Published: February 06, 2008 04:46 pm            

LETTERS: Feb. 7, 2008

Local history has been saved



I feel very fortunate to be able to bring to light the many success stories from the New Albany preservation efforts in the past two decades. Among them are:

• The First State Bank building, to many of us, the Red Cross building. It was saved by Develop New Albany and sold to private individuals for further restoration.

• Division Street School. The Friends of Division Street School and the New Albany Floyd County Public School Corporation teamed up for the restoration of this African-American landmark.

• Cardinal Ritter Birthplace. Its salvation was a local grassroots effort that included the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana and the newly-formed Cardinal Ritter Birthplace Foundation. The restoration continues on the building which will honor one of New Albany’s most important native sons.

• The William Young House. This important early house is home to the Floyd County Historical Society Padgett Museum thanks to the foresight of Jim and Beverly Padgett, who donated the building to the museum.

• Scribner House. This is one of the community’s earliest preservation efforts. The Piankeshaw Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution took ownership of the property in 1917 and has continued to preserve the structure.

• Silvercrest Tuberculosis Hospital. The National Register eligible structure was sold to a private individual with historical covenants, and is in the process of being transformed into residential units.

Downtown buildings including the Reibel House, Grand Theatre, White House Center and Wilcox Block. In addition, there are numerous other restoration projects presently in the works in our historic downtown.

The mindset of the citizens of New Albany of the 1950s and 1960s, “if it’s an old building, it has to come down,” is no longer generally accepted.

Since the senseless destruction of the grand old post office in 1970, New Albanians have taken a pro-active approach to preserving its historical structures. No longer do we hear the words, “it has to come down,” but rather the open-minded question, “What type of adaptive reuse can we find?” This forward-thinking mindset has helped New Albany to achieve the national recognition of being a “Preserve America Community.”

It is my sincere hope that the historical and preservation entities can come together with the county council and commissioners and explore the options for an adaptive reuse of the historic Floyd County Home, while the construction of the new youth shelter continues on schedule. Flexible thinking hs to be part of the equation.

— David C. Barksdale, President of the Floyd County Historical Society



Editor’s note: This letter would submitted before Tuesday night’s Floyd County Commissioners meeting where it was voted to proceed with plans to tear down the annex.

        

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