Celebrating South Mountain’s 2025 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award Winners

Each year, the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards shine a spotlight on the people, places, and partnerships that keep our Commonwealth’s history alive. In 2025, several projects from the South Mountain region – Adams, Franklin, and Cumberland Counties – earned well-deserved recognition. Their achievements not only preserve treasured landmarks but also strengthen community identity and pride.

Here are this year’s local honorees:

Adams County – Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Award: Restoration

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a landmark of American Catholic history, underwent an extraordinary restoration that uncovered its original 19th-century Baroque interior. The conservation team revealed the largest historic paint exposure they had ever encountered, bringing back decorative painting, fine art, woodwork, and marble altars. This meticulous work revived the Basilica’s spiritual and artistic presence, ensuring its legacy endures for generations to come.

Franklin County – Rose Rent Lofts, Chambersburg

Award: Rehabilitation

A cherished 1909 high school in Chambersburg has been reborn as the Rose Rent Lofts, a shining example of adaptive reuse. This project preserved the building’s architectural character while creating affordable loft housing. The transformation resonated deeply within the community—former students toured their old classrooms, now reimagined as homes. The name “Rose Rent” draws from a local tradition of symbolic rent paid with a single rose, underscoring themes of dignity, legacy, and connection.

Cumberland County – Empowering Communities to Preserve Historic Resources in the South Mountain Region

Led by Shippensburg University, this initiative mobilized hundreds of local residents to take an active role in preserving South Mountain’s heritage. Through hands-on workshops and the creation of a 92-page digital preservation guide, the program offered tools for protecting historic resources in a region experiencing rapid development. It now serves as a replicable model for other communities across Pennsylvania facing similar challenges.

This project received funding from South Mountain Partnership’s Mini-Grant program. We are honored to have played a role in this endeavor!

Honoring Preservation in the South Mountain Region

These three award-winning projects highlight the diversity and depth of historic preservation efforts in the South Mountain region, from sacred spaces and community landmarks to innovative educational initiatives. Each one demonstrates how preserving the past can shape a stronger, more connected future.

To learn more about the region’s progress and priorities, check out our State of the Region report, which provides a broader look at the challenges and opportunities shaping South Mountain’s communities.

Congratulations to the 2025 award recipients from Adams, Franklin, and Cumberland Counties!

View the other award-winners from across the Commonwealth at www.preservationpa.org/participate/awards.