Game Plan

Many people in the small Pulaski County community of Medaryville (pop. 560) fondly recall games and events at the historic Medaryville Gymnasium. Constructed in the early 1950s as an addition to the local high school, the building carried on its role as a community gathering space even after the school closed in 1968, most recently as quarters for American Legion Post 96. After members convened their last meeting in 2024, community leaders feared for the historic gym’s future. Now, a new group—Friends of Medaryville Gymnasium—is forming to save the building.

A patriotic mural distinguishes the otherwise unassuming building on U.S. 421, a stand-alone structure since the loss many years ago of the c.1920s high school. The legion purchased the gym in 2014, and for a decade it served as the post’s meeting location and a social gathering spot for the town, a role many hope it can still play.

The Medaryville Gym retains original gable-end windows, bleachers, floor, and a remarkable bow-truss roof. While the lower level needs a good clean-out and updates, the gym’s original features remain in good condition and, with some investment, could continue to serve the community. The Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology has determined the gym to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, a designation that could make the property eligible for certain tax credits and grants.

To support the nomination, Indiana Landmarks awarded an Endangered Places Fund grant to the Pulaski County Community Foundation, which is acting as fiscal agent until the friends group can secure its official 501c3 status. The Town is considering a grant request to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to help develop a renovation and feasibility study.

Around the state, historic gyms remain sites of celebration as community gathering spaces, a status the Friends of the Medaryville Gymnasium hopes to reclaim. Read updates on their progress on the group’s Facebook page.