NATCHEZ — When Trevor Brown hears Natchez mentioned in the same sentence as other cities known for their historic architecture, history and preservation, the Baton Rouge native knows he’s in the right place.

Brown was hired two years ago as the deputy director of The Historic Natchez Foundation and is considered to be the next generation of historic preservation in Natchez.

Brown had worked at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s Gulf Coast office since 2006, and under former HNF foundation executive director Ron Miller in that office since 2008, preserving buildings damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“I knew of Natchez, because it’s always in the same vain as some of the towns we know for architecture and historic preservation like New Orleans or Savannah, (Ga.),” Brown said. “But I first really discovered Natchez when Ron was hired for the Gulf Coast job. As part of that, he was very generous in opening up and having all of us from the office come and visit.”

It was during the first of four trips to Natchez that Brown was introduced to the HNF and met Mimi Miller, Ron’s wife and HNF executive director.

“I had worked with Ron before, but they’re both just encyclopedias of information, and I knew I wanted to come in and be under the tutelage of Mimi,” Brown said. “They have set a very high standard here, and I wanted to come in and be a part of that, but getting to work with someone like Mimi is something I certainly appreciate about this job.”

Brown earned his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Southern Mississippi and his master’s in historic preservation at the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2006.

Preserving and restoring historic buildings, Brown said, combined his long-time interest in history with a desire to work with people.

“I knew I didn’t want to sit behind a desk all day,” Brown said. “So I got into construction and then I knew there was something that could combine the two things.”

While working on the coast for MDAH, Brown oversaw up 20 projects at once at his job preserving buildings in Hancock County in Biloxi.

The experience was one Brown said he’ll always remember, but the HNF position was one he couldn’t pass up when it was offered.

“I think they were looking for the next generation, so to speak,” Brown said. “I think it was important to the foundation and to Mimi that they didn’t want to bring in a, for a lack of a better term, ‘Old Guard’ who was only going to be around four or five years and then retire.”

Brown has worked on several projects with the HNF since his arrival in 2012, but said the work to help preserve Holy Family Catholic Church has been one of his favorites.

The church received a grant for $169,500 through the MDAH, which was matched with $42,500 the church raised.

The first phase of the project included work to the steeple masonry, repainting the metal steeple roof and replacing parts of the cast stone of the steeple’s exterior.

The second phase of the project, which has yet to begin, will include interior sanctuary painting.

The project, Brown said, combined historic preservation and interaction with the people behind the building’s historical significance.

“I don’t know if it’s a rule or what, but you always find the most eclectic, interesting people that live in or are involved with these historic places,” Brown said. “You get to meet and deal with every strata of society with this job, and that, to me, makes this a great line of work to be in.”

MDAH Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Ken P’Pool has worked with Ron and Mimi for many years and said the work the foundation has done has been critical in preserving Natchez’s history.

But the foundation’s efforts would mean less, P’Pool said, if there was no one left to continue what Ron and Mimi started.

“You have organizations like the foundation that are good for the community and have stamina in that they’re long lasting organizations, but frequently they don’t have as much impact as they could have because for some reason they’re not able to attract or keep the staff with the right abilities,” P’Pool said. “Natchez has been extremely fortunate in having Ron and Mimi and now to have Trevor.”

Looking to the future of the foundation, Brown said one of the most important projects would be the preservation of the foundation’s headquarters, The Natchez Institute.

The foundation agreed to be the caretaker for Adams County Courthouse’s records in 1992, which are now stored in the downstairs portion of the building.

Brown said maintaining the records, while also continuing to assist in historic preservation projects, is a pivotal balancing act for the foundation.

“The vision of what this organization will be 20 years from now could be changing,” Brown said. “Yes, we’ll be an archive for those records and more, but we hope to eventually have some museum space in the building.

“That’s a very long-term goal, and we’ll have to do that while also juggling all the things that help us keep the doors open.”

The uncertainty that’s ahead of Brown and the foundation is what makes the job enjoyable and unique.

“There are not many jobs like what I get to do here at Historic Natchez Foundation, because every day is a different day,” Brown said. “Every day brings a new challenge, and you never know what it’s going to be.

“To get to do what I do in a town like Natchez is great because there are few opportunities to work in a place that has this much cultural and historical significance.”