Newspaper Spotlights Sophomore's Interest in Historic Preservation

August 14, 2005

East College 2005 4.jpg August 14, 2005, Greencastle, Ind. - "Ryan Barton is a college student with a promising future," begins an article in Indiana's Rushville Republican on Barton, a DePauw University sophomore. "A well-spoken 2004 graduate of Rushville Consolidated High School, he now attends DePauw where he anticipates studying theatre or a subject closer to his heart, historical renovation. Barton recently approached Rushville Mayor Bob Bridges and the Rushville City Council with a plea that they too take an interest in the downtown area of Rushville, which he says is rich in history and is in serious, immediate danger of becoming extinct."

Barton tells the newspaper, "It is sad to see that this community has something that is historical and economical, sitting in the middle of our town. I know that our local government puts a lot of needed effort into situations like abandoned cars and weeds growing too tall. I feel like if we took that same concentration and put it also towards the problem that we are facing in our downtown area we could change the future of our city. Doing nothing, or only the minimum to preserve these historic buildings in our town, only sets us up for disaster."

Rushville's mayor has encouraged Barton to join Heart of Rushville, an organization that works to preserve and promote the historic downtown business district. Barton has also inquired about obtaining a federal grant to restore Melodeon Hall, built in 1872. The DePauw student notes, "New buildings are glass and brick front, and older structures are just so much more involved. I enjoy tracing the history and really the genealogy of a building, especially the ones in Rushville, because they are close to my heart. Construction now doesn’t have marble columns and designed facades, those are characteristic of certain eras in history and tell a story about this city’s past. I think that is worth saving."