Learning from Wabash
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MARCH/APRIL 2017 Down the Line Historic factories retooled and repurposed Saints Alive! Catholics save places of worship Learning fromWabash State Preservation Conference turns spotlight on award-winning town FROM THE PRESIDENT STARTERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eli Lilly (1885-1977), Founder OFFICERS Cheri Dick Zionsville LANDMARK LEXICON Hon. Randall T. Shepard Honorary Chairman Julie Donnell Fort Wayne James P. Fadely Chairman Jeremy D. Efroymson Inglenook Policy Priority No. 1 Indianapolis Carl A. Cook ust when you think Past Chairman Gregory S. Fehribach AS WE MOVE DEEP INTO A PERIOD of uncertainty in public poli- Indianapolis Parker Beauchamp spring has sprung in cy, preservationists across the land are rallying to protect the federal Vice Chairman Sanford E. Garner Indiana, a March snow Indianapolis Historic Tax Credit (HTC) from potential elimination. Why is this tax Marsh Davis Jand ice storm forces you President Judith A. Kanne Rensselaer credit so important that retaining it is the number one preservation Sara Edgerton back indoors. On such days, Secretary/Assistant Treasurer Christine H. Keck issue at the national level? Evansville we recommend grabbing Thomas H. Engle The HTC places historic preservation squarely in the realm of Assistant Secretary Matthew R. Mayol, AIA a good book and curling Indianapolis economic revitalization. Let’s look at the numbers: since the HTC was Brett D. McKamey up in an inglenook. The Treasurer Sharon Negele Attica name comes from “ingle”— enacted in 1981, it has incentivized the rehabilitation of over 41,000 H. Roll McLaughlin, FAIA Chairman Emeritus Cheryl Griffith Nichols Old English for fireplace. historic places, created nearly 2.3 million jobs, and leveraged more Little Rock, AR Judy A. O’Bannon Inglenooks are small, semi- than $117 billion in private investment. Secretary Emerita Martin E. Rahe Cincinnati, OH enclosed seating spaces The $24 billion cost of the program to the federal coffers has gener- J. Reid Williamson, Jr. President Emeritus James W. Renne near fireplaces that date to Distiller for a Day ated a positive return of $28.6 billion in federal revenues. The credit Newburgh medieval times, when wom- OUR RESCUE PARTY ON April 29 (see p. 18) includes a lively can’t be claimed until the work is done, which means the government DIRECTORS George A. Rogge Gary en cooking meals over the Hilary Barnes auction of unusual experiences. For example, Hotel treasuries already have received the additional tax revenue. And Indianapolis Eric Rowland hearth wanted a place to sit. Indianapolis Tango Distillery in Indianapolis will teach you the the incidental benefits are extraordinary: increase in local tax base, Katrina Basile Originally as modest as Indianapolis Doris Anne Sadler science and art of mashing, fermenting and reduction of sprawl, support for local businesses, and preservation Indianapolis Elaine E. Bedel wooden benches, ingle- distilling. The full day session for up to six Indianapolis Matthew G. Stegall of historic community character. Without the HTC, so many of the Richmond nooks over time grew people (assemble a group to bid!) includes Steven Campbell more sophisticated in rehabilitation projects that have transformed cities and towns across Indianapolis Brad Toothaker lunch at the historic facility, cocktails at the South Bend America simply would not have been possible. Edward D. Clere design, morphing into end and, best of all, your own 5-gallon bar- New Albany Jane T. Walker The current threat to the HTC is real. I’ve spoken with members of Indianapolis inviting built-in fea- rel of whiskey or gin that Hotel Tango will tures rather than mere- Congress who, ignoring the positive returns generated by the HTC, age and bottle. believe that eliminating tax credits will somehow lead to lower taxes OFFICES & HISTORIC SITES ly a cook’s convenience. The sitting room of the © HIPSTORICAL.COM PHOTOS and thus to an increase in charitable support for historic preserva- Headquarters Southeast Field Office Indiana Landmarks Center Aurora 1920s Le Fer Residence Hall tion. My deeply understated response—unlikely. 1201 Central Avenue 812 926 0983 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Here in Indiana, the condition of cherished places—the West Baden Indianapolis, IN 46202 Southwest Field Office [email protected] Evansville College near Terre Haute Springs Hotel, Charlie Creek Inn in Wabash, Kokomo YMCA, Hinkle 317 639 4534 812 423 2988 800 450 4534 boasts a cozy inglenook, the ALERT! Fieldhouse, and countless other landmarks—would be quite different Western Regional Office Northwest Field Office Terre Haute perfect place to while away a Gary 812 232 4534 Indiana Landmarks without the HTC. Since you’re a member of Indiana Landmarks who 219 947 2657 winter day. cares about preserving historic places, I hope you’ll join the non-par- Huddleston Farmhouse begs you to contact Central Regional Office Cambridge City Indianapolis 765 478 3172 your congressional $ tisan campaign to protect the federal Historic Tax Credit. Please go to 317 639 4534 million Morris-Butler House representative and 737 bit.ly/takeactionhtc for information on how you can help. Eastern Regional Office Indianapolis in private investment Cambridge City 317 639 4534 ask him or her to leveraged from $147.4 765 478 3172 Veraestau retain rather than million in tax credits 235 Northern Regional Office Aurora buildings South Bend 812 926 0983 rehabilitated 574 232 4534 eliminate the federal French Lick and West Northeast Field Office Historic Tax Credit Marsh Davis, President Baden Springs tours Wabash 866 571 8687 (toll-free) (see facing page). 