HARMONY — Residents and organizations will be recognized for their preservation efforts on historic buildings at the Harmony Museum’s 49th annual Harmoniefest dinner.

Heritage Award winners will be honored at the program in Stewart Hall at 6 p.m. Feb. 13.

“It’s really an acknowledgment that the owners have tried to preserve it (property) or build it in a manner that’s sensitive to the larger area,” museum director Kathy Luek said.

Robert and Jodi McCafferty will receive awards for their acquisition and ongoing rehabilitation of the Harmony Inn at 230 Mercer St.

The inn was originally the 1856 Pearce House.

The historical society says their efforts are helping to preserve “an important community landmark and economic anchor.”

The Cranberry Township Historical Society and Cranberry Township will receive awards for preserving the 1870 Sample School, used after 1951 as the first township office.

The Sample School was relocated to the municipal center on Rochester Road, where visitors can learn of education practices in one-room schools.

This is the first Heritage Award that Cranberry Township has gotten.

The Zelienople Historical Society also will be honored for preserving its 1805 Buhl House history museum on South Main Street. The Buhl House is the oldest building in Zelienople.

Connoquenessing Township residents Linda and Patrick Weakland will be honored for restoring the front facade of their pre-1850 log home on Upper Harmony Road.

Residents nominate people for Heritage Awards. The museum board decides who receives them.

“There’s an awareness of the value of preserving historic structures instead of tearing them down and building something else,” Historic Harmony President John Ruch said. “That all contributes to the quality of life. It also contributes to the local economy as well.”

Ruch said the board tries to localize who receives awards, although geographic qualifications are “loose.”

Awards have been given to people from places outside of the immediate area.

Prepaid reservations for Harmoniefest are required and must be received by Feb. 5. Proceeds will benefit the museum.

For reservations and information, contact the museum office at 724-452-7341 or hmuseum@zoominternet.net.