NEWS

Announcing Indiana’s 10 Most Endangered Places

Our annual list names historic Hoosier places in imminent peril.

INDIANAPOLIS (May 1, 2017) – Indiana Landmarks today announced the 10 Most Endangered, an annual list of Hoosier landmarks in jeopardy.  The list includes a courthouse, municipal, commercial, community and school buildings, houses, and barns that share an unusual characteristic.

“These places shape lives and give identity to communities, and when they’re gone, they leave a void that can’t be filled,” says Marsh Davis, president of the nonprofit preservation organization. “While some might call these lost causes, we can point to countless 10 Most success stories—places on the brink of extinction that were saved, restored, and repurposed,” he adds.

Demolition has claimed only 16 of the 119 Most Endangered sites listed since 1991, while 72 places are completely restored or no longer endangered.

The 10 Most Endangered in 2017 includes three sites repeating from last year’s list and six new entries:

Washington County Courthouse, Salem

Speakman House, Rising Sun

Pryor’s Country Place, Fox Lake

One entry on the 2017 list returns to the list after a long absence:

Simpson Hall, Indiana School for the Deaf, Indianapolis

Six sites appear on the 10 Most for the first time:

Old Fire Station 18, Indianapolis

Old Marquette School, South Bend

Marion National Bank Building, Marion

Old YMCA, Terre Haute

Newkirk Mansion, Connersville

Round and polygonal barns, statewide

Places that land on the 10 Most Endangered often face a combination of problems rather than a single threat—abandonment, neglect, dilapidation, obsolete use, unreasonable above-market asking price, owners who simply lack money for repairs, remote location—or its opposite,  encroaching sprawl that makes the land more valuable without the landmark.

“Indiana Landmarks populates the 10 Most list with important structures that have reached a dire point.

The list generates helpful attention—from communities, developers, potential buyers—and strategies for saving these places,” says Davis.

To find out more about each of the 10 Most Endangered, visit www.indianalandmarks.org or contact Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534 or 800-450-4534.

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Media contacts:

Tina Connor, Executive Vice President, 317-639-4534 / 800-450-4534 (cell 317-946-3127), tconnor@indianalandmarks.org

Jen Thomas, JTPR, Inc., 317-441-2487, jen@jtprinc.com

Digital photos are available by contacting Paige Wassel at Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, pwassel@indianalandmarks.org

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