our architectural conservators
While growing up in Fredericksburg, Virginia, John Ecker developed a lifelong passion for 18th-century architecture. His career spans over twenty-five years, beginning under the mentorship of his father, Fred Ecker, at Tidewater Preservation. He was immersed in his family's stewardship of Stage Harbor Lighthouse on Cape Cod from an early age and guided by Fred throughout his formative years. This foundational mentorship instilled in him a deep reverence for original architectural character, patience, and a philosophy of uncompromising craftsmanship.
To complement his practical background, John completed specialized training at various trade schools, mastering traditional building arts such as joinery, masonry, timber framing, and historic roofing. His technical expertise encompasses stone conservation, decorative plaster restoration, and general preservation carpentry. Throughout his tenure with Tidewater, he contributed to the preservation of several nationally significant properties, including Monticello, Kenmore Plantation, the Owens-Thomas House, and Stratford Hall.
Following his father's retirement in 2015, John partnered with Gregory Jacobs to co-found Landmark Preservation LLC, where he directed on-site project management and delivered hands-on restoration solutions. Under their guidance, the firm quickly became renowned for its exceptional standard of craftsmanship. Driven by a passion to build something of his own, John launched his own venture, XIII Conservators, where he continues to safeguard historic structures and monuments using his extensive knowledge of traditional materials and assemblies, from masonry to historic metalwork.
John's work reflects innovation at every turn. He developed a meticulous testing and color-matching system to ensure repairs stay true to a building's original structure, and applies that same careful analysis throughout all of his work, tailoring methods to each surface's unique materials and condition. His restoration work shows consistent skill with notoriously difficult materials like tabby, and he's developed a custom approach to mold-making and casting for architectural elements. This allows for precise reproduction of details that would otherwise be impossible to source. John approaches each of these areas with the same instinct to use the best methods possible to preserve a building's original character.
John Ecker, Owner-Conservator
Glen Mary Plantation (c. 1848) — Sparta, GA — Decorative Plaster Restoration
Awards from Landmark Preservation Partnership
As a founding partner of Landmark Preservation, John has helped to provide trusted expertise and craftsmanship in the historic preservation field. The following projects are the most noteworthy awards from projects that he was directly involved in during his 11 year partnership.
2026
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Chairman’s Award
Historic Savannah Foundation
Excellence in Stewardship
Forsyth Park Fountain, Savannah, GA
2026
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Excellence in Preservation
Historic Savannah Foundation
Excellence in Craftsmanship
Lucas Theatre for the Arts, Savannah, GA
2020
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Excellence in Restoration
Historic Savannah Foundation
Preservation Award
Owen’s Thomas Museum House, Savannah GA
2025
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Excellence in Preservation
2024: Historic Savannah Foundation
Preservation Award
Scottish Rite Temple, Savannah, GA
2021
Historic Savannah Foundation
Preservation Award
Ward Mausoleum, Laurel Grove North Cemetery, Savannah, GA
2018
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Excellence in Rehabilitation
2015: Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Excellence in Preservation Service
Harrington School, St. Simons Island, GA
2018
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Excellence in Restoration
Cassina Garden Club Tabby Cabins, St. Simons Island, GA
2016
Historic Savannah Foundation
Preservation Award
Telfair Academy, Savannah GA
2015
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Excellence in Restoration
St. Simon’s Lighthouse Keepers’s Dwelling, St. Simons Island, GA
Jones/Lawton Mausoleum (1851) — Savannah, GA — Marble Cladding Repair
Highlighted Past Projects
Forsyth Park Fountain (c. 1858) — Savannah, GA — Complete Restoration
Verdere Mausoleum, Laurel Grove South Cemetery — Savannah, GA — Complete Restoration
Stage Harbor Lighthouse (c. 1880) — Chatham, MA — Plaster and Exterior Restoration
Marsh Farm (c. 1770) — Yarmouth Port, MA — Facade Repairs
Westview Abbey and Mausoleum (c. 1943) — Atlanta GA — Comprehensive Exterior Cleaning and Restoration
