Public comments are sought regarding historic preservation projects tentatively expected to receive federal financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) program for FY 2021.
The DNR Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (DHPA), which administers the program for the state, asks that those who wish to be a consulting party or provide public comments for any of the proposed projects contact the DHPA by May 10.
These tentative projects are anticipated to begin this spring and be completed by June 30, 2022.
The HPF subgrant program assists publicly owned or private not-for-profit properties that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places by providing grant money for preservation and rehabilitation activities. The purpose of these projects is to repair, preserve, and rehabilitate the respective property in ways that are historically appropriate and sensitive, and that maintain or enhance the viability and integrity of the resource.
An investment of HPF money means the projects are considered a federal undertaking; therefore, consulting parties can comment on the project under the National Historic Preservation Act. The proposed scope of work has been reviewed by DHPA and determined to meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Historic properties, meaning they will have no adverse effect on historic properties.
Public comments or requests to be a consulting party should be sent to Indiana DHPA, Attention HPF Grant Staff, 402 W. Washington St., Room W274, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or emailed to mvanaman@dnr.IN.gov. Those seeking to be a consulting party should specify the respective project, so that DHPA can provide them with the respective scope of work, maps, and photographs for review.
Proposed Rehabilitation Projects
- Indianapolis (Marion County): A grant to the Athenaeum Foundation will assist with the masonry rehabilitation on the main (north) façade of the Athenaeum building.
- Indianapolis (Marion County): A grant to the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site will assist with exterior rehabilitation priorities for the President Benjamin Harrison home National Historic Landmark.
- Indianapolis (Marion County): A grant to The Children’s Museum will assist with rehabilitation of 27 historic wood windows on the first floor of the Schnull-Rauch House.
- Lafayette (Tippecanoe County): A grant to the St. James Lutheran Church and School will assist with exterior rehabilitation and preservation of the St. James Lutheran School.
- Kokomo (Howard County): A grant to the Howard County Historical Society will assist a project to stabilize and rehabilitate the porte cochere at the Seiberling Mansion.
- New Albany (Floyd County): A grant to the Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana and the City of New Albany will assist with rehabilitating the windows throughout 1852 two-story Crawford-Day-Moosmiller House, which now serves as home to the Arts Alliance.
- Mary-of-the-Woods College (Vigo County): A grant to the St. Mary-of-the-Woods College will assist with rehabilitation of the Conservatory of Music on the college’s campus.
- New Harmony (Posey County): A grant to the Working Men’s Institute will assist with replacing the current clay tile roof with a historically appropriate slate roof on the 1894 building.
- South Bend (St. Joseph County): A grant to the City of South Bend will assist with needed repairs for the shelter at the Walker Field Park.
Proposed Archaeology Projects
- Noble County: Ball State University will receive a grant to conduct an archaeological survey at Chain O’Lakes State Park. This survey will be focused in the area of a presumed American Indian village north of Bowen Lake, and surrounding the extant foundation of the historic era (c. 1910) Mulberry School with a geophysical survey.
- Jay County: Ball State University will receive a grant to conduct an archaeological survey at the Loblolly Nature Preserve in the Limberlost Swamp Conservation Area, and parts of the White Oak Cemetery, also owned by the state.