Sturbridge, M.A. – Preservation Massachusetts announced winners of the 2022 Preservation Awards on Friday, April 1, and Old Sturbridge Village President & CEO, Jim Donahue, is one of 9 winners to be honored with the Paul and Niki Tsongas Award, Preservation Massachusetts’ highest honor. This outstanding achievement is reserved for people and projects that display the maximal level of commitment to historic preservation in the Commonwealth and was first given to the late Senator Paul E. Tsongas in 1988. Preservation Massachusetts recognized Donahue’s accomplishment of preserving an entire village which is beyond the requirement of a single program or building preservation.
Since coming to the Village 12 years ago, Donahue has balanced future-forward thinking with preservation of history. This has led to the preservation of one of the Commonwealth’s historic resources and preserved jobs, resources, culture, history, and community. As the largest living history museum in New England, Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) has been consistently recognized as one of New England’s most important cultural attractions.
Under Donahue’s leadership, OSV has preserved buildings as well as many of the museum’s programs and events. One of the first preservation initiatives Donahue pursued was the restoration of the grand front hall of the Salem Towne House, a c. 1796 building moved from Charlton, MA to the Village Common in 1952. He established and grew many programs to expand the Village’s audience, providing opportunities for appreciation and connection with history. Always focused on the mission of educating, Donahue spearheaded the reopening of the Museum Education building and its programs, which welcomed back school field trips, serving thousands of New England school students each year and brought a charter school to Old Sturbridge Village in 2017. Old Sturbridge Academy serves children Kindergarten through 8th grade from 12 surrounding towns, the Village is their home for innovative and experiential learning.
This recognition is even more pertinent as it aligns with Old Sturbridge Villages’ 75th anniversary yearlong celebration, concluding on June 4, with a 75th Anniversary Gala.
“I am very honored to be recognized with this prestigious award along with such inspiring people and projects dedicated to preserving Massachusetts history. All of the initiatives, improvements, and innovations we have put in place to ensure the Village continues to be a historical resource to the community could not have happened without the support of our staff, trustees, donors, members and residents of the area. It truly takes a Village to bring forth the kind of success we have been fortunate to experience at OSV,” Donahue stated.
Bringing Communities Together is this year’s theme for Preservation Massachusetts, acknowledging projects and people that have encouraged collaboration among the Commonwealth’s diverse constituents. The 2022 Preservation Awards program is a month-long multimedia celebration that coincides with National Historic Preservation Month. The 2022 award recipients demonstrate how preservation goes beyond historic buildings and landscapes to include stories and important lessons for the future.
Jim Donahue and his 2022 preservation award peers will be honored during National Preservation Month in May. The celebration culminates on May 11, with a live event at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston.
