May is National Historic Preservation month, and the Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County will start off by celebrating with the dedication of the two new courthouse clocks in conjunction with First Friday on May 5.

Starting at 5:30pm on the steps of the Putnam County Courthouse (weather permitting), County Commissioner Dave Berry will say a few words, to be followed by Mayor Bill Dory.

The public is invited, as well as an assortment of local and state dignitaries.

Clock cookies will be served to commemorate the occasion, courtesy of several HPS board members.

Immediately following the dedication, everyone is encouraged to gather inside the grand rotunda of the courthouse. Tommy Kleckner, Regional Director of Indiana Landmarks, will discuss Indiana’s Historic Courthouses, and particularly the work of JW Gaddis, the architect of the Putnam County edifice.

This is a rare opportunity to enjoy and learn more about arguably the most significant and magnificent historic structure in the county, without the distractions of normal business hours.

Later in the month on May 20, Rose Wernicke will present “Treasures of Putnam County’s Small Towns: Bainbridge, Cloverdale, Roachdale and Russelville.” Her talk will take place at 10:00am in the Kiwanis Room at the Putnam County Library. She will share the gems uncovered in her research while preparing the nominations of these communities to the National Register of Historic Places, as a contractor for HPS.

Immediately following the presentation, a walking tour of the Courthouse Historic District will be led by HPS President Phil Gick. Last year’s stroll and tell through the Eastern Enlargement Historic District was well attended and enjoyed by all.

Looking ahead, HPS will host an historic house tour on Saturday, June 17, at the Aker Home on the corner of Bloomington and Washington Streets. The oldest residence in the Eastern Enlargement, it was built by Elisha Braman c. 1840. Braman was brought to Greencastle from Connecticut to design the original college building known as ‘The Edifice” for then Indiana Asbury University (later DePauw). He was also the architect for the courthouse that preceded the current one.

Tentative plans are also being made for a possible dedication on Sunday, July 2, of the soon-to-be restored Civil War Monument in Forest Hill Cemetery, the culmination of over five years of fundraising efforts and preparation by HPS. The event would take place 147 years to the day of the original ceremony for the statue. No wonder the “Western Soldier on Guard” memorial has required some upkeep.