The Pennyroyal Area Museum has been selected for a state preservation award in recognition of the “renovation and stewardship of the former U.S. Post Office building that houses” the museum and its exhibits and collections.
Preservation Kentucky executive director Elizabeth A. “Betsy” Hatfield recently notified the Museums of the Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County that the organization will receive the Christy and Owsley Brown II Excellence in Public Service Award.
“The museum’s commitment to preserve the historic integrity of the 1914 building, adhere to the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation, and retain its original character and decorative elements produced a beautiful, dynamic space respectful of its heritage and a stellar example of responsible stewardship,” Hatfield wrote in a letter to the local museum’s executive director, Alissa Keller. “We were pleased to read the project was able to utilize the state’s historic rehabilitation tax credit—the nonprofit transferability provision was lost in January 2021, when the bank franchise tax expired, but reinstated in 2022, allowing the credit to be transferred to financial institutions taxed under the income tax statutes, making it available once again to nonprofits.”
A program recognizing the 2024 Preservation Kentucky award winners is planned from 2 to 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Delegate Hotel, 106 E. Broadway, Frankfort.
Keller told Hoptown Chronicle that the Local Development Corp. nominated the museum for recognition. The city of Hopkinsville owns the old Post Office building and leases it to the museum.
