Indiana Landmarks Honors Leader, Organizations
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana Landmarks is celebrating the accomplishments of those who have made an impact in historic preservation throughout the state. The organization has presented its annual Servaas Memorial Awards and the Williamson Prize for "outstanding individual leadership."
The Williamson Prize, named for former longtime Indiana Landmarks President Reid Williamson, was awarded to Sallie Rowland, who led the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission, beginning in the late 1970s. Marsh Davis, current president of Indiana Landmarks, says Rowland’s preservation and community revitalization efforts have driven her for over 40 years, especially at a time when historic preservation was not a popular idea.
"She relied on fairness and calm rationality to steer the commission’s designation of landmarks and historic districts, including Circle Theatre, Union Station, Chatham-Arch, Fletcher Place, Wholesale District, and the Old Northside," said Davis. "Sallie Rowland played a major role in that transformation in part by injecting joy into the process of preserving historic places."
As part of the Williamson Prize, Rowland receives a $1,000 cash award and the Williamson Prize sculpture.
Indiana Landmarks presented the Servaas Memorial Awards to the Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development in the nonprofit organization category, as well as Fountain County Landmarks in the youth-serving category.
HAND was recognized with a $2,000 cash award for its work in restoring three historic buildings that now provide low-income housing. Indiana Landmarks says the effort has revived a blighted area near downtown Noblesville.
Fountain County Landmarks was recognized with a $1,000 award for its program to educate students in Attica about the city’s history which includes field trips to the Cottrell Village museum complex. Davis says, "The program establishes the value of historic places in the minds of young children."
This is the second time Fountain County Landmarks has received the Servaas award, making it only the fourth group to become a repeat winner in the award’s 41-year history.