2 area landmarks lauded

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is one of two buildings chosen for the honor.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Maumee Indoor Theatre will receive Excellence in Preservation Awards from the Landmarks Preservation Council of Northwest Ohio during a ceremony which begins at 6 p.m. May 11 at the Toledo Club.

Immaculate Conception, at Western Avenue and Broadway, was built in 1892 to serve the Irish community. The church's architect was E.O. Fallis of Toledo who designed some of the city's landmark buildings, including the Valentine Theatre and the Madison Building.

Over the years, the building was run-down and abandoned, but the Rev. Paul Kwiatkowski was able to raise funds for the restoration of the Norman Gothic structure in Toledo's old south end.

The Maumee Indoor Theatre on Conant Street was purchased by the city of Maumee after it had been vacant for four years. The theater, which was built in 1947, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. It was opened again in May, 2004, and is used for movies and live performances.

Duket Porter Associates, a Toledo architectural firm, will be given an award for its work in renovating older buildings.

Other people receiving awards are Toledo council President Louis Escobar for his commitment to preserve historic buildings and economic development.

Maumee historian and author Marilyn Wendler, Janet Russ Jones, and Barbara Kneisley, who worked together to feature historic Maumee buildings on the city's Web site.