Brainstorming meeting is set to preserve county's rich heritage
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Alone in the country The Lewis Mullin Schoolhouse on CR750 near Burrows is one county resource the Carroll County Focus on the Future sub-committee, Carroll County Historic Resources, wants to ensure is preserved. Comet photo by Debbie Lowe

How does a community protect its historic resources, make them accessible and attract tourists? How does a community develop funding streams to sustain the resources and at the same time educate each historic entity about granting assistance and other services available to them?

All are good questions for Carroll County historic groups. And all will begin to be addressed at a meeting hosted by Carroll County Focus on the Future Historic Resources Planning Committee, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Wabash & Erie Canal Interpretive Center.

Group members Bonnie Maxwell, Anita Werling and Janet Ayers want to ensure Carroll County history, and all that involves, is managed in a manner which would allow for ample volunteer efforts and offer efficient accessibility by the public, both native to the county and those who might happen by.

From the Adams Mill to the Burnett's Creek Arch, from the Mullin Schoolhouse to Slate Bluffs and historic markers such as the Trail of Death the county is rich with history. The historic resources meeting is designed to bring those interested together to develop a long-range plan to integrate the goals of all groups to set objectives, discuss fundraising, develop action plans and establish benchmarks for progress.

"It's very confusing to people," county historical and preservation society member Maxwell told the Comet Sept. 11. "There are things falling through the cracks. We think there is a lot of room for improvement with this."

"There is no specific group that manages all of these resources," Werling added.

Issues to be addressed at the meeting include:

• The number of museums and historical groups a county should have;

• Space and funding issues for the county historical museum;

• Resources available to assist owners of nationally registered resources;

• Protection and preservation of unique architectural resources;

• How to capture memories stored in the minds of older citizens; and

• How to work with the county's heritage tourism committee to promote historic resources.

Members from the county historical society, preservation society, canal park and interpretive center, Adams Mill, the Camden Museum and the heritage transportation group, as well as any concerned community members not directly affiliated with a formal group are invited to attend the brainstorming meeting.

For information contact Maxwell at (765) 564-2169 or by e-mail at bmaxwell@verizon. net.