by Dennis Sharkey
Landmark reporter

Although Wilma Summers is now retired from teaching, she still has a full-time job maintaining her residence, otherwise known as “The Big Stone” located at 117 Main St. in Platte City.

Now she's being recognized for the hard work.

Summers was recognized by the Platte City Board of Aldermen and Mayor Frank Offutt with the William M. Paxton Award for historic preservation Tuesday night. The award was created earlier this year, with The Landmark's building and its owners being the first recipients.

Offutt said after the presentation that the award not only recognizes residents who put value to history but also encourages other building owners to do the same.

“A lot of people put a lot of hard work into restoration,” Offutt said. “It's a way to recognize and encourage others to have an interest and pride.”

According to a press release, Summers' father reproduced most of the interior woodwork including the staircase. He also built the exterior front porch.

Summers and her family moved to the Kansas City area when a teaching opportunity arose in 1977. Summers and her late father Ralph began the restoration work in 1993 on the house that she and her sister now live in.

Summers said that she and her father worked for nearly five years restoring the structure that was built in the 1840's. The house once served as a hotel and apartment building.

Even when Summers decided to move in, there was still a lot of work that had to be completed. She said the house had a complete bathroom, but not all in one place. A sink on one level, a toilet on another and a shower on yet another floor of the house--along with heat to just one bedroom--was all Summers needed to move in.

mers decided to move in, there was still a lot of work that had to be completed. She said the house had a complete bathroom, but not all in one place. A sink on one level, a toilet on another and a shower on yet another floor of the house--along with heat to just one bedroom--was all Summers needed to move in.

Summers said she and her father worked on the house daily and more than 10 years after moving in, the renovation process is still ongoing, but a job she has enjoyed along the way.
“It's not the same as going in and seeing what other people are doing,” she said.

Summers said this is the first award she has won for the house, but her residence has been featured on homes tours.