Woods historic district, cemetery may join national registry

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - Two Wabash Valley sites have been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places, opening the door to more funding opportunities for preservation efforts.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Historic District and Center Ridge Cemetery in Sullivan were among 18 properties statewide to be recommended. Each site received grants through Indiana Landmarks - a nonprofit organization dedicated to rehabilitating historic properties - to finish the nomination process.

Tommy Kleckner, director of Indiana Landmarks' western regional office, said the designation would make the sites eligible for certain state and federal grants, strengthen fundraising efforts and help raise awareness of historical preservation.

"It's a very effective economic development tool if promoted properly," Kleckner said.

The process for updating the registry could take up to two years, and Kleckner said there's currently a backlog of nominations. He said he expects the three local sites to be approved by 2017.

Nominations are first reviewed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and forwarded to the state's architectural review board. The National Park Service has the final say.

Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College's portion of the historical district would list seven buildings, including Guerin and LeFer halls, the gatehouse, gate and Conservatory of Music.

The college received $1,950 from Indiana Landmarks' Partners in Preservation program, which provides matching funds to property owners and nonprofit organizations to hire professional consultants for the nomination process.

Dee Reed, the Woods' executive director of college relations, said the college would be honored to receive the designation, especially in light of the institution's 175th anniversary.

"This recognition would be part of our legacy by participating in restorations, preserving the integrity and beauty of the unique architecture and sharing it all with the community," she said in a statement.

As Kleckner's office worked with the college, the Sisters of Providence also expressed interest.

Indiana Landmarks expanded the historical district to comprise 17 building on SP's campus, including the Church of the Immaculate Conception and Owens and Providence halls. Sisters of Providence received $2,250 from Partners in Preservation.

The nomination paperwork was completed in time for the sisters to apply for rehabilitation tax credits for the Owens Hall renovation project.

Center Ridge Cemetery's designation could help superintendent Dick Crooks knock out a list of improvement projects. The cemetery's mausoleum will require "serious" money, Crooks said, in the next 10 to 15 years. Several roads need to be blacktopped and curbs and flagpoles need to be replaced.

Crooks would also like funds to computerize records, update maps and survey more ground for new graves. The 45-acre cemetery currently has 25,000 tombstones.

As a municipal entity, the cemetery relies on funds from the city and taxpayers to operate.

"So therefore, getting funds is extremely difficult," he said.

The Wabash Valley Community Foundation and Smithville Telephone Co. have donated money in the past couple years for repairs and blacktopping at the cemetery.

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Source: (Terre Haute) Tribune-Star, http://bit.ly/1Sy1iya

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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com