We are closing out our focus on neighborhood development with a guest blog from Brittany Miller. As the Director of the Indiana Landmarks Eastern Regional Office, she is directly involved in historic preservation efforts across Wayne County. We asked her to discuss some ongoing projects in the community.
Indiana Landmarks in Wayne County
Neighborhood development and reinvestment go hand in hand with historic preservation. Indiana Landmarks has long believed investing in local communities is the key to saving heritage sites and developing communities. We have had a long history of investing in Wayne County. Our first Eastern Regional Office opened in the Huddleston Farmhouse in Cambridge City in the 1970s and remained there until 2022. When we entrusted Huddleston to new stewards, we didn’t go far. In 2024, the Eastern Regional Office opened a new location at the Reid Center in Richmond.
Photo Credit: Brittany Miller
Investing in Local Preservation
Our preservation efforts take many forms. One of those is our 10 Most Endangered List. It is a tool we use to highlight properties or districts that are on the threshold of extinction and too important to lose. This list aims to highlight the situations and bring in much-needed support. Wayne County has had four listings on this list over the years: the American House in Centerville, the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in Richmond, the Reid Center in Richmond, and, most recently, the Starr District in Richmond. Community members stepped in to restore and save the first three.
We are partnering with Richmond Columbian Properties, the Richmond Historic Preservation Commission, and Richmond Neighborhood Restoration to make headway in listing the Starr District as a save. In years past we helped revitalize properties along North 10th Street in the district and have recently been investing more. The Eastern Regional Office is now located in the Reid Center, which sits at the edge of the Starr District. We’ve invested in renovating and leasing two rooms as our offices. Additionally, in 2022, we acquired 215 North 12th Street, made necessary stabilization repairs, and in early 2024, sold the property to Richmond Neighborhood Restoration. They will be fully rehabilitating the home and selling it to owners who will be good property stewards.
Photo Credit: Brittany Miller
Working with Local Stakeholders
We also invest in organizations that are spending their resources to develop the community through preservation efforts. This is achieved by offering small grants and loans to local non-profits. We have participated in many Wayne County projects through this program, including 2237 East Main Street with Richmond Neighborhood Restoration, the William G. Scott House with Richmond Columbian Properties, the Mathias and Kline Buildings with Cambridge City Main Street, and the Old Bertsch Foundry with Western Wayne Heritage.
We also regularly coordinate and partner with residents and local organizations to forward preservation projects. A part of that is our easement and covenant program. This program allows Indiana Landmarks to protect the architectural features of buildings in perpetuity. It is one of the best ways property owners can protect their buildings. We hold protective easements and covenants on 38 properties in Wayne County, including ones in Hagerstown, Centerville, and Fountain City. Again, we do this to ensure the architectural integrity of the community is not lost during development.
Photo Credit: Brittany Miller
One Project at a Time
We often take projects one building, one street, one district at a time. It can sometimes be hard to see the benefits of projects when there is so much more to be done. However, time and experience have shown us that one project at a time makes a difference. Other groups and residents are inspired to get involved, more work happens, and, sure enough, progress radiates out.
Interested in learning more? Visit the Indiana Landmarks website for more information. You can also reach the Eastern Regional office at east@indianalandmarks.org.
Successful neighborhood development requires investment from community partners like Indiana Landmarks. The nature of that work helps bring like-minded stakeholders together to initiate the change.
