10 Most Endangered

Built to last by the Depression-era labor of the WPA and warmed by decades of community and family functions, the 1936 hall sits empty in Connersville’s city park.

Connersville

On 10 Most list since 2010

Losing its original use should not doom a building, especially one built to last by the Depression era labor and talent of the WPA. The Roberts Memorial Building in Connersville’s city park hosted family reunions, square dances, exercise classes and other community functions for decades before it was sidelined by a new facility.

The Works Progress Administration constructed the yellow brick building in 1936 along with several other features in Roberts Park, an 80-acre site donated to the city by Connersville businessman John Roberts in 1902. About a decade ago, the construction of a community building in the park left the landmark underutilized. Given its limited use and facing rising heating and air conditioning bills, the city recently closed Roberts (locally known as the 4H building) altogether.

Vacant structures are always vulnerable—particularly one located in a park where reuse options are limited—and some have called for demolition. Broken windows and peeling paint should not spell the end for this otherwise sturdy tribute to what human hands in another hard-pressed era created for the community. Demolition would be wasteful, if not downright disrespectful.

For more information contact:

J.P. Hall

Director, Indiana Landmarks’ Eastern Regional Office, Cambridge City

765-478-3172

jphall@indianalandmarks.org

Jim Orr

Local preservationist

765-825-9302

jrorr47331@yahoo.com