2026 Excellence in Restoration

Constructed in the 1830s, this single-story, one room building served as the professional office of Judge Richard Johnson, a prominent attorney and judge in Jones County during Clinton’s early history. As the county seat moved and the building languished, the Old Clinton Historical Society worked to prevent its loss. The Society undertook a community-led effort to relocate and restore the building near its original Madison Street setting. The building was carefully investigated using physical evidence such as ghost markings and original materials to guide an evidence-based restoration. Non-historic alterations were removed and missing elements, including windows, doors, stairs, and chimney were reconstructed using appropriate materials and traditional construction methods. Structural components, stone piers, siding, windows, and hardware were repaired, and a new wood shake roof installed, ensuring the long-term preservation of this rare building type. 

Excellence in Restoration Awards recognize the exemplary restoration of historic structures that accurately restore the form, features, and character of a historic building as it appeared during a particular period.