Like most occasions planned after the start of the pandemic, the 2021 annual meeting for the Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County (HPS) will proceed differently than in the past. On Thursday, March 18, at 7 p.m., the event will take place virtually.

The presentation is free and open to all. Attendees will need to first register on the HPS Facebook page. A zoom link then will be emailed to them, which will allow them to join the meeting.

From the comfort of home (or wherever someone and their mobile device happen to be), all can convene without concern for parking, weather, or changing out of pajamas through the convenience of the internet.

Marsh Davis, the president of Indiana Landmarks, will be the keynote speaker. Indiana Landmarks is the largest statewide historic preservation organization of its kind in the nation. The group was founded in 1960 by various civic and business leaders, among them Eli Lilly. HPS is an affiliate of theirs, and the two organizations have collaborated on many projects over the years. Their common mission is to preserve significant sites for the benefit of present and future generations, with the broader effect of adding value to the community by so doing.

One example of the partnership between these two entities is their joint endeavor to preserve two historic O’Hair houses in this area, one in Brick Chapel and the other on the DePauw University campus. The former was struck by lightning and heavily damaged by the ensuing fire in 2019; the home has since been stabilized and recently sold to a new owner who will complete the rehabilitation. Indiana Landmarks and HPS are also currently working to find a solution which would satisfy both the college and the community for the other venerable structure, which had been donated to DePauw many decades ago by the prominent local family but is not currently in usable condition.

Throughout 2020, HPS also collaborated with other local groups for various events. In August, the organization joined with the League of Women Voters and the Putnam County Public Library to mark Women’s Equality Day and the 100^th anniversary of the passage of the 19^th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. Reenactments of historic speeches by Susan B. Anthony and Mary Church Terrell were performed By Susan Anthony and LaToshia Everson at the Robe-Ann Park bandshell.

On September 5, 2020, which was 60 years to the date of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s inspiring appearance and speech at Gobin Church, a new plaque was added to the Heritage Wall in downtown Greencastle to honor the occasion. The dedication was hosted by HPS president Cammie Goldman and featured speeches by Dr. Lori White, president of DPU; Russell Harvey, president of Greencastle NAACP; Pastor Bryan Langdoc of Gobin; and then-17-year-old Dayan Martinez, member of the Greencastle Commission on Human Relations. Musical performances featured Tosh and Joel Everson. The Heritage Wall is curated by HPS and is located on Vine Street at the corner of Washington Street, courtesy of Judy and Lester Wilson, who own the building which is also where their photography studio is housed.

Yet another alliance was forged when the Greencastle Arts Council (GAC) and HPS joined forces to address the invitation by the Indiana State Bar Association (ISBA) to provide artwork featuring the Putnam County Courthouse for the collection at their Indianapolis offices. GAC member and local artist Matt Rees created an original woodcut print for the ISBA; he also provided a piece from his limited series to remain here in the courthouse itself.

It is exactly a year ago that through the efforts of HPS the National Register Historic District signs began appearing in four neighborhoods in Greencastle: Northwood, Old Greencastle, Eastern Enlargement and Courthouse Square. The Department of Public Works placed the placards, which were in part funded through the generosity of the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Greencastle.

The past 12 months have taught us many things, among them the importance of connectivity in our community. HPS has benefited from many local relationships, which enable the continuation of preservation-related work in Putnam County.

Anyone wishing to join or donate to HPS may do so by mailing checks to P.O. Box 163, Greencastle, IN 46135 or by visiting the website HeritagePreservationSociety.org. Memberships are available at $25 for an individual, $35 household, $50 advocate, $100 guardian and $200 preservationist level.