Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Neighborhood Preservation Award: 555 N Nappanee Street and more about Indiana Limestone

Lawrence and Monroe Counties, which include towns like Bedford and Bloomington, Indiana, are the home of Indiana Limestone, considered the highest quality limestone in the United States. According to the Indiana Limestone Institute of America, pioneer settlers in what would become the state of Indiana used rough cut limestone for the foundations of their cabins, door sills, milling burrs, and memorials. Early quarrying efforts began as early as the late 1820s, before exploding with the arrival of the railroad to the region in the mid-19th century and the growing desire for stone in architectural design across the country because it was easily carved into ornate details and it was resistant to fire. Its popularity continued to grow, especially given its smaller price tag compared to marble and granite. Nationally known buildings constructed of Indiana Limestone include the Empire State Building, the Pentagon, the National Cathedral and a number of state capitols.
 This year the Nappanee Historic Preservation Commission presented the Neighborhood Preservation Award to the home at 555 N. Nappanee St., built by Dr. Fleetwood in 1957, it is the youngest Preservation award winner in the history of Nappanee. The home utilizes Indiana Limestone as a decorative stone veneer that was typical of the time in the 1950s after a large housing boom followed World War II. The house is an interesting blend of a ranch and minimal traditional styling that expresses the functionality of post-war housing and the all important attached garage that shows the new-found dependence of the Automobile in American society. While to most, this era of housing could still be seen as their childhood homes, mid-century homes tell as much a story as those from centuries past and the preservation of whole neighborhoods developed at this time is an important task we have to face in the coming years.