Last Wednesday evening, Rose Wernicke, a consultant qualified by the Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, presented her findings on the proposed nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for the downtown neighborhood of Roachdale. Her talk was sponsored by the Historic Preservation Society of Putnam County as part of the ongoing observation of May as National Historic Preservation Month.

Next, HPS is welcoming Tommy Kleckner of Indiana Landmarks to the Kiwanis Room of the Putnam County Public Library on Saturday, May 21 at 10:00a.m. He will discuss various architectural styles to be found here in Putnam County, accompanied by slides of specific examples.

Following his presentation, a walking tour of the Eastern Enlargement Historic District will leave from the library at 11:00a.m, led by Phil Gick, President of HPS. This walk-and-talk is an opportunity to learn first hand about the structures that give this area its character.

On Wednesday, May 25, at 6:00p.m., in the Local History Room at the PCPL, Wesley Wilson will explore the interconnected history of DePauw University, the City of Greencastle, and Putnam County. Mr. Wilson has been the Coordinator of Archives and Special Collections at Depauw for over three decades.

All events are free and open to the public.

Ms. Wernicke’s review took place at the former Optimist Club on Railroad Street in Roachdale, where dozens of attendees gave Wernicke their rapt attention as she began by explaining just what listing on the National Register does and does not mean.

Association with the NR engenders prestige, publicity, protection from government development and eligibility for certain government funding, Wernicke emphasized. In addition, there are certain state and federal tax credits available. She noted that a common misconception is that inclusion carries restrictions. This is not the case, unless government money is being used for improvements; only then do the standards of the Secretary of the Interior need to be followed.

Her slide display of the various architectural styles featured in Roachdale’s historic district was often punctuated by members of the crowd contributing associated details of local lore. As the audience learned the features defining a Queen Anne, Free Classic, Four-Square, or Eastlake building, for example, Wernicke was educated about the notable personages that had lived in those homes and their connection to the town. This was precisely the information she had hoped to gain from such a meeting. These narratives will add flesh to the bones of the nomination. Although the neighborhood is physically defined by structures, the connection to certain events and people increases historical significance.

Stories that surfaced included a resident who sank with the Titanic and a mysterious bank robbery in the 1930’s. Wernicke explained that the NR listing is a way to document the rich history of small towns that otherwise will be forgotten, and that she performs this work as “an inspiration for the future.”

The next forum to be scheduled will focus on the historic district nomination for Bainbridge; meetings in Cloverdale and Russelville will follow.

HPS has been able to fund Ms. Wernicke’s work through an Envision Grant from the Putnam County Community Foundation and an Indiana Landmarks Partnership in Preservation Grant.