Submitted Photo New York state last month recognized the efforts of preservation in Lily Dale.

The recently established Lily Dale Assembly Historic District was one of 10 entities recognized with a state Historic Preservation Award last month.

Lily Dale’s district got the Excellence in Community Achievement Award. According to the state’s press release on the awards, “The effort to nominate this community for its historic contributions to Spiritualism and the women’s rights movement was spearheaded by community members whose advocacy and persistence successfully identified more than 200 historic resources for the district, which is now listed on the national and state Registers of Historic Places.”

Joanne Mansfield, president of Lily Dale Assembly and a member of the historic district’s steering committee, said it got state historic preservation district status in 2022 “after a long process.” State officials submitted the district to the national Register of Historic Places and Lily Dale was approved for that, too.

“We are more than a district. We are a whole little hamlet,” Mansfield said. “I think that’s why we’re recognized more — we’re different. We’re not just a building or a bridge.”

She pointed out that the Lily Dale district committee was specifically honored by the state in its awards ceremony at Albany. Mansfield represented Lily Dale there.

“It gives us a recognition that we’re important. We put some effort and energy into it,” she said. “They are many people at many levels in Lily Dale who have worked tirelessly to make it happen.”

Mansfield hopes the state’s award will give Lily Dale a leg up in the grant process as it seeks to develop its historic district.

She said there are numerous “contributing buildings” to the historic district in Lily Dale. Architecture and age of buildings are among the criteria. In addition, “many important people have been here,” she said.

Mansfield said the Lily Dale community will hold a celebration to recognize the historic district this summer. A women’s suffrage historical marker will be dedicated in another ceremony.

“This particular award just brings us to light as a valuable historic place in Chautauqua County,” she said. “We need to bring recognition to this area.”