City and county team up for historic preservation

What is past is prologue.

The City of Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission and the Monroe County Historic Preservation Board of Review are partnering up to celebrate Historic Preservation Month.?

For the second year, the city commission and county board will sponsor the Old House Expo featuring local museums. Expert craftsmen and carpenters will also be in attendance 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the City Hall atrium.

Organizers hope the Expo will draw attention to the importance of hiring people with appropriate skills and expertise to repair and restore historic properties, according to a press release.

The two offices will also collaborate to host the Rosemary Miller Lecture Series May 17 in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

This year’s theme for the lecture series is IU’s history of limestone architecture. The keynote speaker will be former IU Vice President Terry Clapacs, co-author of the incoming “Indiana University: America’s Legacy Campus.”

Neil Rippingale will also be presenting about dry stone masonry.

The lectures are free and open to the public.

For more information about Historic Preservation Month, contact Nancy Hiestand at 812-349-3507.

— Samantha Felix