Wabash Valley Plaque Program

Click here for PLAQUE PRE-APPLICATION   (PDF)

1. What is the Wabash Valley Trust plaque program?

The Wabash Valley Trust's plaque program recognizes this region's outstanding historic architecture and those people in our community who lovingly restore and maintain these treasures. Since the program's creation in 1989, over 200 plaques have been awarded.

2. What is the purpose of the plaque program?

The purpose of the Wabash Valley Trust's plaque program is to recognize architecturally significant buildings through the evaluation of their restoration, preservation, and historic integrity. Today, buildings that display the Wabash Valley Trust plaque stand as a visible sign of support for historic preservation in our region. Each serves as a point of community pride and as an inspiration to restore other buildings.

3. When are they awarded?

In May and in November.

4. How does one receive a plaque?

Anyone can pick up an application at the Wabash Valley Trust's office or it may be downloaded here as a PDF file:PRE-PLAQUE APPLICATION. A Trust committee evaluates the plaque applications. To be eligible, the properties must be at least 50 years old, have a high degree of historic integrity, and be listed in the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory: Tippecanoe Country Interim Report. The property must also be restored according to a local interpretation of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

5. What are the criteria for receiving a plaque?

Revised January, 2006
The structure must meet 5 of the criteria listed below:

1.   Was the building built prior to 1936, as stipulated by the National Preservation Act of 1966?  http://www.achp.gov/nhpa.html

2.   Is the building historically significant? (If it was not built prior to 1936, could its history qualify it?).  In what way?   Is it listed in the "Lafayette Notebook on Historic structures"?  Does the A,B,C, or D of historical significance apply:
Association - is the house associated any with any major event or person?
'Big ’ people - historically significant owners?
'Cute' house - is the house’s architecture unique?
Data - is there archeological significance?

3.   Is the building proudly maintained by owner or tenant?

4.   Is the building basically unchanged from its original appearance?

5.   If less than 50% changed, are additions, updates, or restorations true to original style, at least acceptably compatible? Are the changes more than 50 years old?

6.   If more than 50% changed, are the changes more than 50 years old and well designed, at least acceptably compatible?
Note: Acceptable changes must be well designed, compatible (fitting in with the aesthetic sense: scale, balance, proportion), added to help beautify as well as add to the function of the building.
In the case of criteria not having been met, suggestions should be listed for changes that would make the building acceptable.