800 450 4534 812 936 5870 $ Southern Regional Office Here’s a look at the 3,487 million Jeffersonville impact of the credit housing units average3.7 project Wabash, a city on a revitalizing roll, offers an instructive setting for 812 284 4534 created or size using the the statewide preservation conference, April 25-28, with a diverse in Indiana from On the ©2017, Indiana Landmarks; ISSN#: 0737-8602 agenda of talks, workshops, tours, and meals in interesting historic rehabilitated credit Cover Indiana Landmarks publishes Indiana Preservation bimonthly 2000 to 2016. places. PHOTO BY LEE LEWELLEN for members. To join and learn other membership benefits, TOMMY KLECKNER visit indianalandmarks.org or contact memberships@ SOURCE: INDIANA DIVISION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ARCHAEOLOGY indianalandmarks.org, 317-639-4534 or 800-450-4534. To offer suggestions forIndiana Preservation, contact editor@ indianalandmarks.org. 2 INDIANA PRESERVATION REHABBED one parish, the churches operate much as they have in the past, each offering a mass on the weekend, and hosting baptisms, weddings, and funerals. “People were not so much against becoming one community,” says Father Meyer. “They were against seeing these buildings being demol- ished or sold and not maintained.” All four buildings were restored within an astonishing six months, thanks to countless hours of volun- teer work by parishioners from each congregation. Using funds already earmarked for upkeep and asking parishioners for donations, All Saints raised nearly $250,000. “We wanted to boldly communicate who we are and who Father Johnathan gels above the altar, returning a beloved we want to be,” says Father Meyer. “There’s no bolder commu- Meyer (above) pro- feature lost when the originals were posed the alterna- nication than putting our money where our mouth is.” tive that saved four painted over years ago. Though they Each of the churches received a new paint scheme, stark historic churches aren’t the same in location or design, contrasts to the neutral palettes introduced in the last third of dating from 1837 the new angels are a particular favorite the twentieth century. St. Paul’s—at 1837, one of the oldest to 1917 in southeast among parishioners old enough to Indiana. While the Catholic churches in the state— now features three shades congregation of remember the originals. of blue and brick red highlighting ceiling arches and ribs. St. Joseph (above, Opened in 1917, Yorkville’s St. Consolidation Saves Landmark Churches Remnants of the historic communion rail appear as part of the right) in St. Leon Martin is the youngest of the churches, altar and ambo. The church got new inlaid hardwood floors. A merged with three a distinction evident in its classical de- others to form DECLINING MEMBERSHIP HAS St. Paul Catholic The news caused an uproar, including petitions to the parishioner with an art degree repainted statues. All Saints, all four sign. The refreshed paint scheme high- forced archdioceses across the nation Church in Vatican. Father Johnathan Meyer suggested an alternative to Parishioners chose a similar palette to enliven the interior of churches were re- lights the many Austrian stained-glass New Alsace, a to consolidate or close many Catholic keep the congregations active in their own communities. He St. John in Dover, built in 1874. Workers painted the ceiling stored as campuses windows added to the church in 1929. Dearborn County of the united parish. parishes. In some cases it’s been the death parish that faced convinced the bishop to allow the four churches to remain open a shade of blue also used at St. Paul. In fact, the color repeats PHOTOS BY JARRAD Renovations at St. Martin also included knell for historic churches, impressive closure, was and active, and also to restore each of the four historic churches, through all four churches, lending a sense of unity to the new HOLBROOK new paint for the Lourdes Grotto and structures built to house much larger instead restored located just miles apart. Though now viewed as campuses of All Saints parish. All the churches received upgrades to floors, frames for the Stations of the Cross. (above, “before” congregations. The closing scenario was at right) and lighting, and sound systems. All four churches unveiled their set to unfold in southeast Indiana for four remains in use At St.