The Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, March 26, at 5:30pm, at the Putnam County Museum. All current and prospective members, as well as those interested in learning more about the group are encouraged to attend.

The featured speaker will be Joe Frost, Executive Director of the Indiana National Road Association and a community preservation specialist for Indiana Landmarks. His talk will focus on the National Road

(precursor to U.S. 40), which was the first federally constructed major highway in this country and connected Cumberland, MD, with Vandalia, IL. This thoroughfare facilitated the western expansion of the United States. Now the road has become a tourist destination in itself, as a physical timeline of over 200 years of American history. As such, it has been designated an All-American Road by the Federal Highway Administration.

President Mike Murphy will also summarize some of HPS’s achievements of the past year and plans for the near future.

One of the most important recent highlights for the association was the generous Envision 2016 grant bestowed by the Putnam County Community Foundation. These funds will facilitate the restoration of the Civil War Monument in Forest Hill Cemetery. Part of the gift is also earmarked for the National Register nomination of several historic districts in Putnam County. Such an official designation is the first step to preservation and appreciation for these local areas.

Looking ahead to the National Historic Preservation Month of May, details will be shared by the HPS leadership for a Preservation Mini-Fair to be held in conjunction with downtown Greencastle’s First Friday events. On May 1, from 5:00-8:00pm, various local vendors and how-to displays will be featured at the Carriage House on 110 S. Vine Street. Demonstrations will include floor refinishing and window refurbishing. The “Vintage on Franklin” store will show antique lighting fixtures and how to rewire them for modern use. Also the history and making of old-time sweets will be presented by the “Completely Nuts and Candy Company”. Other area shops will be involved as well.
In addition, HPS will host an historic house tour at the Valentine House on East Washington Street on Saturday, June 13. Built in 1894 by William Milford Houck, the home is a prominent example of the Queen Anne style of Victorian architecture. Known for the splashy display of pink phlox cascading down the front hill each spring (as well as its proximity to Dairy Castle), the home was once made into apartments and later operated as a bed and breakfast. It is now again a single-family residence.

In contrast to last year’s open house at DePauw University, which featured the roughly million-dollar renovation of the Ireland House, this will allow the public to view the results of a rehabilitation by private individuals. The emphasis will be to demonstrate the possibility of realizing such a project on a much smaller budget.

Before the annual meeting is adjourned, HPS members will vote to fill positions on the board of directors. Officers will then be appointed.

Tax-deductible HPS memberships start at $25 for an individual, $35 for family, and $50 for an “advocate”, $100 for a “guardian”, and $200 for “preservationist” status.