2023 Knox County Landmarks Foundation Award for Outstanding Architectural Preservation was presented to Mona Nacey at the City Council meeting on November 27, for her renovation and preservation of the Russell-Cooper House at 115 East Gambier St.
Former Mayor Richard Mavis, Vice President of KCLF made the presentation on the behalf of the KCLF Board of Directors.
Mona and her family devoted countless hours into restoring and modernizing the mechanicals and structures of the house which was built in 1830, and to bring all surfaces inside and out up to tasteful standards without sacrificing the historic nature of the home. Originally built as a Federal style center-hall colonial , it was embellished in the
1880’s after the Wedding Cake House in Kennebunk, Maine.
The previous owners, Mary and Tom Dvorak, whose family had lived there for generations, had operated it as a bed and breakfast. Mona has renovated it solely as a single family residence for a large family. The colors chosen for the exterior, including the roses, reflect a pastel wedding cake theme of cream, yellow, peach, and celadon, with gold leaf on the spire finials as if to be edible balls on a cake.
