After seeing historic architecture and art of Indiana, a Muncie interior designer was inspired to renovate a 108-year-old house in downtown Muncie.
Seeing the need of renovation in many old houses, Russell Irving, who has shown houses in Anderson, said he contacted the Delaware County Historical Society's Heritage Lifestyles Committee to help support the Midwest Restoration Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Irving said he wanted to connect people to get the feel of these old homes, while being in connection with suppliers and vendors.
"We saw a lot of historic buildings," he said. "We wanted to start up a rolling fund. The street festival came about from people wanting to find vendors or contacts."
Irving said a particular house at 616 East Adams St. caught his attention. Built in 1904, the house has classic columns along with a large collection of art from Indiana. One of these collections is worth around $10,000.
"We want to give the house more history than just being decorated," Irving said.
The former residents of the house, who currently reside in Washington, heard about the project. Soon after, they gave Irving and his committee access to the original blueprint. The family also shipped belongings of the original builder to Irving.
"They feel reunited with grandma's house, and they have decided to come from Washington to see the house," Irving said.
He said he believes the house is worth checking out, even if people are not into history of antiques.
"Seeing the original pictures from the time of the gas boom, around the late 1800s and early 1900s - this is the center of art and culture at the turn of the 20th century," Irving said.
One aspect of this house lies in the architecture of the front porch, where half of it folds up into an eating area.
Having recently moved back to Muncie and being from the city, Irving said he believes in the preservation and restoration of the historic parts of Muncie.
"I was always told to bloom where you're planted," Irving said. "Muncie needs a shot in the arm."
While he was away from the city, Irving said homes that seemed fixed when he left now need work.
"Under the wrong impression, homes which had been boosted were looking shabby," Irving said.
Another important proponent of the festival is from the BBC Project Historic Muncie, an immersive learning project in its second year. Leading the project is Chris Flook, a telecommunications instructor.
"The students have been doing a great job working on teams," Flook said.
These teams work on various aspects of festivals, including but not limited to the logistics and marketing of the festival, making documentaries and popularizing the idea of preserving and restoring historic Muncie.
"There's been a growing interest in restoration," Flook said. "The students have been working tirelessly to make sure their efforts are recognized."
Though the Midwest Restoration Festival was an effort created independent of the BBC Historic Muncie project, there is cooperation between the two groups.
"We have similar objectives and share our resources," Flook said.
Flook said there are 12 historic districts of Muncie and the immersive learning team is working hard to spread the word and recognition of preservation and restoration.
"I don't know if many students are able to get out to the older parts of Muncie, especially around downtown," Flook said.
For the first year of the immersive learning project, students made short videos and helped create historicmuncie.org. On the website, they detail the different kinds of architecture and provide a guide to different homes and architectural styles present in the United States.
The Midwest Restoration Festival coincides with the 36th annual Old Washington Street Festival and Historic Home Tour on Saturday and Sunday. The Old Washington Street Festival provides a Victorian-themed street festival with crafts, food, entertainment and a historic home tour. The Midwest Restoration Festival will bring restoration vendors to customers through booths, demonstrations, how-to workshops and the Designers Restoration Showhouse located at 616 East Adams St. The festival will cover the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of East Adams Street.
FOR MORE INFO: midwestrestorefest.org
Muncie Restoration Festival
WHERE: 600, 700 and 800 blocks of East Adams Street
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday
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