to preserve the history of Sammamish and the Reard house, Sammamish’s first official historic landmark. For the first time, the Spellman awards were given jointly with the Association of King County Historical Organization (AKCHO) awards. SHS was also a nominee for the AKCHO award in the Long Term Project division.

Since 2010, SHS, a small group of volunteers, has saved the Reard house from demolition and has raised over $140,000 for restoration through its fundraising efforts and grant awards. The Heritage Society continues its efforts to restore the Reard house to its original condition on land which is the site of a future Sammamish heritage park. To learn more about the SHS, visit www.sammamishheritage.org.