A new advocate from Old Town: Meet Katie Davis

In May, Mayor Tommy Battle appointed Katie Davis to the Huntsville Historic Preservation Commission (HHPC) to step into the vacant position left after Jan Williams' retirement. The HHPC's ordinance requires three out of the six mayor-appointed members to live in one of the locally designated historic districts.

Katie's appointment to the commission fills the longstanding need for a representative of the Old Town Historic District. We are thrilled to add a historic district resident with such high qualifications and a heart for preservation to the commission. Katie will be a tremendous asset to the HHPC, and we look forward to working together to continue preserving Huntsville's historic districts.

Katie served at her first meeting on July 8 and graciously answered a few questions about herself and her love of historic preservation.

What got you interested in the fields of history and preservation?

My interest in history and preservation has a lot to do with where I come from - the Mississippi Delta. It is rich in history and hidden, beautiful historic architecture. My paternal grandparents still live in the Dean family home in Leland, which was built in 1905 as a Queen Anne-style home and then transformed in 1925 into an eclectic blend of Queen Anne and Mission influences that has fascinated me since childhood. They still have the documentation from the 1925 renovation, including architectural blueprints and even the interior decorator's spec book, which features my great-great grandmother's many comments. She would have been quite the client! My grandfather would tell stories of what life in Leland and the farm where I grew up, Panther Burn, was like back in the early and mid-1900s.

I hung onto every word! My great-grandmother was a historian and artist. You could say that those genes run in the family. Geraldine, my great-grandmother, was active in the early preservation efforts in Mississippi, even getting one of my favorite historic homes on the National Historic Register of Historic Places.

My maternal grandmother also fostered my love of historic homes and antiques. We often went on trips together to places like Natchez to tour historic homes, and our favorite pastime was "junking," where we would go to antique and flea markets looking for something beautiful to bring home.

While studying interior design at Mississippi State University, my absolute favorite courses were History of Interior Design I and II. I knew I was drawn to preserving historic architecture and design, and I wanted to pursue my passion by going to graduate school for historic preservation in beautiful Savannah, Georgia.

Tell us a little bit about where you are from, where you went to school and your current job.

As I mentioned, I grew up in the Mississippi Delta. I received my bachelor's degree in Interior Design from Mississippi State University. While studying the history of interiors, I embraced a calling to pursue a career in historic preservation.

I attended Savannah College of Art and Design for a master's in Historic Preservation, where I worked for 10 years at an architecture firm in the heart of Savannah's National Register Historic District while also raising two beautiful baby girls.

Currently, I work for Arc Space studio here in Huntsville and lecture remotely for Mississippi State University's Historic Preservation program, where I teach History of American Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

What was it like learning about preservation in a charming, historic city like Savannah?

Magical! Savannah was a fairytale backdrop for studying historic preservation. Not only could we walk around and find ample, exquisite examples of a variety of architectural styles from colonial to modern (even post-modern) within a mile radius of our classrooms, but we also got our hands dirty with real-life preservation experiences. From securing plaster and lath keys with horse syringes and lots of adhesive and mixing plaster to make molds to documenting historic structures and creating preservation plans for areas at risk, we got a taste of all aspects of preservation.

What experiences have you had in your education and career that have prepared you for serving on the HHPC?

I've worked closely with Savannah's Metropolitan Planning Commission and Leland, Mississippi's Historic Preservation Commission, learning the ins and outs of how commissions work and how they can better serve their communities by balancing the preservation of historic fabric and character while meeting the needs and standards of a modern world.

My first project with the Savannah architecture firm was preparing the drawings and documents to get a sign approved through Savannah's equivalent of the HHPC. That was the first of many projects I would work on before the commission there. When I first moved to Huntsville, I had a wonderful experience working with the HHPC to get approval for some alterations to my own historic home in Old Town.

You own a historic home in Old Town. What are your most and least favorite aspects of owning a historic home?

I just love being in a historic home; it truly is a labor of love. I also enjoy being surrounded by lovely historic homes and the people who live in them. Old Town has a special place in my heart-not just for the variety of historic buildings but also for the community and the beautiful way of life there.

My least favorite is how high up a ladder I must climb to paint the eaves! I don't like heights, but it's worth it. It's a lot of work to own a historic home, particularly a folk Victorian with wood siding, and there is an expense that goes along with it. For me, it's worth it!

Is there a personal message you would like to share with historic district residents?

It is an honor to serve the community as an HHPC board member. I know what it's like to be both in the client's and representative's shoes trying to get a project approved by a commission. It can be stressful and sometimes frustrating, but we're here for a reason and want to work with you to achieve the same goal of balancing preservation and modern constraints. The preservation of contributing fabric within historic districts helps preserve not just the architecture but also the character of the district, which in turn preserves and enhances the value of the property within that district.

I will say, too, that thanks to Katy Stamps, my experience working with the HHPC has been a joy. She brings a very understanding approach to each project, which I hope encourages the further preservation of the historic districts by working collaboratively with the community.

Learn more about Huntsville Historic Preservation.

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