Frank Nickell, Lorimier Apartments recognized Tuesday in Jefferson City

The Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation presented its 39th annual Statewide Preservation Honor Awards to Illinois native and Southeast Missouri historian Frank Nickell and developer Jason Coalter, on behalf of Centurion Development LLC on Tuesday during a special reception at the Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City, Missouri.

The yearly event recognizes people and projects advancing the field of historic preservation in Missouri.

Frank Nickell poses for a portrait next to artifacts from his collection Jan. 24 at Heritage Hall in downtown Cape Girardeau.Jacob Wiegand, file

Frank Nickell, center, poses for a photo with Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation board president David Mastin, left, and state Rep. Kathy Swan after receiving the Rozier Award on Tuesday in Jefferson City, Missouri.James Baughn ~ Southeast Missourian

The Rozier Award — established to recognize individuals who have made significant achievements in the field of historic preservation in Missouri — was bestowed to Nickell because of his “historical work over the years,” he said by phone Tuesday following the reception.

Nickell has dedicated 50 years to the preservation of Missouri history. He was a history professor at Southeast Missouri State University for more than 25 years and currently hosts public radio affiliate KRCU’s “Almost Yesterday,” a series chronicling interesting moments or people in Cape Girardeau’s history and working with Heritage Hall to display his collection of artifacts.

The award was named in honor of Elizabeth McReynolds Rozier, one of the founding members of Missouri Preservation and a distinguished Jefferson City preservationist.

And, according to the organization, it’s Missouri Preservation’s “most prestigious annual award.”

Nickell said he was “certainly humbled and honored” by the “pretty impressive” award Tuesday.

“It’s a lifetime recognition award, so you have to be old to get it,” he said. “I told my students, ‘If you live long enough, you’ll get an award.’ And so I’ve lived long enough and worked in history long enough.”

He said he’s still capable of doing a little bit, even though he’s physically limited, “but I still enjoy history and I still research history.”

The renovated Lorimier Apartments are seen Jan. 28 in downtown Cape Girardeau.Tyler Graef, file

Coalter accepted one of nine Preserve Missouri awards, marking his recent project of restoring full functionality to Lorimier Apartments on Lorimier Street, near the intersection of William Street, in downtown Cape Girardeau.

Coalter said he was “incredibly surprised” to receive the award Tuesday.

The Preserve Missouri Award recognizes outstanding efforts and projects around the state. Categories include commercial revitalization; institutional/civic building restoration; neighborhood revitalization; residential rehabilitation; historic landscape preservation; rural preservation; and preservationist-in-action, according to the organization.

“I knew we were nominated; I didn’t expect to be nominated, and we certainly didn’t expect to win,” he said. “We were extremely humbled to be chosen.”

The roughly 8,000-square-foot building previously housed apartments and dates back to 1925. It also was listed on the Historic Preservation Commission’s list of Endangered Buildings before Coalter and his business partner, Dustin Richardson, decided to renovate it through their company, Centurion Development LLC.

The building is now divided into one- and two-bedroom apartments.

“At this stage of my life, it was just a challenging project for us,” he said of the renovation, adding it’s nice to know people appreciate the effort that went into the undertaking.

Coalter said, “We’re incredibly proud of the project. We hope Cape Girardeau is proud of it.”

jhartwig@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3632