NORTH MANCHESTER – May is National Historic Preservation Month, and the North Manchester Historic Homes Preservation Group celebrated May 13 with a special program for North Manchester residents and Indiana Landmarks members. HHPG is an affiliate of the North Manchester Historical Society, Paul Hayden of Indiana Landmarks provided an informative slide show at the Center for History, demonstrating historic paint colors in America through the years. He then provided consultation with audience members about their own vintage homes. The HHPG has been active in North Manchester for over seven years. Its home restorations include all-new heating and cooling systems, plumbing, and upgraded electrical work. All-new kitchens and bathrooms are standard. Once the homes are restored to contemporary standards, they are sold. So far, HHPG has rescued eight properties from being demolished or made into rental units, including the historic Cigar Factory and the newest acquisition on Mill Street. The group is delighted that most of the properties they renovated have been purchased by first-time homeowners who had not thought it possible to own their own homes. Indiana Landmarks is a state-wide nonprofit organization fighting to defend architecturally unique, historically significant, and communally cherished properties. They seek to save the state’s shared heritage and bring new life to communities through preservation programs, regional offices throughout the state, grant and loan programs, and technical assistance and advocacy. This is the first time the two organizations have collaborated on a joint program for their memberships, but not the first time the two organizations have joined forces to improve and preserve housing in North Manchester.
