Mayor Salutes Historic Preservation, Announces Activities

Mayor Graham Richard today declared May as National Historic Preservation Month in Fort Wayne and called attention to activities celebrating our history and heritage, as well as the enhancement of our community'€™s historic neighborhoods, buildings and sites.

The annual focus on preservation finds several local organizations hosting events and activities throughout the month. A brochure highlighting these activities has been prepared by the Historic Preservation office in the City'€™s Division of Community Development. It is available at several locations around the community. The brochure, along with more information about community preservation, also can be found on the City'€™s website at www.cityoffortwayne.org/preservation.

From 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 12 at the Downtown Allen County Library, Fort Wayne will host the Grassroots Preservation Roundup "Idea Exchange." The Roundup is an informal one-day event held annually in a different part of the state. The Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology holds the event to present information on state and federal programs that can benefit local preservation efforts.

At the Roundup, participants from around the state will also share stories of their local preservation projects, challenges and successes, with the opportunity to meet and network over lunch. The afternoon will feature a choice of tours of Fort Wayne preservation successes or the Genealogy Department of the Allen County Public Library. Tours are followed by a dessert reception. This event will interest local preservationists and officials, business owners, local historians, neighborhood groups, and others.

The Roundup is free and open to the public. It is sponsored locally by the City of Fort Wayne, ARCH, Inc., West Central Neighborhood, the History Center, and the Allen County Public Library, with additional sponsorship from Higher Grounds Coffee House, Casa D'€™Angelo and Martin Riley Architects/Engineers.

City of Fort Wayne Historic Preservation staff and the Historic Preservation Commission work to strengthen the city'€™s historic resources through historic preservation and heritage

development. The Historic Preservation program offers a wide range of assistance to help property owners recognize historic properties by listing as Local Historic Districts or on the National Register of Historic Places. Technical assistance is also available to assist public and private property owners in maintaining or recapturing the historic character of their properties.

For more information call 427-1127, or visit www.cityoffortwayne.org/preservation. To learn more about the Grassroots Preservation Roundup "Idea Exchange," or to RSVP for the event, call ARCH, Inc. at 426-5117.