For repainting an historic sign on the side of the KWC block, the Hume Hotel is this year’s recipient of Nelson’s heritage award.
The award, established in 2015, goes to individuals, groups or businesses who make an outstanding contribution to the preservation or promotion of Nelson’s heritage.
Berdine Jonker, chair of the heritage working group, which selected the winner, said this year’s recipient is significant “because it shows that heritage conservation is about more than just buildings of a certain age. It’s about dedication to preserving and restoring cherished parts of our overall heritage value.”
The hand-painted sign in question was originally painted in the late 1950s but had significantly faded. Jonker noted restoration of such signs seldom happens because in most cases they are obsolete and advertise businesses that no longer exist.
This case, however, was unique: the ad became a ghost sign when the Hume Hotel was renamed the Heritage Inn in 1980 but came back into vogue when the hotel took back its original name in 2005.
Restoration required a “meticulous process” involving consultation with a heritage professional, researching the sign’s history to understand its significance, and hiring a painter who could do the work properly.
Ryan Martin from the Hume hired consultant Elana Zysblat who recommended Valor Painting, who faithfully restored the sign.
“Every aspect from the lettering and spacing to the font was meticulously studied and recreated to ensure historical accuracy,” Jonker said.
“The newly restored Hume Hotel sign with its hand-painted charm and historic brick serves as an homage to the story and history of the community. Ryan saw the heritage value in this mid-century downtown icon and took the necessary steps to engage the right people to ensure it will last for generations to come.”
Martin noted the project coincided with the hotel’s 125th anniversary and is one he and his father talked about for a long time as the sign continued to fade. Dave Martin and wife Sheila bought the hotel and rescued it from an uncertain fate, but Ryan noted it was a few years before their investment proved itself.
Martin also said the process was more extensive than he expected.
“Sometimes there’s a difference in the way a private entrepreneur wants to see things happen and the way public [process] happens. It’s like ‘let’s get this painted. What do we do?’ [They said] ‘Ryan, you need a development permit first.'”
Despite the delay, Martin said he was proud of how the project turned out and thanked the people he worked with.
The awards comes with a $1,000 honorarium, which Martin joked would go towards paying the insurance deductible following the recent flood at the hotel.
