Home ownership is expensive for anyone. As you might imagine, however, preserving and restoring a 175-year-old structure comes with additional costs beyond typical home maintenance. There is more likelihood of a need for work to do be done, and those repairs are anything but standard, which increases the cost as well. The preservation easement with Indiana Landmarks requires us to keep the exterior of the home true to its historical architecture. We have no problem with that whatsoever, since that’s exactly what we want to do! But again… added cost. The “first-class condition” clause of the deed is a little intimidating since we are pretty ordinary, “middle-class” citizens (we both work in education). So far, it has been manageable, but the day may come when an expensive repair with a deadline for completion is a struggle. If that day comes, we hope the community will come along side us! We like to think that preserving history is not a privilege reserved only for the very wealthy. We are grateful that Indiana Landmarks has been reasonable in their timetable for bringing the home up to the expected condition.
In addition to the potential need for help at some point, we also know that many in the community greatly value this house and would like to be part of it’s preservation, even if it is a private residence. We have been asked if we have a fund for donations set up, but we have not taken this step because we feel we need to fulfill our financial responsibility on our own as long as the requirements don’t exceed our means. However, there are other ways we would welcome community support! Read the posts below to see how you can help us in our efforts to preserve this landmark if you have read this far and are so inclined. We will add to this page as opportunities and needs arise.
The Markle House 