(UNDATED) – The following projects are expected to receive federal financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund program administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.
These are FY2020 projects which are anticipated to begin in the spring of 2020 and be completed by June 30, 2021. Official grant offers have not yet been made; however, these are the projects that were recommended for funding and for which the DHPA anticipates having sufficient HPF funds to award.
Locally receiving the assistance is:
Bloomington (Monroe Co.): A grant to the Monroe County Commissioners will assist with rehabilitation of the Alexander Memorial, which is situated on the lawn of the Monroe County Courthouse in Bloomington. For this phase of the project, the HPF grant will assist with the protection of the memorial from water infiltration by carefully removing the old mortar and repointing all mortar joints, and caulking certain joints as may be appropriate. The entire monument will also be cleaned of organic growth using gentle means and methods approved by the Indiana Limestone Institute. The deteriorating carved panels are to be carefully documented and replicated before they erode further and too much detail is lost, preventing proper replication.
Morgan-Monroe: Ball State University will receive a grant to conduct an archaeological survey at the Morgan-Monroe State Forest (MMSF). The focus is on areas surrounding two reported Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps: 30 acres around a previously recorded site associated with an African American CCC camp (this site was recorded by a non-systematic walkthrough and the full extent has not been delineated, and 30 acres within the vicinity of the second CCC camp near the forest headquarters. Shovel test pits (STPs) will be spaced systematically at 15-meter intervals. Approximately 1,080 STPs will be excavated.
The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) subgrant program assists publicly owned or private not-for-profit properties that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places with grant money to undertake preservation and rehabilitation activities. The purpose of these projects is to identify, document, and evaluate cultural resources, and to repair, preserve, and rehabilitate historic properties in ways that are historically appropriate and sensitive, and that maintain or enhance the viability and integrity of the resource.
The investment of HPF money means the projects are considered a federal undertaking, therefore this notice serves to make the public aware of the projects and solicit comments pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 306108) and 36 C.F.R. Part 800 and the National Environmental Policy Act. The proposed scope of work has been reviewed by Indiana SHPO staff and determined to meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Historic Properties. Therefore, we believe that the projects will have no adverse effect on historic properties.
To provide public comment or make a request to be a consulting party for any of the projects listed below please contact us by April 30, 2020. Make sure to specify the project(s) for which you are requesting to be a consulting party, and we will provide the scope of work, maps, and photographs for the project(s) you are interested in for your review and comment.
Others receiving funding:
Angola (Steuben Co.): A grant to the Powers Church and Cemetery Association will assist with rehabilitation of the bell tower and steeple of the 1876 Powers Church. The steeple and bell tower have been affected by 143 years of weather and wildlife, resulting in rotted and damaged wood that is allowing water infiltration and threatening the structure and the interior. The scope of work includes reinforcing the tower and steeple structure and the bell apparatus, repairing or replacing the deteriorated wood components, reroofing as needed, inspecting the circular windows, and securing the tower from wildlife.
Chesterfield (Madison Co.): A grant to the Friends of Camp Chesterfield will assist with rehabilitation of the Koch Cottage at Chesterfield Spiritualist Camp Historic District in Madison County. The scope of work of this project will address a number of exterior rehabilitation needs: repair or replacement of damaged wood siding and trim, installation of appropriate flashing above windows and doors, removal of peeling paint, application of primer and exterior paint, installation of 14 custom replicated wood windows, reglazing and repair of eight existing historic windows, repairing or replacing windowsills, repairing or replacing front porch flooring, repairing or rebuilding the soffit area above the back porch, and installation of gutters and downspouts.
Fort Wayne (Allen Co.): A grant to the City of Fort Wayne will assist with the rehabilitation of the wrought iron scroll work on the Wells Street Bridge in Fort Wayne. This Whipple truss bridge was built in 1884 and has a 180-foot span across the St. Mary’s River, and is now used for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. While the structure of the bridge is sound, the decorative wrought iron scrollwork is deteriorated by corrosion and fracture. The intact decorative pieces will be used as templates for the replication of new units where the originals are damaged or missing. Damaged portal knee braces will be removed and fabrication of the damaged or missing pieces will be made and installed.
Indianapolis (Marion Co.): A grant to the Indianapolis Propylaeum will assist with the masonry rehabilitation of the 1891 Carriage House that is part of the 1891 Schmidt/Schaf property. The masonry structure is suffering from water infiltration caused by missing mortar. The scope of work includes repointing about 3,000 square feet of the exterior masonry, repairing or replacing about 60 square feet of bricks, removing ferrous metal anchors, and patching areas of the building where water can penetrate. The project will also clean the built-in gutters and line them with EPDM rubber membrane for better drainage and to better protect the building.
Monticello (White Co): A grant to the Twin Lakes School Corporation will assist in the rehabilitation of the 1892 South Side Grade School in Monticello, which is currently used for administration offices. The brick school has served the school corporation continuously since it was built. The scope of work for the grant project includes rehabilitating the exterior brick and mortar and addressing the deteriorated foundation, investigate options to waterproof the foundation, if appropriate, and install new gutters and downspouts to divert water away from the foundation.
Muncie (Delaware Co.): A grant to the Cornerstone Center for the Arts will assist with the masonry rehabilitation on the west elevation of the former Muncie Masonic Temple. The project will focus on stabilization and rehabilitation of the weather-exposed west elevation, removing any inappropriate or failing mortar, replacing any bricks that are cracked, spalled, or damaged by continuous moisture conditions, repointing areas of mortar loss, and thus halting further water infiltration and deterioration.
New Albany (Floyd Co.): A grant to the Floyd County Historical Society will assist with masonry rehabilitation on the 1837 William Young House, which currently houses the Floyd County Historical Society Padgett Museum. The west and south elevations of the house have significant mortar loss and brick deterioration. The scope of work will address the masonry issues, and install a chimney cap on the north chimney.
Spencerville (Dekalb Co.): A grant to the Dekalb County Commissioners will assist with rehabilitation of the Spencerville Covered Bridge. In 2017 a routine inspection noted severe water damage to the lower chords and bolster beams of the bridge and additional wear on the abutments. The scope of work consists of jacking up the bridge to replace the damaged lower chords and bolster beams at the four corners.
Tippecanoe County: A grant to the University of Indianapolis will conduct an archaeological survey at Prophetstown State Park. The project will conduct Phase I the survey for at least three of these areas (about 19 acres) and a fourth if time permits, and will also conduct ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey of the four pre-contact mounds located within the boundaries of the park. The project will survey a total of about 25 acres.
Vincennes (Knox Co.): A grant to the City of Vincennes will assist with a second phase of window rehabilitation on the Vincennes Police Station. An HPF grant awarded in 2016 assisted rehabilitation of 35 windows around the building, including those in the worst conditions. There are 49 windows remaining (44 original units and 5 replacements) that still require some level of rehabilitation. The scope of work for this project includes rehabilitating up to 25 of the original windows and replacing five vinyl window units with appropriate wood replacement units to match the originals.
For more information send a request to Indiana DHPA, Attn: HPF Grant Staff, 402 W. Washington St., Room W274, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or mvanaman@dnr.IN.gov
