The historic Montrose Potato Growers Building has been nominated for History Colorado’s 2026 People’s Choice Award, putting the century-old landmark in competition with preservation projects from across the state.
The award, part of the annual Stephen H. Hart Awards for Historic Preservation, recognizes one project each year that best shows public support for the state’s preservation efforts. The winner is determined entirely by public vote, which remains open through Oct 27.
Built in 1908, the Potato Growers Building is linked to Montrose’s agricultural heritage. It was originally constructed by the Montrose Fruit and Produce Association after a fire destroyed the previous wooden warehouse. The brick structure, considered “fireproof” at the time, became a key part of the region’s produce industry and an example of early 20th-century rural warehouse design.
After decades of use, the building sat largely vacant beginning in the 1960s. In 2017, the building’s owners, David and Greg Fishering, sought assistance from the City of Montrose. They worked to stabilize and restore the building. The rehabilitation included roof replacement, structural reinforcement, new flooring and exterior masonry repairs.
In 2021, the city helped secure a $250,000 State Historical Fund grant through History Colorado to support further restoration. The Fisherings matched with their own funding for a total cost of roughly $600,000 for the restoration.
Today, the revitalized structure houses an event venue, a bar and spaces for local food vendors, serving as a hub for community gatherings and small businesses in a previously neglected downtown area.
The project has been recognized locally, earning listings on the Montrose City Register of Historic Places, the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties, and the National Register of Historic Places.
The Montrose nomination follows last year’s win by another local project—the Knights of Pythias Building, now home to the Rathbone Hotel—which took home the 2025 People’s Choice Award.
The Potato Growers Building is one of six nominees for this year’s statewide honor:
- Citizens State Bank, Silverton — The Helmboldt Building, built in 1893, is undergoing a $2 million rehabilitation by Citizens State Bank to convert the ground floor into a bank branch and the upper floor into three workforce housing units. The Italianate-inspired brick structure has served various community uses, including a meat market, newspaper office, and café.
- Manzanola United Methodist Church, Manzanola — Built in 1908, this Gothic Revival church has played a central role in the African American homesteading community known as “The Dry.” The congregation continues to lead preservation efforts, making it a model of community-driven stewardship.
- Colorado Asian Pacific United, Denver — The nonprofit organization completed a historic survey identifying places tied to Denver’s Chinese American history between 1870 and 1950. The project aims to preserve sites connected to the city’s long-displaced Chinese community and to nominate select properties to theå National Register of Historic Places.
- City of Cortez Historic Preservation Board, Cortez — The volunteer board has completed 10 Certified Local Government grant projects since 2010, documenting dozens of historic sites and creating educational materials, walking tours, and outreach programs that promote a culture of preservation in Cortez.
- Palisades Wall and Alpine Tunnel, Pitkin — A partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation led to the reconstruction of the Palisades Wall, a dry-stacked stone structure supporting the historic Alpine Tunnel railbed. The 2024 restoration reopened a key section of the popular off-road trail and preserved a major feature of Colorado’s rail history.
Public voting for the People’s Choice Award is open through Oct. 27. The winner will be announced at the 2026 Stephen H. Hart Awards, History Colorado’s annual event honoring exemplary projects in archaeology and historic preservation.
