Southern Indiana Business Report
More than $470,000 in grants to advance preservation and heritage efforts across Indiana were awarded by Indiana Landmarks in 2023.
Three organizations in the Radius Indiana region received grants:
- English Civic Club – $4,000 for a rehabilitation feasibility study of the 1897 English Mill.
- First Christian Church, Bedford – $6,500 to supplement a conditions survey at the 1900 church constructed of local Lawrence County limestone.
- John Hay Center – $5,000 to support nomination of the Blue River Quaker Settlement Rural Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places.
Drawing from a variety of funds, these grants support efforts ranging from architectural assessments and repairs at historic structures, to programs, workshops, videos, and digital walking tours promoting preservation and heritage.
“Indiana Landmarks offers grants to help spark community revitalization and bolster preservation projects around the state,” said Marsh Davis, president of Indiana Landmarks. “We’re extremely grateful that with the support of many generous donors we’re able to offer this critical support to local groups and others engaged in preserving the state’s meaningful places.”
The English mill was built in 1897. It is the only remaining structure of historic significance remaining from the original town of English that wasn’t damaged or destroyed by a catastrophic flood in 1979 that resulted in the town relocating to higher ground.
The English Civic Club is working to raise funds to restore the mill. The group revived its fish stand fundraiser to bring in funds for the effort.
List of grant recipients
Black Heritage Preservation Program Grants
Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program awards grants to help preserve and raise awareness of sites important to Black history in Indiana. In 2023, the group made 34 grants totaling $203,133:
ARCH, Inc., Fort Wayne: $1,500 to support creation of a Black-led preservation group in Fort Wayne.
ARCH, Inc., Fort Wayne: $5,170 for a survey of properties built by Black developer Roosevelt Barnes Sr., whose company created the Southern/Suburban Heights neighborhood for Black homeowners.
Bethel AME Church, Richmond: $10,000 for roof and bell tower repairs at the 1868 building, home of the oldest Black congregation in active ministry in Indiana.
Black Legacy Project of Wayne County, Indiana, Richmond: $3,000 for an exhibit on Richmond’s Black heritage.
Calumet Heritage Partnership, Chesterton: $5,000 for research and mapping of Underground Railroad sites as part of the Freedom Trail project in northwest Indiana.
City of Boonville: $5,000 for restoration of the 1921 Mount Liberty Baptist Church.
Conner Prairie Museum, Inc., Fishers: $5,000 to support development of The Resistance Cabin as part of the Promised Land as Proving Ground, a new permanent museum experience.
Embracing Hope of Howard County, Indiana, Inc., Kokomo: $10,000 for plumbing repairs at the c.1920 Douglass School being developed as a Black heritage museum and cultural center.
Friends of the Knox County Public Library, Vincennes: $5,000 to develop a Black Heritage Museum at 1859 McGrady Brockman House.
Friends of Town Clock Church, Inc., New Albany: $8,000 for research to prepare exhibits sharing the church’s role as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Guidance Life Skills and Mentoring Inc., Indianapolis: $10,000 for asbestos remediation at the organization’s headquarters in the 1897 Colonial Revival-style home on Capitol Avenue, previously state headquarters of the Indiana Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs.
Gudaitis Production/Constellation Stage and Screen: $5,000 for production of a documentary on Black life in Putnam County before, during, and after the Civil War.
Hostess House, Marion: $500 to replace a damaged historical marker recognizing Black architect Samuel Plato’s role in designing the 1912 house.
Humes House, Madison: $12,500 to aid stabilization of the c.1870 shotgun house in Madison’s historically Black Georgetown neighborhood.
Indiana Historical Bureau, Indianapolis: $1,500 for a historical marker at the 1958 St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Gary designed by Black architect Edward Dart.
The Indianapolis Film Project, Indianapolis: $5,000 to support production of a film on Norwood, a neighborhood established by members of the United States Colored Troops after the Civil War.
Indianapolis Public School Foundation: $10,000 for a rehabilitation feasibility study and preparation of a National Register nomination and historical marker for School 56.
Indy Juneteenth, Inc., Indianapolis: $3,000 to support educational programming and the Miss Indy Juneteenth Pageant.
Lyles Station Historic Preservation Corporation, Princeton: $3,749 for board organization, restructuring, and training.
Madison Christina Health and Development, Inc., Hanover: $20,000 to aid rehabilitation of 705 Walnut Street in Madison’s Georgetown neighborhood.
National Gary Roosevelt Alumni Association, Gary: $15,000 for a feasibility study on reuse of the 1931 Gary Roosevelt High School, one of three Black high schools in Indiana built in the 1920s and 1930s.
