Yellow House to receive 2015 Governor's Heritage Preservation Honor Award

WILLIAMS, Ariz. - The Negrette House Rehabilitation Project, (a.k.a. The Historic Yellow House) in Williams, Arizona, has been selected to receive a 2015 Governor's Heritage Preservation Honor Award.

Since 1982, the Arizona Preservation Foundation and Arizona State Historic Preservation Office/Arizona State Parks have collaborated to present the Governor's Heritage Preservation Honor Awards. These awards recognize people, organizations, and projects that represent outstanding achievements in preserving Arizona's prehistoric and historic resources.

Forest Service Archaeologist Margaret Hangan nominated Yellow House owner Kerry-Lynn Moede for the award. Hangan said she felt the project warranted the award due to the Negrette house's historic importance to Williams and because of Moede's tenacity when applying for Historic Designation, despite her lack of experience with historic preservation projects.

The Saginaw Mill built The Historic Yellow House in 1893 as a bunk house and office. In 1919, the Negrette family bought the house for $810 and remodeled the building into a home where they would raise seven children. The Negrettes owned the property for 93 years.

Once the family was gone, the house sat empty for more than 10 years, falling into disrepair and blight. Feral cats and squatters took their toll on the once beautiful property. After watching the home for years, Moede decided someone needed to do something, and that someone would be her.

Acting as the general contractor, Moede saved everything historic possible and brought the house back to life. Now the home is part historic museum and part boutique hotel, as the Moede family has turned the house into a vacation rental and community event space.

"Maintaining and sharing the history is very gratifying," Moede said. "The people who have stayed here really seem to 'get' it."

As time goes by, more restoration of the amazing stone work and once spectacular gardens are continuing.

"It won't be done quickly, but it will be done lovingly," Moede said. "I hope the love shows."

Moede will be honored at the Awards Luncheon at The Du Bois Center on May 15 during the Arizona Historic Preservation Conference at Northern Arizona University.