Grants to help preserve state’s history
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) – The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has awarded 14 federal Historic Preservation Fund grants totaling more than $480,000. The grants will support historic preservation and archaeology projects in Indiana.
The DNR says the grants require a dollar-for-dollar match for a total estimated investment of $929,000 in cultural resource projects.
Funding comes from the National Park Service, a unit of the U.S. Department of the Interior, which distributes federal funds to the states through its HPF Program.
A list of of the projects can be found below:
The Powers Church and Cemetery Association in Angola will receive a $25,000 grant to rehabilitate the bell tower and steeple of the 1876 wood-frame church. The work will include inspecting and reinforcing the structural portion of the tower and steeple, and repairing damaged and rotted woodwork that clads the steeple and bell tower.
The Monroe County government in Bloomington will receive a $49,850 matching grant to rehabilitate the Alexander Memorial on the grounds of the Monroe County Courthouse. The work will include cleaning the historic limestone elements of environmental staining as well as organic growth, and repointing all mortar joints.
The Friends of Camp Chesterfield will receive $11,500 to rehabilitate the Koch Cottage. The work will include exterior rehabilitation activities in order to halt water and animal infiltration, repair damaged and deteriorated features, and finish securing the building envelope.
The DeKalb County commissioners will receive $50,000 to assist with rehabilitating the Spencerville Covered Bridge. The work consists of jacking the bridge up from the abutments to access its lower members, repair and partial replacement of the four ends of the lower chords, repair or replacement for the bolster beams at the four corners, and replacement of the top layer of decking and the bottom layer of transverse decking.
The city of Fort Wayne will receive a $50,000 matching grant to assist with rehabilitation of the ironwork on the Wells Street Bridge. Work will include the restoration of decorative cast iron elements that have deteriorated, cracked and broken, resulting in loss of many of the pieces that have been shed and posing a safety hazard for users.
The city of Fort Wayne will also receive a $3,020 matching grant to nominate the Beechwood Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places.
The city of Huntington will receive a $20,000 grant to prepare rehabilitation plans for the Memorial Park Water Race. The project will use HPF funds to hire a professional engineering firm to evaluate the current condition of the stone race and develop plans for appropriate rehabilitation.
The Indianapolis Propylaeum will receive a $48,465 grant for masonry rehabilitation on the original carriage house of the Schmidt-Schaf home. Masonry deterioration has resulted in water infiltration that has damaged interior spaces and left parts of the building unfit for use or occupancy.
The Twin Lakes School Corp. in Monticello will receive $26,558 to address foundation issues at its historic administration building, which was once Southside School. The brick Romanesque Revival-style structure has some masonry deterioration and water infiltration issues due to ponding, improper water runoff and settling of the foundation. Work includes rehabilitating the masonry foundation and addressing guttering and runoff issues that have exacerbated brick masonry deterioration.
Ball State University’s Applied Anthropology Laboratories will receive $49,999 for an archaeological survey at portions of Morgan-Monroe State Forest. The project will conduct a survey of about 60 acres in the vicinity of two Civilian Conservation Corps camps. The project will fully delineate the extent of the camps and document any archaeological features.
Cornerstone Center for the Arts in Muncie will receive a $37,100 grant to stabilize and rehabilitate the exterior masonry of the six-story Tudor Gothic Revival style Masonic Temple. The building is currently home to the Cornerstone Center for the Arts.
The Floyd County Historical Society in New Albany will receive $10,000 for masonry rehabilitation on the William Young House. The brick residence now houses the Floyd County Historical Society’s Padgett Museum. The project consists of masonry rehabilitation to stabilize the west and south sides of the building.
The University of Indianapolis in Tippecanoe County will receive a $49,998 grant for an archaeological survey at Prophetstown State Park.
The city of Vincennes will receive a $50,000 grant to continue window rehabilitation on its Beaux Arts style police department building, which was originally the town’s post office. For this project, 25 original windows will be rehabilitated, and wood replacement units will be fabricated for five vinyl windows.