Telfair Academy of Arts & Sciences (c. 1830/1887) — Savannah, GA — Complete Exterior Restoration, Interior Finishes, Marble Plaque Restoration, Cast Stone Busts Restoration
Scottish Rite Building (c. 1923) — Savannah, GA — Complete Exterior Restoration (Terra Cotta, Brick, Marble, Windows, Doors)
Conrad Aiken House (c. 1855) — Savannah, GA — Front Elevation Restoration and Stoop Reconstruction
Madison City Hall (c. 1935) — Madison, GA — Complete Exterior Restoration Including Masonry, Windows, Doors and Cornice
Streamliner Diner (c. 1936) — Savannah, GA — Stained Glass Window Restoration
Salzburger House (c. 1840) — Ebeneezer, GA — Window Restoration and Structural Repairs
Savannah City Hall (c. 1905) — Savannah, GA — Restoration of Third Floor Interior Including All Systems and Finishes
Strain Building Rehabilitation (c. 1820) — Darien, GA — Complete Restoration & Rehabilitation of Tabby and Brick Structure
Harrington School (c. 1926) — St. Simons Island, GA — Full Restoration
Savannah & Ogeechee Canal Society (c. 1835) — Savannah, GA — Conservation of Lock #3, Lock #5, and Lock #6
Hamilton Slave Cabins (c. 1830) — St. Simons Island, GA — Full Restoration
Savannah Cotton Exchange (c. 1883) — Savannah, GA — Historic Plaster Repair
Glen Mary Plantation (c. 1840) — Sparta, GA — Decorative Plaster Fabrication and Installation
St. Mary’s Whitechapel (c. 1730) — Lancaster, VA — Selective Repointing and Pattress Plate Repair
Bergen Hall (c. 1926) — Savannah, GA — Comprehensive Exterior Masonry Repair
Cold Harbor Battlefield Monument (c. 1920) — Richmond, VA — Stone Monument Repair
St. Simons Lighthouse Keeper’s Dwelling (c. 1860) — St. Simons Island, GA — Full Restoration
St. Simons Coast Guard Station (c. 1936) — St. Simons Island, GA — Comprehensive Restoration and Rehabilitation
Monticello (c. 1796) – Charlottesville, VA — Plaster Restoration and Joinery Chimney Assessment
Poetter Hall, Old Guard Armory (c. 1892) — Savannah, GA — Comprehensive Exterior Repair and Restoration, Restoration of Significant Interior Staircase
Ward Mausoleum (c. 1850’s) Laurel Grove North Cemetery — Savannah, GA — Masonry Restoration
Tamassee DAR School Gymnasium & Auditorium (c. 1951) — Tamassee, SC — Window Restoration, Door Restoration
Meadow Garden (c. 1792) — Augusta, GA — Window Restoration, Porch Restoration, Roof and Dormer Restoration
Mercer House (c. 1868) — Savannah, GA — Restoration of Damaged Cast Iron Fencing
Pei Ling Chan Gallery (c. 1928) — Savannah, GA — Cast Stone Repair
Nathanael Greene Monument (c. 1830) — Savannah, GA — Cleaning and Conservation
Gordon Monument (c. 1883) — Savannah, GA — Cleaning and Conservation
SS Savannah Plaques (c. 1996) — Savannah, GA — Stripping and Refinishing
Richard Arnold Plot at Bonaventure Cemetery (c. 1876) — Savannah, GA — Perimeter Wall Reconstruction, Re-setting of Headstones, Marble Cleaning
Conservation of Historic Cemeteries Annual Contract, City of Savannah — Savannah, GA — Conservation of Monuments in Savannah’s Historic Cemeteries.
Bonaventure Visitors Center (c. 1926) — Savannah, GA — Porch Reconstruction
Laurel Grove Cemetery Caretaker’s Dwelling (c. 1890) — Savannah, GA — Window Restoration
Owens-Thomas House (c. 1819) — Savannah, GA — Stucco Conservation, Plaster Conservation, HVAC Replacement, Forecourt Balustrade Conservation, Window Restoration and Shutter Restoration
Pepe Hall (c. 1930) — Savannah, GA — Masonry Repair
Magnolia Hall (c. 1888) — Savannah, GA — Parquet Floor Repair, Sub-grade Waterproofing and Masonry Repairs
Smithfield Cottage (c. 1892) — Savannah, GA — Chimney Repair and Reconstruction
Jones/Lawton Mausoleum (c. 1851) — Savannah, GA — Marble Cladding Repair
Lai Wa Hall (c. 1877) — Savannah, GA — Restoration of Cast Stone Balustrade, General Repointing
Lucas Theatre for the Arts (c. 1921) — Savannah, GA — Repair of Damaged Decorative Plaster
Ford Bakery (c. 1941) — Richmond Hill, GA — Complete Restoration
Juliette Gordon Low House (c. 1818) — Savannah, GA — Plaster Repair and Paint
106 West Jones Street (c. 1854) — Savannah, GA — Brownstone Sill and Lintel Repairs
Ruskin Hall (c. 1950) — Savannah, GA — Exterior Masonry and Window Repair
Ways Family Mausoleum (c. 1852) — Savannah, GA — Comprehensive Exterior Masonry Repair
Hamilton Hall (c. 1894) — Savannah, GA — Masonry and Window Repairs
Savannah City Hall (c. 1906) — Savannah, GA — “The Savannah” and “The John Randolph” Bronze Plaque Re-patination
Moravian Monument (c. 1933) — Savannah, GA — Granite Repair, Bronze Plaque Re-patination
Thrifty Hardware Complex (c. 1889) — Savannah, GA — Restoration of Two Historic Metal and Glass Skylights
Clark Hall (c. 1887) — Savannah, GA — Comprehensive Exterior Repair and Restoration