Inaugural ceremony set for May 16
The City of Pendleton’s Historic Preservation Commission has created the Goodwin Award to honor individuals who have dedicated time and resources to preserve Pendleton’s historic character and vitality.
Named in remembrance of Moses and Aura Goodwin, who significantly helped establish Pendleton, the Goodwin Award recognizes those who provide significant and lasting contributions to protect the architectural heritage, historic integrity and community identity of Pendleton.
The 2026 inaugural Goodwin Award will be presented to Al and Gail Plute in recognition of their steadfast efforts to restore and revitalize some of Pendleton’s prominent historic downtown buildings. Over the past two decades, the Plutes have played a major role in transforming underused and deteriorating historic properties into vibrant spaces that once again serve the community. Their work brought new life to upper story apartments, restored commercial storefronts, supported local businesses and preserved the architectural details that make downtown Pendleton unique.
Through each project, the Plutes demonstrated a commitment to historic preservation, balancing modern needs while respecting the buildings’ original design and character. Their investments encouraged economic growth, supported local trades and contractors and inspired other property owners to see the value and dream of restoring Pendleton’s historic downtown.
“The Goodwin Awards were created to recognize the people who have gone above and beyond in preserving what makes Pendleton special,” said Shannon Gruenhagen, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission. “Mr. and Mrs. Plute have made a lasting impact on our downtown, and their work reflects the very purpose of this award.”
The Goodwin Award honors those who exemplify historic preservation through building restoration, adaptive reuse, historic integrity and economic development through preservation, forming a lasting legacy. The Plutes’ contributions embody these values, making them a fitting choice as the inaugural recipients of this new community honor.
The inaugural Goodwin Award ceremony is Saturday, May 16, from 5:30–7 p.m. at Great Pacific. The ceremony event will bring together the Historic Preservation Commission and invited community members to honor the people whose devotion helps preserve Pendleton’s history and strengthen the spirit of our downtown.
For more information, please contact hpc [at] pendletonor.gov (hpc[at]pendletonor[dot]gov) or call the City of Pendleton’s Community Development Department at 541-966-0203.
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April 28, 2026