National Urban League of Fort Wayne: $3,000 for creation of a walking tour on the history of the Urban League in Fort Wayne.
Norwood USCT Coalition, Indianapolis: $4,374 for nonprofit status structuring.
The Oaks Academy, Indianapolis: $2,400 for a preservation consultant to prepare a National Register nomination for School No. 26, a historically Black public school and library now used as a middle school by the academy.
Patoka Church of God in Christ, Patoka: $10,000 for foundation repairs and entryway stabilization on the c.1903 church that originally served as Patoka Colored School.
Pettiford-Weaver Family, Indianapolis: $1,500 for screening of Rooted in Love, Lifted in Strength: The Pettiford-Weaver Family, a documentary on the family’s history.
Prince Media Group, Indianapolis: $2,500 for a documentary about Carol Jenkins, murder victim in a race-related slaying in Martinsville.
Rethink 65/70 Coalition, Indianapolis: $3,000 for support of presentations in Black communities.
Shaffer Chapel AME Church, Muncie: $5,000 for a preservation consultant to prepare a National Register nomination for the c.1893 church.
Springdale Cemetery Association, Madison: $2,000 for plaques and markers to properly recognize the graves of Reverend Chapman Harris and John Carter, two notable figures in the Underground Railroad buried at the cemetery.
St. Mark Zion AME Church, East Chicago: $1,440 for a preservation consultant to nominate the 1973 church designed by Black architect Wendell Campbell to the National Register of Historic Places.
Steward Speakers, Indianapolis: $1,500 to support the Speakers Civil Rights Summer Road Tour and registration and travel expenses for two Black Heritage Preservation Program interns.
Thomas Temple Church of God in Christ, Toledo, OH: $15,000 for window repairs and roof replacement at the 1914 First Friends Church in Marion designed by Black architect Samuel Plato.
Wayman Chapel AME Church, Lyles Station: $7,500 for building and structural assessment of the 1870s church.
Efroymson Family Endangered Places Grants
The Efroymson Family Endangered Places fund honors the Efroymson family’s significant support of Indiana Landmarks’ endangered places programs through grants for architectural and structural assessments, rehab cost analyses, reuse studies, and fundraising planning. In the last fiscal year, Indiana Landmarks made 17 grants totaling $62,688.
1886 Church Foundation, Crown Point: $2,500 for a study analyzing the feasibility of rehabbing the vacant c.1886/1934 Trinity Lutheran Church.
Beverly Shores Museum and Art Gallery, Inc.: $4,000 to assess conditions and repairs at the 1929 depot as impacted by the installation of a double track nearby.
City of Montpelier: $4,000 for design services related to rehabilitation of the 1890 Chaney Building on Main Street.
City of Muncie: $4,000 for a rehabilitation feasibility study of the 1930s Tuhey Park Poolhouse.
Delphi Preservation Society: $4,788 for structural analysis to help create a rehabilitation plan for the 1910 Carroll Manor.
English Civic Club, English: $4,000 for a rehabilitation feasibility study of the 1897 English Mill.
Gibson County Economic Development Corporation, Princeton: $4,000 for an architectural study examining rehabilitating the second floor of the 1894 Devin Block building.
Indiana Barn Foundation, Indianapolis: $4,000 to assess repairs needed at the 1903 round barn at the Littleton-Kingen Farm in Hancock County.
Main Street Greensburg: $4,000 to study reuse of a nineteenth-century commercial building in the Downtown Greensburg Historic District.
Minnetrista Museum & Garden, Muncie: $2,000 for a rehabilitation feasibility study of the 1875 Lucius Ball House.
Minnetrista Museum & Garden, Muncie: $2,000 for a rehabilitation feasibility study of the 1907 Mary Lincoln Cottage.
North Vernon Main Street, Inc.: $4,000 for a structural assessment of the 1880 Red Men Lodge #99.
New Castle Main Street, Inc.: $4,000 for a feasibility study examining opportunities to create housing in the upper floors of historic commercial buildings downtown.
Old Courthouse Foundation, Inc., Evansville: $5,000 to update the preservation master plan for the 1891 Vanderburgh County Courthouse.
Town of Utica Redevelopment Commission: $3,000 to assess conditions at the 1936 First District School for possible reuse as senior housing and community meeting space.
Winchester Main Street: $4,400 for a structural assessment of a fire-damaged 1875 building at 101 South Main Street on Winchester’s courthouse square.
Western Wayne Heritage, Inc., Cambridge City: $3,000 to study the feasibility of repurposing the vacant 1847 foundry.
