Published: April 25, 2008 09:36 am      

Pizza, Preservation and Pearl Street Strippers

May is packed with Preservation Month events

Floyd County Historian David Barksdale only took time off from completing the agenda for the May Southern Indiana Preservation Celebration to finish his cod sandwich at the Market Street Fish House on Thursday.

The rest of his evening was occupied with putting final touches on plans to honor New Albany’s past in association with Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana and other local organizations, such as Develop New Albany.

But the hours spent preparing the plethora of May events are worth it for Barksdale.

“I want to draw attention to what we have in New Albany and I think Preservation Month for me has helped people get exposed again to New Albany — what we have and what the potential is,” he said.

This marks the fourth year the groups have worked on the event, and Historic Landmarks Program Assistant Judy Martin said the celebration keeps growing in New Albany and beyond.

“Every year, we add towns that are celebrating Preservation Month. Historic Landmarks role is behind the scenes, so we see it all, we see what the whole region is doing and we try to support the whole region,” Martin said.

As previously reported in Tuesday’s edition of The Tribune, two events scheduled for May 5-6 focusing on New Albany’s historic shotgun houses will serve as the launch of the month’s festivities, but there are plenty of other activities scheduled.

May 10: The Pearl Street Strippers: Two buildings and a brochure expose it all

• Residents are asked to celebrate the undressing of aluminum siding from a section of the Fashion Shop building along Pearl Street. Also, for the first time since the 1960s when they were covered by aluminum, the transom windows of the Baer Building along Pearl Street will be exposed. Develop New Albany also will be unveiling its walking tour brochure of the city. There also will be an open house for residents to tour the Baer Building.

May 13: Pizza and Preservation: The Honey-Do List of Repairs in your Historic Home.

• This hands-on workshop is presented by Mary Ann Tonini, certified home inspector. She will show people how to tackle unpopular jobs of historic home ownership. Register for the free event by calling Historic Landmarks at 812-284-4534 and be ready to tell what you want to repair. Those who register will meet at 6 p.m. at 844 Cedar Bough Place.

May 15: Preservation Conversation: Financing Strategies for Historic Residential Real Estate

• This forum will be led by Ted Fulmore, chairman of the New Albany Historic Preservation Commission. It will begin at 7 p.m. at the Division Street School and feature a panel of Realtors, including Ed Clere. The event is free.

May 20: Pizza and Preservation: Unlock the History of your Historic Home

• This event is designed for homeowners of historic property and those interested in history of property in their community. Participants will meet at 6 p.m. in the Strassweg Auditorium in the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library for pizza and beverages. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Historic Landmarks at 812-284-4534.

May 21: Preservation Conversation: The Workings of a Preservation Commission.

• New Albany Mayor Doug England will host this event that will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. Following the reception, the Preservation Commission will hand out its 2008 Facelift Awards, which will proceed their regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The event will be held in the Assembly Room on the third floor of the City-County Building.

May 31: Scribner House and Mansion Row Walking Tours

• The Scribner House tour begins at 11 a.m. and is sponsored by Piankeshaw Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.

The mansion row tour starts at 1 p.m. at the Scribner House and is sponsored by the Floyd County Historical Society.

There are also several other preservation events held in Clark and Harrison counties during May. For more information, contact Historic Landmarks at 812-284-4534.