“Time after time, year after year, Betty Sedberry unselfishly has made her artwork available to assist in the rescue and preservation of numerous historic buildings, sites and objects,” presenter Rosalie Laughlin said.

The Clement Cup, named in honor of Salisbury preservation leader Ed Clement, recognizes Sedberry’s 25 years of “outstanding artwork that has helped increase the awareness and appreciation of the rich historical resources of our very special community,” the foundation said.

Almost 25 years ago, at the foundation’s first OctoberTour, Sedberry set up a display of her early sketches on the unrestored porch of the Salisbury Female Academy, now site of The Wrenn House restaurant.

“Since that time, Betty has become one of our county’s most accomplished, most respected and most loved artists,” Laughlin said.

As an example of how Sedberry’s work inspired preservation, the foundation said her drawing several years ago of the Mowery House on South Long Street went a long way toward saving the endangered structure.

“Betty did a drawing showing the house beautifully restored, with a picket fence around it,” Laughlin said. “It helped us all envision what the house could become. And by the way, years later, did become.”

The foundation said Sedberry’s love of old trains, depots and railroading, as reflected in much of her art, also helped in the preservation and promotion of the N.C. Transportation Museum, the Salisbury Station and other railroad sites in the Piedmont.

Sedberry and her late husband, Ralph, also restored two commercial buildings on Salisbury Avenue in Spencer.

A 25-year retrospective of Sedberry’s work will be featured during this year’s OctoberTour. The foundation also will offer wrapping paper featuring Sedberry sketches.

Overall, Historic Salisbury Foundation presented 21 other preservation awards to individuals, groups and businesses at a Salisbury Station luncheon.

The foundation gave awards in commercial revitalization, private preservation and neighborhood revitalization.

It also recognized preservation craftsmen and professionals and longtime preservation leaders in the community.

Here’s a brief rundown of others receiving awards:

• Eddie Beaver, for restoration of the Bernhardt House on East Innes Street.
• Downtown Salisbury Inc., for purchasing three older buildings on East Innes Street (including the old Cathey Buggy Co.), marketing the properties and finding owners to retore them.
• Post Publishing Co., for bringing back the original facade to the Oestreicher Building on South Main Street.
• Oscho Rufty, for creating Rufty Market out of the former Rustin Furniture store.
• Neal Sansovich, for his transformation of the former Flowers Bakery Thrift Store on East Council Street into modern office space.
• Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, for deciding to relocate the site of its new headquarters under construction so that the Cathey Buggy Co. and adjacent buildings could be saved.
• St. John’s Lutheran Church, for its remodeling of a non-conforming building into its Child Development Center, complementing the church’s architecture and streetscape.
• Bill and Christy Carter, for returning and restoring the Krider House on West Horah Street to a single-family residence.
• Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Clawson, for the stewardship of their home in the 600 block of West Innes Street. It represents one of the last remaining residential houses in that area.
• Livingstone College, for its restoration of Ballard Hall on the campus.
• Judy Rochelle, for leading efforts to restore the Presbyterian Church Session House near the Bell Tower as a tribute to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mort Rochelle.
• Rowan Museum Inc., for turning the Utzman-Chambers House on South Jackson Street into a complete house museum.
• Karen Windate, for her restoration of a house on South Fulton Street into the Turn of the Century Bed and Breakfast.
• Chad Vriesema, for contributing to the “continuing renaissance” on South Shaver Street by restoring a Victorian cottage at 309 S. Shaver St.
• A.L. Honeycutt Jr., for more than 25 years as supervisor of the restoration branch of the state Historic Preservation Office. He has provided support to preservation projects across the state, including the old courthouse and Salisbury Female Academy in Salisbury.
• Charles Peacock, “for his unfailing and unflagging efforts in preserving the stories and history of the people, places and things associated with trains, railroading and the Salisbury Station.”
• Susan Goodman Sides, for collecting and finding the stories behind the postcards to publish “The Postcard History Series: Salisbury and Rowan County.”
• Ann Coggin, for her years of support of both the foundation and Residents of Old Salisbury.
• Emma Jean Hawley, for her work as a neighborhood advocate, OctoberTour advance ticket sales chairwoman and member of the Appearance Commission and Tree Board.
• Ann Lyles, Karl Sale, Preston Sale and Ken Weaver, for leading the efforts to have the Brooklyn-South Square area designated as a local historic district.
• Julius and Barbara Waggoner, for their longtime leadership and support of the North Main Street Historic District, through appearances before the Planning Board and City Council and their restoration of several houses.