The Center for Historical Preservation at Ball State University opened this summer with its first project at Metamora Mill and the Millville Lock on the Whitewater Canal.
"It is intended to be an outreach arm of the Master's of Science in Historic Preservation Degree in the College of Architecture and Planning," Director of the Center for Historic Preservation Jim Glass said.
"The center will provide both historical preservation services to Indiana communities, nonprofit organizations and government agencies but also provide professional experiences to the students in the degree program," Glass said.
This summer, three Ball State graduate student interns are working to prepare a historical structures report on the Metamora Mill and Millville Lock.
The team's research will provide the Division of State Museums and Historic Sites with a detailed report about the history of architecture and the evolution of the locks and mill.
Graduate student Kent Abraham said the project helps to follow the changes of the area.
"It's a narrative history of the sites as they have evolved over time," Abraham said. "There is a chain of events that happened, and we're all documenting and researching them."
Project coordinator Susan Lankford said the interns are researching the history and changes in the mill and lock through historic photographs to look at how they have changed. The interns also produce measured drawings of the mill and locks for research that might effect restoration of the structures.
Graduate student Jennifer Brewer said that working for the Center of Historical Development gives her a look into history.
"We get a comprehensive view of everything that's at the mill from its beginning to the present," Brewer said.
Beverly Pitts, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, organized an advisory board of civic leaders from around the state to raise funds and help establish the center during the last academic year.
"The board advised to raise a start-up fund for the center for a three-year demo period then seek larger grants as the center established a track record," Glass said.
The advisory helped raise money for the first year of operation, and several sponsors made pledges to support the center over the three years, Glass said.
The Department of Natural Resources provided approximately $90,000 from the Historical Preservation Fund of the National Park Service. Glass said the center uses this money to fund projects like the one at the Whitewater Canal.
The center also plans to work locally with the Muncie Public Library, Ball State's Teacher's College, Burris Laboratory School and Minnetrista Cultural Center to create a heritage education program in Muncie's elementary schools.
Bob Bettis is a grad student doing research for the Metamora project and said the Center for Historic Preservation will give students more of a chance to do interesting work.
"This project has been satisfying professionally, but it's exciting to be on the ground floor of a program that can have a lot of impact," Bettis said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
