For Lifetime Achievement in Historic Preservation
For Dean Ruedrich, there was only ever one profession that he was called to, preservation. From furniture, to houses to monuments, Dean has not only worked tirelessly to ensure our past is retained and remembered, but he has gone above and beyond by actively sharing his knowledge and passion with students and the public. As an expert craftsman, educator and dedicated advocate, Dean’s impact on the historic built environment of Wake County and the state of North Carolina is immeasurable.
Dean is owner of Ruedrich Restorations. As one of only a few preservation craftsman still actively practicing, Dean has over 22 years of experience in the historic building trades and is one of the few gravestone conservators in North Carolina. A licensed general contractor, educator and dedicated artisan, Dean has been privileged to work on some of the state’s most significant buildings and cemeteries. Some examples of Dean’s work can be seen at places like the Clay-Ross House in Oakwood, the Purvis Slave house and Robson House restored in the North Carolina Museum of History, cemetery restoration work in Raleigh City Cemetery,
Dean has donated hundreds of hours over the last 25 years on various boards of directors in support of local historic preservation efforts, including serving on the Design Review Advisory Committee for the Raleigh Historic District Commission for the last 15 years and, before that, as Chairman of the Board of Capital Area Preservation. He was the winner in 1998 of the Robert Stipe Award, the highest honor given for professional excellence in historic preservation in North Carolina.
For the last 10 years, Dean has been a Principal Instructor for the UNC-Greensboro Historic Preservation Field School, held annually in Old Salem and Korner’s Folly. He has also led numerous small workshops in gravestone conservation as well as in building trades as diverse as window restoration, roofing, and brick masonry. His work has included workshops held for local non-profit and statewide historic preservation organizations alike; include the Bellamy Mansion Museum, Historic Stagville Foundation, The Preservation Fund of Hillsborough, and Preservation North Carolina.
The Board of Directors of Capital Area Preservation, Inc. is pleased to present a 2011 Anthemion Award to Dean Allan Ruedrich for Lifetime Achievement in Historic Preservation.