Rushville's Dr. Jefferson Helm House is one of 10 properties were awarded $728,671 through the Historic Renovation Grant Program.
The program is designed to preserve and rehabilitate historic properties to further incentivize downtown economic development across Indiana.
Eligible properties for this grant program must be at least 50 years old and either listed on the register of Indiana historic sites and structures, be listed or eligible for listing to the National Register of Historic Places, or be listed as a contributing resource in a National Register District. Awarded properties will receive funding for the renovation and preservation of exterior features.
“The Historic Renovation Grant Program has already created an ongoing positive impact in a number of communities,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “This grant round will help these 10 communities to preserve their Hoosier history while fueling economic development.”
Ronald V. Morris was awarded $100,000 to preserve and return to service the Dr. Jefferson Helm House. Located in Rush County, Dr. Helm built the small but distinctive home in 1845 reminiscent of the ideas of Thomas Jefferson. The property will be adapted into a social gathering place to host tours, special events and educational gatherings. Preservation work will include masonry restoration, chimney restoration, repair/restore roof, replacing non-historic windows with new period appropriate wood windows, repair/restore porch rails and columns, repair and replacement of historic doors, and reconstruction of two missing side porches based on physical evidence.
From 2021 to 2022, the Historic Renovation Grant Program received more than 80 applications with requests totaling over $5 million. While applicants must provide at least a dollar-for-dollar cash-match, the program continues to leverage significantly more than the State’s investment into these projects, resulting in a greater economic impact for awarded communities.
Applications were scored based on appropriate historical criteria, extensive support from local residents, and the economic impact the project would have on the greater community and the State of Indiana.
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