DNR Awards Preservation Grants

June 13, 2012

News Release

Annual grants to strengthen Indiana’s historical and cultural heritage have been awarded for 12 projects in nine Indiana communities.

The grants total $379,839 in federal funds allotted by the DNR Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology. They will be matched by $327,012 in local and private funds, for a total projected investment of $706,851.

These projects have received final federal approval and are to start immediately. The federal funds come from the National Park Service, a part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, which distributes federal funds to the states through the Historic Preservation Fund Program. Since 1974, the state has awarded more than $17 million to Indiana communities through this program.

Projects for the 2012 funding cycle are listed below. For additional information on each project, visit dnr.IN.gov/historic/7396.htm.

Aurora: The Hillforest Historical Foundation received a $25,000 grant to assist with the rehabilitation and stabilization of the Harris Cabin, c.1821-1822, in Aurora. [Contact: Cindy Schuette, Hillforest Historical Foundation, (812) 926-0087].

Blackford County: Ball State University’s Department of Anthropology received a $49,751 grant to conduct a Phase I survey of 900 acres in Blackford County to identify and record archaeological sites and enhance understanding of the early Euro-American period. [Contact: Kevin Nolan, Ball State University, (765) 285-5328].

Carroll County: Adams Mill Inc. received a $20,000 grant to assist with the rehabilitation of the c. 1845 Adams Mill on Wildcat Creek near Cutler. [Contact: Lynn Corson, Adams Mill Inc., (765) 564-2324].

Fort Wayne: The city of Fort Wayne received a $7,488 grant to prepare a historic district nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for the Foster Park Historic District. [Contact: Don Orban, City of Fort Wayne, (260) 427-2160].

Fort Wayne: The Embassy Theatre Foundation received a $50,000 grant to rehabilitate the terra cotta on the 1928 Embassy Theatre building. [Contact: Kelly Updike, Embassy Theatre, (260) 424-6287].

Hamilton County: Ball State University received a grant for $49,981 to conduct a Phase I survey of approximately 600 acres of agricultural land and apply a new method of soil phosphate analysis to explore settlement patterns, resources management strategies, and the dynamics of culture contact during the Late Prehistoric period in Hamilton County. [Contact: Chris Keller, Ball State University, (765) 285-5328].

Hamilton County: The Archaeological Survey of IPFW received a $45,952 grant to assist with two weeks of a public archaeology program during Indiana Archaeology Month in September and six weeks of on-site field school investigations by IPFW in Strawtown Koteewi Park in Hamilton County. [Contact: Andrew Smith, IPFW, (260) 481-6194].

Jasper County: The Archaeological Survey at IPFW received a $45,898 grant to conduct a Phase I reconnaissance survey of multiple high probability archaeological locations in Jasper County. [Contact: Andrew Smith, IPFW, (260) 481-6194].

Madison: The City of Madison received a $2,300 grant to prepare a brochure that explains the philosophy, rules and procedures established by the Historic District Board of Review for the local ordinance historic district in Madison. [Contact: Camille Fife, City of Madison, (812) 274-2750].

Martinsville: The Morgan County Public Library received a $39,425 grant to replace the roof, gutters, and downspouts on the 1915 Martinsville Veterans building. [Contact: Krista Ledbetter, Morgan County Library, (765) 342-3451].

Martinsville: Bradford Woods received a $27,500 grant to stabilize and rehabilitate the 1850 Bradford House on the property of Bradford Woods in Morgan County. [Contact: Shay Dawson, Bradford Woods, (765) 342-2915].

Noblesville: The Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau received a $34,500 grant to assist with exterior rehabilitation of the c. 1849 Judge Stone House in Noblesville. [Contact: Betsy Jones, Hamilton County CVB, (317) 660-4033].

More information on the DNR Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology and the Historic Preservation Fund Program is at dnr.IN.gov/historic.

Source: Indiana Department of Natural Resources