Since the 1970s, the Wilkins family has used their collective vision to, quite literally, change the very landscape of Baldwin County. Today, their name goes hand in hand with historic preservation - and for good reason. Over the years, they have purchased, relocated and rehabilitated numerous historic structures. Without their efforts, beautiful and significant places would no longer exist. Judy Richardson Wilkins, from Bogalusa, La., was raised in a historic home. Her parents regularly took her on historic home tours. She fell in love with preservation. Her other love is husband Taylor D. "Red" Wilkins, a former football player for the University of Alabama (under Coach Bear Bryant) and Denver Broncos. When she and Red married and began their family, they purchased a 1907 Creole cottage in Bay Minette, the town where he grew up. While the couple worked on their cottage, the ball got rolling with the renovation of Red's law firm, in what was then the circa 1940s Trailways bus station. "Red had loved that building, every since he was young," says Judy. "Then, one day, we saw a 'for sale' sign up. It had fallen into disrepair, and for us, that was it. We took it on, original grease rack and all." After what amounted to a wholesale renovation of the station, there was no stopping the family. STATE BANK BUILDING TO FAIRHOPE COTTAGES After revitalizing the bus station, Judy found a Fifth Street cottage, which she lovingly restored. Then, in the 1980s, the State Bank Building, another of Red's Robertsdale favorites, became available. They renovated the historic commercial structure, and it has since been awarded a banner and shield from the Baldwin County Historical Commission. (Judy is a board member of the organization.) Coastal cottages and homes on South Summit, Orange and Nelson streets, in Fairhope, grabbed Judy's attention. Two recent projects include The Captain's House and The Cottage, which she relocated on Nelson Street, in 2005. She, her husband, son, Taylor, and daughter, Elizabeth, did the renovation. Judy adds with excitement that her current pet is the Loxley Hotel, circa 1900, which will be repurposed into office space. As she talks about her passion for preservation, Judy reflects, "We are caretakers for all of these historic structures. We need to save them, so others might take heart and get inspired. Maybe then, next time, they'll stop before tearing down an old building. They might say, 'Wait a minute. I can make this great.' If we lose our historic homes and downtowns that visually tell us about our history, we, as a community, risk losing our heart and soul." When asked about his wife and her legendary finds, Red, with admiration, says, "Well, that Judy, she's just fearless." LIKE PARENTS, LIKE SON Taylor D. Wilkins III echoes the sentiments of his parents. After working with them on various homes over the past 16 years, he recently completed some of his own independent projects. Successes include renovations in Magnolia Springs, Silverhill, Fairhope and Stockton. "The best part is getting down to the natural woods, taking a home back as close to the original as you can get, down to the good bones. Unraveling the beauty of each structure is just fantastic," he says. Taylor, husband of Julie Hyman Wilkins, and father of their toddler son, Tate, is a self-described "weekend home renovator." It is amazing what he can accomplish part-time. His most recent venture is Aiken Creek Farms, in Stockton. Working with Bill Williams, he moved a 1920s house, which originally belonged to the Bryant family, to a country spot of 125 acres. "Working with these historic buildings is like a good mystery, or mental challenge," says Taylor. "You never know what you might find." LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT Taking something no one else would give the time of day and showing just how beautiful it can be, with a little hard work, offers a feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment, according to the Wilkins. But they add that historic preservation is not just bricks and mortar mixed with elbow grease. As Taylor notes, "It's a way to save a part of the very fabric of a community and, as a result, revitalize the community and those who live in it." MOVING HISTORY William James Williams ("Bill"), of Williams House Movers, in Atmore, took over the business from his father, Chester, in 1968. "I've probably moved about 2,500 historic structures - log cabins, houses (including the old L&N Railroad workers' homes), churches, locomotive cabooses, grain bins, and the like," he says. "One of the largest structures was the Bay Minette train depot. My own house," he adds, "is an old train depot from Canoe, Ala., It dates to the early 1900s." Bill, and his five- to six-man team, play a vital role in the Wilkins' historic efforts. He and the Wilkins family give the same advice: "Before you just tear down something, look at all of your options. See if you can move the structure. You know, saving these houses can really help folks get a place they can afford instead of trying to find or build a brand new home." Image information: TOP: The family's home in Bay Minette was the Wilkins' first undertaking. But, says Judy, "Each house has my heart. I put love into every inch of fixing them up. They're all my favorites, really." LEFT: The 1920s Bryant house, with its generous porch and bead board ceilings, now sits nestled amid a rural landscape, teeming with natural beauty. MIDDLE: Rich, caramel-colored heart pine floors, restored by Taylor, glow in sunlight. RIGHT: Neighbors David Ryan and fiance Holley Bedford live in a relocated historic home in the ideal spot situated between two grand live oaks in Fairhope.