Cataract meeting hosts Senator Bray, discusses historical preservation
The Cataract Volunteer Fire Department buzzed with the activity of residents and several guests, including Indiana District 37 State Senator Rodric Bray and a representative from Indiana preservations. Cataract resident Michelle Roy led the meeting.
Cataract is in the process of pursuing National Historic Registration status for the Cataract General Store, the historic Cataract Schoolhouse, or perhaps a whole district that includes both buildings. Noah Noble from Indiana Preservations spoke at length about the process involved for a site to become a National Historic Place. Paperwork has been filed for the three proposed sites in Cataract and will go through an initial review before moving on to another selection round. If these sites become National Historic Places they will be listed on a national register, and grant funds will become available for those locations. If the whole district is approved as a historic district, even residential homes in the area could qualify for federal grant funds for qualifying home improvements. If the initial review is approved, the process to be added to the National Register can take from 12 to 18 months.
“I’m here for my constituents, but I do live in a house built in 1870, so historical preservation is close to my heart,” Bray said.
Roy also detailed the success that the Cataract Schoolhouse had with its first year of field trips. The schoolhouse hosted 130 kids from Owen County schools. Through a partnership with the Owen County Theater and Arts Alliance, students step back in time and experience school like it was in the 1800s. Field trips are currently on hold while the schoolhouse undergoes renovations.
The Cataract General Store may also find itself with a new owner. While still in the early preliminary stages, Riley Guyer, the prospective buyer, spoke at the meeting about his plans for the store if his plan to purchase goes through.
“I’ve been in the area for seven years,” he said. “I want people to be able to walk in and see the same general store that I have been going to for years.”
More discussion included plans for the Cataract Bean Dinner, plans for collaboration with the Friends of Lieber State Recreation Area (SRA), and suggestions for more frequent smaller events to keep people coming to visit Cataract. Roy stressed that the Bean Dinner should be the big event but that smaller events, like musical guests, could happen more often that would keep a consistent stream of visitors coming to the area without overwhelming the community.
People interested in getting involved with the historic preservation efforts in Cataract or that would like to volunteer with the schoolhouse or at the Bean Dinner can reach out to Cataract Schoolhouse or Historic Cataract Indiana on Facebook or email cataractschoolhouse1886@gmail.com.
