A formerly endangered church is now home to a regional office as well as a performing arts venue and community center.
Indiana Landmarks played a role in saving the former Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church.
In late March, the Indianapolis-based historic preservation organization moved its Eastern Regional Office into what’s now called The Reid Center at 1004 N. A St. in Richmond.
Indiana Landmarks placed the 1906 church building on its 10 Most Endangered list in 2019 and 2020, after the church closed six years ago.
Local volunteers have partnered with Indiana Landmarks and Whitewater Valley Presbytery to find a new use for the church that’s full of Tiffany stained-glass windows.
“We’re so pleased to be part of the remarkable collaboration that renews Reid Memorial’s status as a community asset,” said Marsh Davis, Indiana Landmarks president, in a news release. “We hope our tenancy will assist not only in preserving the remarkable structure but in supporting ongoing revitalization in the surrounding neighborhood.”
Brittany Miller, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Eastern Regional Office, and Stevie Meyer, community preservation specialist, will work in Reid Center.
The Reid Center is in Richmond’s Starr Historic District, a current entry on Indiana Landmarks’ 10 Most Endangered list. By relocating to the Starr neighborhood, the organization hopes to emphasize its investment in the area.
“This is a special moment for us,” Miller said in the release. “After working for years to save the church, we’re thrilled to be among Reid Center’s first tenants and excited to be part of one of Richmond’s most important historic districts.”
It’s the first time Indiana Landmarks’ Eastern Regional Office has relocated since the statewide organization established a presence in eastern Indiana in 1974.
The Eastern Regional Office was previously in the historic Huddleston Farmhouse in Cambridge City.
In 2023, Indiana Landmarks sold the Huddleston property with protective covenants to organic farmers Tyler and Gentry Gough. They are using it as a private farm and educational site.
The Reid Center at a glance
The Gothic limestone building at 1004 N. A St. in Richmond boasts 62 stained-glass windows by Tiffany Studios, a 1905 Hook and Hastings pipe organ and a 1902 Starr Piano Company 9-foot concert grand piano.
Many of the concerts and other events in Reid Center are free for the public. Find a full schedule at reidcenter.org. Volunteers are sought.
Donations toward preservation can be made online or mailed to P.O. Box 2543, Richmond, IN 47374. For more information, call 765-966-7618.
Indiana Landmarks at a glance
The nonprofit Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. It offers information about how to repair old buildings and find contractors, tax breaks, grants and loans.
Brittany Miller, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Eastern Regional Office, can be reached at 765-478-3172 or bmiller@indianalandmarks.org.
A version of this article appeared in the May 1 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.