Pictured, from left, are Georgia Trust president Esther Davis, CEO Mark C. McDonald, Tifton City Councilman Frank Sayles, Tifton Mayor Julie Smith, Tifton City Manager Larry Riner and Georgia Trust chairman Bill Peard.

TIFTON, Ga. — Tifton City Hall has received an award for Excellence in Rehabilitation from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.

Tifton Mayor Julie Smith, Councilman Frank Sayles and City Manager Larry Riner traveled to Kennesaw on April 22 to accept the award during the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s 39th annual Preservation Awards ceremony.

Smith told The Tifton Gazette that being recognized by Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is a great honor for the city of Tifton because it confirms their commitment to preserving historic resources. She said the Myon is not just important to the downtown area, but to Tifton in general.

“To preserve that building and have it house City Hall, receiving this honor confirms we’re on the right track,” Smith said, noting it’s important for every community to preserve their story.

She noted the award will be displayed at City Hall.

In a release by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, Tifton City Hall was built in 1906 as the Myon Hotel and has been an iconic part of Tifton’s historic downtown for generations. Its recent rehabilitation project corrected structural issues by strategically placing reinforcements within decorative historic details. Additionally, a skylight was added in the atrium to replicate a lost historic skylight, and original terrazzo floors and wood hand railings were restored. With its investment in the Myon Hotel as Tifton City Hall, the city of Tifton has emphasized its commitment to its historic downtown.

For more than 35 years, the Trust has recognized preservation projects and individuals throughout Georgia who have made significant contributions to the field of historic preservation. Awards are presented on the basis of the contributions of the person or project to the community and/or state and on compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Excellence in Rehabilitation awards recognize projects that make compatible use of a building through repair, alterations or additions while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value. This year, the Trust presented 14 Excellence in Rehabilitation awards.

Founded in 1973, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is one of the country’s leading statewide, nonprofit preservation organizations. The Trust works for the preservation and revitalization of Georgia’s diverse historic resources and advocates their appreciation, protection and use.

To learn more about the Georgia Trust and the Preservation Awards, visit www.georgiatrust.org.