Preservation Society to celebrate Putnam County's proud heritage

Friday, March 23, 2012

The Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County will celebrate local history and heritage with its annual meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 28.

Since its inception, the Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County (HPS) has existed with the purpose of preserving that heritage for the understanding and appreciation of those living here today and in the future.

Each year HPS convenes an open annual meeting for the purpose of reviewing the previous year's activities, electing new board members and communicating future plans. The annual meeting also helps build public interest in joining the society in its purpose of heritage preservation.

The meeting, which will include a reception, will be conducted in the Putnam County Museum at 1105 N. Jackson St., Greencastle

Members are encouraged to bring guests. All those interested in learning more about HPS and becoming members are invited to attend.

Guest speaker John Warner of Indianapolis will discuss the architectural fabric of Putnam County's three newly listed National Register Historic Districts.

Warner was enlisted by HPS to prepare applications for the three districts to be considered for listing on the National Registry of Historic Places. His thorough work and study of the properties in these districts was paramount in the successful listing of the Old Greencastle District, the Eastern Enlargement District and the Northwood District during 2011.

The document preparation for the application process was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service's Historic Preservation Fund administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.

The National Register listing is a rigorous process. Nominations must clearly demonstrate that a neighborhood is historically significant. Studies have shown that such listing generally encourages both current residents and future residents to preserve the historic fabric of the neighborhood.

National Register status makes tax credits available to owners of contributing properties and makes it easier to market the neighborhood to people who want to invest in a historic community.

A 1984 county survey acknowledges the potential of listing additional historic districts in the communities of Bainbridge, Cloverdale, Fillmore, Putnamville, Roachdale and Russellville. Those potential districts contain similar historical elements to many of those in the Greencastle districts.

Listing historical districts on the National Register of Historic Places can aid in furthering the preservation of architectural heritage and fosters pride of place, benefiting a community further both aesthetically and economically.

For additional info on the annual meeting or the Preservation Society, persons may call 653-4513 or 522-1430.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: