DAR honors Gick for preservation accomplishments

Friday, December 15, 2017
Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE Phil Gick, winner of the 2017 DAR Historic Preservation Award from the Washburn Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, accepts his award from Jinsie Bingham during a ceremony this week at the Putnam County Public Library.

For his notable efforts in preserving local heritage -- from monuments to neighborhoods to his own home -- Phil Gick has been presented the 2017 DAR Historic Preservation Award while earning a new nickname along the way.

Gick received the award from Greencastle’s Washburn Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, represented by Jinsie Bingham, who dubbed him “Mr. Putnam County Preservationist” at the outset of the 2017 DAR Good Citizen program at the Putnam County Public Library.

“As a leader of the Putnam County Heritage Preservation Society, Phil has worked miracles,” Bingham began. “He has recruited active members to the board of that group, folks who pitch in and get the job done.”

Gick retired from a distinguished military career, “came home to Greencastle and went to work,” Bingham stressed.

Not only did she call him “Mr. Preservationist,” Bingham also referred to Gick as a visionary.

“He sees things that need to be done,” she said, and he gets them done.

“He dreams big and makes those dreams come true,” Bingham added.

That certainly has been evident in establishing the historic districts in Greencastle’s residential areas and the work Gick has under way now in the other Putnam County towns.

Along with another preservationist of note, Lee Stewart, he has led efforts to raise funding for the new courthouse clocks, which now chime as a reminder of our past and their perseverance.

Meanwhile, the restoration of his historic Italianate home on Washington Street, Sunny Hill, is a beautiful work in progress, Bingham noted.

“While all that has been going on,” she noted, “he did the paperwork and legwork to get Forest Hill Cemetery listed on the National Register of Historic Places. And that designation enabled Gick and the Heritage Preservation Society to work with state, local and national agencies to get the funding to restore our beloved Civil War soldier monument at Forest Hill.

“Several locals donated matching funds to get the project completed,” Bingham continued,”and we certainly want to thank all those folks, but Phil has been the one to make things happen.”

After being presented with the award, Gick said he was “honored and a little uncomfortable” at getting public recognition for his efforts.

“I know when something gets accomplished, you don’t get it done alone,” he humbly reasoned.

“Well, thank you for leading the way,” Bingham quickly responded.

“Phil Gick is Mr. Putnam County Preservationist,” she said. “Let’s thank him for that.”

Gick is the ninth recipient of the Washburn Chapter’s award for historic preservation.

Among the previous winners have been author John Baughman for his essays about local historic events and people; Larry Tippin for cemetery restorations; James Cooper, the iron bridge expert; Malcolm Romine for tales of old-time community life in Putnam County; John and Carolyn Carson for preserving Greencastle High School memorabilia; Kim and Tim Shinn for the restoration of the Dr. Zaring house at Vine and Poplar streets; the City of Greencastle and DePauw University for the Stellar Grant cooperation and all the good that has become of it; and Lee and Susan Stewart for their attention to Putnamville heritage.

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  • Congratulations to Phil. This is a well-deserved honor.

    -- Posted by CarolynCarson on Mon, Dec 18, 2017, at 1:01 PM
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