Fifth Annual Meeting, Feb. 2010 : Cleo Rogers Library, Red Room, Columbus, Indiana

FIFTY YEARS OF PRESERVATION

Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives held its Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at the Bartholomew County Public Library. The guest speaker was Marsh Davis, President of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. This year is their 50th Anniversary and was the topic of Mr. Marsh's presentation. His talk was highlighted with slides showing some of the more interesting moments in their history.

A letter sent in 1959 by Calvin Hamilton, Director of Marion County’s Metropolitan Planning Department, invited fifty community leaders, including Eli Lilly, to meet at the Columbia Club to discuss “how we in Indianapolis can … save our heritage before bulldozers and parking lots obliterate the past.” This meeting turned out to be the beginning of Historic Landmarks Foundation culminating with the incorporation on September 30, 1960. A three million dollar gift from Eli Lilly in 1969 took the all-volunteer, largely Indianapolis group to a professionally staffed preservation organization with statewide reach. In the 1990’s, Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, and Lilly Endowment – created by the family in 1937 – made significant grants to create the current headquarters and expand the FLIP program.

Mr. Davis talked about the “50 top saves in the last 50 years”, the celebrations that will take place at a variety of locations in Indiana throughout 2010, topped off with a gala that will take place at the West Baden Springs Hotel in October. Ending his talk with an optimistic look forward, Mr. Davis said to be watching for Historic Landmarks Foundation’s “new look” which will be announced in April.

Photos from the meeting >

Special presenter Marsh Davis (l) talks with Bill Harter. 

After the meeting, the speculation began about the mystery model that was given earlier to the Archives collection.