Marine Hospital - Louisville - Restoration

This past Thursday, a group a New Albanians toured the United States Marine Hospital in Louisville. Like a lot of Hoosiers, I drive past it nearly every day on Interstate 64. The progress that has been made there is astounding.

The hospital is a one of a kind. It is the only surviving example of an original inland marine hospital in the country. It is also one of only seven National Historic Landmarks in Louisville.

In other words, it is a treasure. Learn more about it at MarineHospital.org

The tour focused on the restoration efforts underway. Phase 1 (exterior) is nearly complete. Schaefer General Contracting Services managed the work and facilitated the tour along with Rick Bell, Executive Director U.S. Marine Hospital Foundation.

A sampling of photographs is below. The full spread can be viewed at Ted’s SmugMug website in the history gallery.

Of particular interest to me was how a project like this is funded. Here are the stats for phase 1:

$1.5 million – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mitigation money
$500,000 – Transportation Enhancement Act Funds, 2002 and 2003
$375,000 – Save America’s Treasures grant
$125,000 – Metro Louisville
$77,000 – raised by U.S. Marine Hospital Foundation
$2,500 – Louisville Metro Council Member Cheri Bryant Hamiltons Neighborhood Development Fund awarded for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s strategic Planning Study
$2,500 – Joanna Favrot Funds for Historic Preservation through the National Trust for Historic Preservation
$1,200 – KY Humanities Council Grant

Funding for the next phase is being sought. Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits and New Market Tax Credits will both be pursued.

What’s the future of the building? According to Rick Bell, it will serve as an interpretive center to celebrate the historic contributions of the Hospital to public health, maritime commerce and local heritage. Plan’s are also being made for the building to host the Center for Health, Education, Training and Research. The Center will house agencies and organizations committed to improving health, with a special focus on urban underserved populations.

I highly recommend visiting the hospital website and joining the Friends of Marine Hospital. It’s a great cause to help support.

There was a part 2 of our tour this day, also facilitated by Schaefer, that was also very exciting. More on that in the next couple days.

A return to Market Street Brewery

It was about a year ago when I started doing research on the former brewery site at 10th and Market – Market Street Brewery.

The Rise and Fall of Market Street Brewery (Part 1)

Part 2 - The Rise and Fall of Market Street Brewery

Part 3 - The Rise and Fall of Market Street Brewery

At that time I could not find any old photographs of the brewery or the house that used to be at the site.

I knew sooner or later that someone would find a photo of the site. I figured that someone would be David Barksdale (Floyd County Historian) and I was right. Below are two photographs taken during a post World War 1 parade which show the Buchheit home at the corner of 10th and Market.

My quest for pic’s of the actual brewery buildings continues. Get back to work Dave!

The wood clapboard house in the picture was situated on the northwest corner at 10th and Market Street. Sadly, the home was lost to fire a few years back. The insurance map from 1886 shows the layout of the home in relation to the brewery buildings.

Mark your calendar now for May Preservation Month

Get ready to have your preservation dreams come true! We're gonna preserve your pants off! Preservation Month is coming and it's going to rock your historic world! MAY, MAY, MAY! It's Coming! You have to be there or YOU WILL BE SORRY!!!

Hmmmm... I'm not sure the Carl Casper Auto Show promotion techniques work for historic preservation. But there is some pretty cool stuff on tap for May 2007 Preservation Month.

Below is a tentative list of activities planned in New Albany. Details will follow as we get closer to May. When events are finalized, they'll be posted on the Events page at NewAlbanyPreservation.com. Every event will be free and open to the public.

Tuesday May 8th - Preservation Conversation featuring Holly Weidemann, Architect and President, AU Associates, Lexington Kentucy. Topic: Preservation Pays – Reusing Historic Buildings.

Saturday May 12th – Three Preservation Workshops in One Day. Assessing Your Historic Home, Get What You Want from Professional Contractors and Using Financial Resources to Your Advantage

Tuesday May 15th – Back By Popular Demand – Pizza and Preservation: Research Your Historic Home Workshop. Learn all you need to know to unlock the history of your home.

Saturday May 19th – Walking Tour: “Lofty Ideas” – Downtown Living Spaces. Tour highlights existing and potential living spaces in downtown New Albany.

Saturday May 26th – Walking Tour: Mansion Row. Tour Guide David Condra leads walkers on a fascinating journey back in time down Mansion Row. You don’t want to miss this!