Caravati’s Architectural Salvage, the family-owned showroom for unique and lovingly restored architectural pieces, is being recognized for breathing new life into the historic 201 England Street location.
The Art McKinney Historic Preservation Award is awarded to businesses and property owners who have demonstrated good stewardship of Downtown Ashland’s historic structures. Caravati’s rehabilitating and repurposing of a building that has graced Ashland’s main street for over 100 years is deserving of this award.
The site was originally home to the Rawlings Motor Company in 1921. Following a fire in 1931, the location was rebuilt by Burley Pollard Loving and renamed the Loving Motor Company in 1936. The building was passed on to Burley’s daughters, Elizabeth Lee Loving Miller and Beverly Loving Vaughan, who have since passed it on to his granddaughters.
After a few years where it served as a consignment clothing store, Jimmy and Elaine Kastelberg started dreaming of Ashland as the new home for their famous architectural salvage business. Caravati's co-owner Ben Kastelberg explained, “We were very fortunate to be introduced to the owners through a relative. It was the Loving Family who were so gracious to work with us and tailor the renovation to our needs. The old Loving Ford Motor Company building fits our aesthetic so well, and it is a pleasure to occupy.”
Caravati’s officially opened in 2021 following extensive improvements to the historic building. Now celebrating two years in the Center of the Universe, Caravati’s uses the restored space to provide more than just architectural salvage.
“Caravati’s has been a family business for 84 years and it has been my life’s mission to continue, as it was my father’s and great grandfather’s before me.”
“The showroom is a space where people who are unaware of our mission can browse and learn how old building materials can be repurposed,” Ben explains. “I hope that this award will increase awareness about what we do and why preserving historic building materials is so important to us.”
Originally located in the City of Richmond, the local family business is well known across our region for unique and expertly restored architectural pieces. Upon moving to Ashland, Caravati’s expanded its showroom and restoration services.
The company provides high-quality antique and vintage architectural pieces salvaged from historic buildings, including hardware, woodwork, wrought iron, brick, lighting, and more. For Ben Kastelberg, the business’s mission is even more personal. “Caravati's has been a family business for 84 years and it has been my life's mission to continue, as it was my father's and great grandfather's before me.”
The Ashland Museum and the Downtown Ashland Association welcome guests to a presentation of the Art McKinney Historic Preservation Stewardship Award at Caravati’s Architectural Salvage on June 21 starting at 5:30 PM. Following the award, guests are invited inside for a discussion of the business’s history.