Indiana Historic Architecture Blog

Crown Point Indiana is Named "Hidden Gem"

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:37:29 -0500

Crown Point Indiana has been named one of the five regions in the United States that is "a great place to live, work and play" by the TV series "Today in America," announced Crown Point Mayor David Uran on August 21, 2011. Uran was informed of the choice of his city by the show the previous Friday.

"We were very honored to be in consideration for the selection process; we are very excited we were chosen," said Uran. Crown Point city leaders will hold several meetings with producers of the show to give suggestions on which of the city's assets will be included.

No doubt, the centerpiece of the show will be the Crown Point courthouse, the "Grand Old Lady" of Lake County. This beautiful brick structure has hosted the wedding ceremonies of many notables, including Ronald Reagan and Rudolph Valentino (it's hard to believe today that the site was considered for demolition in the 1970s).

Crown Point will be featured for around seven minutes during the 30 minute program, which is aired across the country on 19 regional cable networks, including CNN Headline News, Fox Business and The Travel Channel. The city of Crown Point will then be able to use the video in its own promotional efforts. The show is hosted by former Pittsburgh Steelers star quarterback Terry Bradshaw.

The show is another example of the fact that preservation works, and that historic buildings can be a great asset to any community.

Franklin Council Flip-Flops on Old City Hall

Sun, 3 Jul 2011 22:00:27 -0500

After purty speeches a few weeks ago about preserving our old post office building, every one of the City Council showed their true (skunk) stripes Monday night by brown-nosing the Redevelopment Commission - comprised of local fatcats - and offering it to them for DEVELOPMENT. Here's their contact info, please have at 'em:

http://www.franklin-in.gov/department/?fDD=5-0

"Franklin Heritage" sat there and said nothing.

I am still too disgusted to say much more about it at this point.

Moody

PS: Here's the victory announcement I sent out March 24. The YouTube vid is still posted. If you'd like a lesson about lying, back-stabbing politicians, check it out.

Good news!

In their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday March 21, the Franklin City Council unanimously voted to preserve Franklin's historic WPA-era former post office and city hall building at 55 W Madison Street.

This HISTORIC vote took place after several speeches in support of historic preservation in Franklin, and in opposition to Mayor Fred Paris' plans to sell the building for $191,000 to a private investor.

Several council members stated hopes that a good civic use can be found for the building - if not a location for city court, then as a home for nonprofits, the Chamber of Commerce, etc.

A 10-minute video excerpt of the proceedings is available on our NEW YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CCJCINdotORG

Here is the URL of the video itself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0wr8uTWTHg

More information on the building, and our struggle to preserve it, is available at:
http://www.ccjcin.org/citycourt.htm

Please feel free to re-use any of this content with proper attribution.

Gary W. Moody
Concerned Citizens of Johnson County (Indiana)

Lowell Middle School Demolished

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:12:03 -0500

The state of Indiana has a long history of being a major supplier of limestone for the building industry, and the Lowell Middle School made good use of it. Limestone was used for numerous architectural elements such as scroll work and the words “ Lowell School” inscribed above the entryways.

Much of this limestone, some pieces of which weighed 150 pounds or more, was carefully removed in preparation for the impending demolition of the Lowell middle school. The limestone elements were saved in part due to the work of Mick Moore and five other graduates who formed a committee designed to preserve parts of the school called School Memories. They want to use the elements as part of a monument to Lowell schools.

“We’re upset about this,” said Moore, a graduate of the school (along with his wife).

The first four-year high school in Lowell, the building served Lowell graduates from 1916 until 1969 according to committee member Bud Ballou. Over the years, it was added to no less than four times, and served as a middle school until it was closed last year.

Alas, despite the efforts of Ballou, Moore and others, the Lowell Middle School could not be saved. It could have been made into a nice community center or even apartments, much as some of the factory and industrial buildings in Chicago have been turned into upscale lofts.

The building was impressive when first built, perched at the top of the hill with steps leading to its main entrance. “Imagine what people thought of this in 1914, said Moore, quoted in the Gary Post-Tribune. “Hell, people were still riding horses then. I hate to see the school come down. There are too many memories. It’s sad, very sad. It was beautiful. It’s still beautiful.”

It’s ironic in today’s America that we have money to build new multimillion dollar school buildings, but no money to preserve the old.

As for their future plans for the architectural elements, the big problem is funding, said Ballou. the group plans fund raisers and hopes for grants and donations. Those who would like to participate can call Bud Ballou at 696-3255.