Good Neighbors

Good ideas inspire imitators. On Hanover’s Main Street, Indiana Landmarks is part of a rehabilitation ripple effect that’s prompted investment in three previously neglected historic homes, fueling transformations that merit a double-take.

Local residents Bob and Grace Ireland kicked off the good work in 2020 by donating a mid-nineteenth century cottage to Indiana Landmarks a few doors down from the residence they have been restoring. Building contractor Daniel Orellana and his wife Melie purchased the house from Indiana Landmarks and have started rehabilitating it to become their future home, Indiana Landmarks’ preservation covenants will help ensure the exterior retains its historic appearance.

Two doors to the west, an elderly couple struggled to maintain a small Greek Revival house. Its Victorian front porch started to collapse, and rainwater collected in tubs on the first floor. After members of the couple’s church helped them find a smaller, more manageable house nearby, Hanover town officials, reached out to Indiana Landmarks to determine if the 1830s frame residence could be salvaged. Despite the neglect, we deemed the house sound and secured an option to market the historic property in 2021. Charmed by the home’s nineteenth-century features, Greenville, Indiana, residents James and Heather Tyler bought the property and are now combining their DIY skills with neighbor Daniel Orellana’s professional expertise to rehabilitate the landmark as their forever home.