Historic Preservation Education Grants
Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Humanities jointly award grants to nonprofits for programs and materials educating the public about historic places. In the last fiscal year, the organizations awarded $29,013 to 10 projects:
Ball State University, Muncie: $3,000 to develop a walking tour of downtown Muncie highlighting the architectural and historical significance of 23 buildings.
Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, Indianapolis: $3,000 to reprint a “Historic Walking Tour of Delaware Street” brochure.
City of Richmond: $3,000 for a series of historic preservation workshops in the Starr Historic District.
Franklin County Community Foundation, Brookville: $3,000 to produce a walking tour brochure and videos sharing the history of 30 historic buildings in Metamora.
Harrison Center, Indianapolis: $3,000 for workshops for area youth highlighting the value of historic preservation and adaptively reusing historic structures.
Monroe County Historic Center, Bloomington: $2,966 to create a virtual experience for visitors to explore the nearly 200-year-old East-Munson barn, learning about its construction and uses.
Richmond Columbian Properties, Richmond: $2,050 to support the Quality of Place Conference examining the value of community development corporations, historic preservation commissions, and preservation as a development tool.
South Bend TradeWorks: $3,000 to provide regional high school students with a one-week introduction to preservation trades.
Trustees of Indiana University/Indiana University Press, Bloomington: $3,000 to support publication of the first volume of Architecture in Indianapolis, 1820-1900, by historic preservation expert James A. Glass.
Trustees of Indiana University/IUPUI University Library, Indianapolis: $2,997 for events honoring builder Jungclaus-Campbell Co., including highlighting recently digitized historical photos and records at the university library and a panel discussion on the company’s history and importance to the city of Indianapolis.
Indiana Automotive Grants
Indiana Automotive, an affinity group of Indiana Landmarks, awards grants that support preservation and help raise awareness of landmarks connected to the state’s automotive heritage.
Friends of the Studebaker Fountain, Inc., South Bend: $1,000 for electrical work on the Studebaker Fountain, installed in 1906 as a gift to the city from John Studebaker, president of Studebaker Wagon Works.
Indiana Modern Grants
Indiana Modern, an affinity group of Indiana Landmarks, awards planning and rehabilitation grants to help identify, promote, and preserve the best examples of twentieth-century architectural and landscape design.
University of Southern Indiana Foundation, Evansville: $5,000 for an updated feasibility study of the 1979 Atheneum focusing on accessibility, code issues, and sustainability.
Marion County Historic Preservation Fund
Indiana Landmarks and the Central Indiana Community Foundation jointly manage a fund created by contributions from each organization and private donors to award grants supporting preservation of landmarks in Marion County.
Greater Southport Community Alliance: $2,500 to study the feasibility of rehabbing the 1899 Independent Order of Odd Fellows Building in Southport.
Irvington Historical Society: $10,000 to aid roof repairs at the c.1940 boiler room annex at the Bona Thompson Center.
Sacred Places Indiana Grants
Last year, Indiana Landmarks’ Sacred Places program provided $156,154 to congregations for architectural and fundraising studies, building repairs, and National Register documentation of historic houses of worship:
Central Christian Church, Lebanon: $6,667 to assess preservation needs for the 1903 brick church and 1963 education wing.
First Christian Church, Bedford: $6,500 to supplement a conditions survey at the 1900 church constructed of local Lawrence County limestone.
First Christian Church, Bloomington: $10,000 for a fundraising feasibility study to prepare the congregation to launch a capital campaign for preservation of the 1917 Gothic Revival-style church.
First Christian Church, Lafayette: $10,000 for a feasibility study, building assessment, and re-use plan to assist the congregation with space-sharing efforts at the 1914 church.
First Christian Church, Martinsville: $10,000 for a facilities assessment to understand capital needs for the 1899 church and 1928 education wing.
First Congregational United Church of Christ, Angola: $10,000 for a building conditions study at the 1900 Gothic Revival-style church.
First United Church, Bloomington: $6,667 for a conditions assessment of the 1956 Mid-Century Modern-style church building.
First United Methodist Church, Marion: $59,653 for emergency repairs to the 1923 Gothic Revival-style church’s HVAC boiler system.
John Hay Center, Salem: $5,000 to support nomination of the Blue River Quaker Settlement Rural Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places.
Plainfield Friends/Western Yearly Meeting House, Plainfield: $5,000 for a building assessment to prioritize preservation work at the 1913 meeting house.
St. Adalbert Catholic Church, South Bend: $10,000 for an assessment to help prioritize repairs for restoration of the 1926 Gothic Revival-style church.
St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Whiting: $10,000 for a fundraising feasibility study to guide the congregation in conducting a capital campaign for the preservation of their 1917 church.
Zion United Church of Christ, Wanamaker: $6,667 to support a building assessment of the 1941 church and surrounding campus.