Neely Mansion Association honored for preservation efforts

Group led restoration of 1930s bathhouse

November 21, 2016 4:30 pm
Dr. Frank Hori, son of the bathhouse’s builder, joined Hori Bathhouse Committee members, the Neely Mansion Board and local officials at a dedication and grand opening ceremony of the renovated 1930-made furoba last June. RACHEL CIAMPI, Auburn Reporter

Neely Mansion Association recently was honored with the John D. Spellman Award for Exemplary Achievement in Historic Preservation.

The association was praised for work in restoration of the 1929 furoba, or bathhouse, next to the Neely Mansion in Auburn. The Hori Furoba was built by Shigeichi Hori, whose family lived in the mansion and farmed the property in the 1930s. The restored furoba helps tell the story of daily life and traditional customs of Japanese American farming communities before World War II.

The award is named in honor of Spellman, a former King County executive and state governor, who established the county’s Historic Preservation Program 36 years ago.

“As we experience the biggest wave of new construction in our region’s history, it’s important that we preserve and restore structures that reflect our rich heritage,” said Dow Constantine, King County executive, at the awards ceremony in Renton. “This year’s Spellman Award recipients have done more than maintain the physical attributes of beloved buildings. They’ve helped us stay connected to our unique history.”

Elsewhere

Christie True, director of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, presented a certificate of designation to the City of Auburn for its stwardship of recently landmarked properties. The City designated the Auburn Pioneer Cemetery as one of the most significant cemeteries in King County. The cemetery, established as a homestead graveyard in 1866, transitioned over the years to serve as a community cemetery for pioneer Euro-American families in the White River Valley and then as a principal burial ground for Japanese American families, who continue to use it today.

The King County Historic Preservation Program was established in 1978 to identify, document, and protect King County’s significant historic resources. The Historic Preservation Program staffs a nine-person Landmarks Commission, conducts environmental reviews in cooperation with other agencies and jurisdictions, manages a regional preservation program in partnership with numerous suburban cities, maintains an inventory of historic resources, and develops and implements incentives to support and encourage restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties.