Don Stroud is a lover — of neo-classicism, of architecture rooted in the past, of the details found in the old homes and structures that have withstood the test of time. He’s a longtime advocate of historic preservation, for many years serving as chairman of the Washington Historic Preservation Commission; for the past 12, he’s been president of the Washington Area Historic Foundation. It’s because of his efforts the City of Washington has named him the recipient of the historic district’s “Good Neighbor” award. The award is given in honor of Rena K. Terrell, a founding Washington historic preservationist.

“The Good Neighbor award is given to a property owner in the historic district who has taken good care their property, done repairs when needed, has upgraded within the standards of historic preservation and contributes to the fabric to the historic district. Don’s property is certainly all of that,” said Scott Campbell, who serves on the Terrell Awards selection committee. “One of the things that is kind of the hallmark of a good neighbor — he never lets anything get to a point where someone says ‘He should really do something about that.’ It’s an ongoing process that he always stay on top of so the property always looks great, all the time.”

What Stroud is doing is living by example, the most notable of which is the Potts-Bragaw House on East Second Street in Washington. When Stroud purchased the property in 1991, it had been vacant for two years, had no plumbing, its electrical was nearly inoperable, and had only five windows intact, out of many.

It’s been an ongoing project since.

“We have worked on it for 24 years — constant renovation for 24 years. It took a good six months just to make it habitable, and that was just a working bathroom and eating area. …  In order to get water, we had to run a water hose from Seth Edwards’ grandmother’s (Lucinda Edwards) kitchen sink, across the yard, into a galvanized tub,” Stroud laughed.

It’s a labor of love for a home Stroud refers to as both his passion and a jealous mistress who demands both money and attention. But it’s a price he’s willing to pay: built in 1870 by a prominent lawyer, Samuel Potts, the 23-room, four-story home is filled with many original details — interior columns, ornate mantelpieces, coffered ceilings in one room, an original laurel wreath, stained glass window in another, deep, sculpted crown molding that pull the rooms together inside, while outside, a deep portico framed by six, two-story columns puts a historical exclamation point on a notable home.

“I’ve been told it’s the most significant neo-classical home east of I-95,” Stroud said.

His East Second Street house is just one of three properties Stroud has shepherded from dilapidation through preservation: the others, a historic hunting lodge at Pamlico Beach and the Stewart House on Second Street, which, like the Potts-Bragaw House, had been converted to a boarding house before Stroud converted it back into a single-family dwelling.

But taking ownership of historic properties is not for the average homeowner, Stroud said. It takes commitment and dedication to something greater than simply having a place to call home.

“You have to realize that it’s really not yours — you’re just a caretaker for future generations,” Stroud said. “When you have a significant home, you’re just a caretaker and you have to try to leave it in a better state than what you got it. And it ought to be done without too much concern over making a profit, in order to leave it better than you had it, regardless of the cost. … These homes are to be treasured. They’re not just to be used as a means to profit.”

Stroud said being named the “Good Neighbor” award is humbling, and it’s an award for which he’s very appreciative considering his appreciation for its namesake, Rena Terrell.

“She was a pioneer with Washington’s preservation efforts,” Stroud said. “We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for her and those who came after her: Hazel Lassiter, Dee Congleton and others.”