Most of Pitman's work on these buildings included full-faade reconstruction that returned the buildings to their original late 1800s-early 1900s designs.
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This spring Pitman was honored by her alma mater, Columbia College, with the 2009 Community Service Award for outstanding leadership and service to community for her work in historic preservation. The award was presented April 25 at the college's alumni reunion weekend.
Began With a House
Thinking back to her college days, Pitman said she never intended to develop a career in preservation. After growing up in Wentzville, she went to Columbia College, then a two-year private, nonprofit institution founded in 1851, where she studied art and French.
From Columbia she transferred to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and earned a bachelor's degree in advertising/journalism.
Her first job after college was with Children's Press in Chicago. Later she worked at University Press and then for a furniture manufacturer using her art background to do graphic design.
In 1970, Pitman bought an 1895 four-square Victorian home in St. Charles four blocks up the hill from Main Street and began the process of restoring it, learning the business of it along the way and unwittingly laying the ground-work for a future career.
"I thought the historic buildings were wonderful," said Pitman. "I thought we were fortunate that the people who built this area did it out of brick at a time when the architectural style was nice.
"I felt more comfortable in (older buildings and homes) because of the room size and the ceiling height - they were larger - and because they had so much character," she noted.
Pitman lived in the home while it was being restored and rehabbed. She went on to live there for 34 years before she moved to a 220-acre property near Femme Osage in 2005.
"The first house took about a year," said Pitman. "It wasn't in horrible shape. I fixed the interior, rewired stuff . . . over the time I lived there, though, I redid the kitchen three times."
In 1975 Pitman joined a small group of other passionate individuals in beginning the restoration of St. Charles historic Main Street district. Her first project was 416 S. Main, previously home to a Salvation Army store. The building was run-down, said Pitman, noting back then this area of St. Charles was "skid row."
Using as her guide old photographs and source books for turn-of-the-century architectural woodwork like Roberts Illustrated Millwork Catalog, Pitman lets the buildings speak for themselves as she has the layers of changes and additions made to them over the decades peeled away. On all of her projects, Pitman serves as the general contractor, handling design work and deciding on details, but hiring professionals to do the physical labor.
She designed the space at 416 S. Main for a retail business on the first floor with an apartment above. She owned the building for 20 years before she traded it to someone in 1995 for two buildings on North Main in need of preservation.
After completing the project at 416 S. Main and finding tenants, Pitman moved on to 117 S. Main, a circa 1878 building known as "The Queen of Main Street" because it is the tallest building there.
From there Pitman continued her pattern of buying historic buildings, restoring and rehabbing the space and then either finding tenants or a new buyer.
"It worked out well over the years," she said. "South Main was restored first, and you can see it has a different character than North Main. At the south end the buildings are smaller, but they were built earlier. At the north end, they are a little larger."
Pitman's preservation projects today house such varied businesses as a hair salon, antique shop, clothing retailer and a high-tech firm that offers computer training.
Why St. Charles?
Pitman said she was drawn to the preservation work in St. Charles because by the 1970s urban renewal was already under way there under the guidance of "pioneers" like Archie Scott.
"In the 1960s, the first state Capitol building (in St. Charles) was restored," she said, "and I felt the truth in that Margaret Mead quote, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.' "
Pitman continued to work a full-time job as a graphic designer for many years as she completed preservation projects on the side. The tenants she found for her buildings also provided a source of income. In the 1990s, she was able to focus on her restoration work full time.
Looking back, Pitman said she credits the Bank of Dutzow with helping her get started. That was the bank that gave her the loan to buy her house. In the '60s and '70s, she noted, not a lot of banks were willing to give loans to single women.
Having proven herself on one loan made it easier for Pitman when she went to get a loan for her first commercial project.
Right now with the state of the economy, Pitman isn't taking on any new restoration projects. She finished her last one, 136 S. Main, in 2006.
"There are still some (buildings) to be done, but not a ton," said Pitman. "I'm going to wait and see what opportunities show up . . . Every time I finish one, I swear I won't do another," she remarked, noting her age and a change in local politics have made the work more difficult these days.
Pitman continues to advise in the design of new restoration projects and is often called upon for her expertise and ideas. Her ability to recreate authentic storefronts and facades when little original architecture exists, her correct and sensitive designs and attention to detail and use of materials, sets her projects apart from others and establishes a standard of excellence.
Pitman served for 11 years on the Landmarks Preservation Board and 30 years on the Historic Downtown Association Board. She also has served on the St. Louis Home Builders Association Advisory Board, as chairman of the Riverfront Planning Board, on the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association Advisory Board, as chairman of Mosaics Art Festival and in numerous local organizations.
Home Combines Old, New
Before Pitman moved to the Marthasville/Femme Osage area a few years ago, she kept a weekend home there - a circa 1857 log cabin she had relocated there from Josephville.
In 2004, Pitman began construction on a new house that would connect with the log cabin. Of course the house may be new, but it has the look and feel of a beautifully preserved historic home.
"It's based on the Boone home, a Federal-style home, because it seemed plausible to go with the log cabin," said Pitman.
As part of the building process, Pitman had a 7-acre lake put in complete with a boat dock. The lake coupled with the house's many outdoor porches give the property a vacation-home feel. There also is a barn that Pitman uses as a woodshop and blacksmith shop.
Honored to Be Recognized
The award Pitman received from Columbia College wasn't her first. In 2008, the Missouri State Preservation Organization applauded her work by presenting her with an Archie Scott award.
Still the award from her alma mater is extremely meaningful to her. "I love that college," she said.
And the college loves her too.
"Penny exemplifies what we hope every Columbia College graduate will aspire to," said Susan Davis, senior director of alumni relations at Columbia College. "She is truly deserving of this award and we are so proud to have Penny as part of the Columbia College family."
