Delphi Preservation Society Cuts the Ribbon for the Façade…
 
Bright sunshine lit the face of the Assion-Ruffing City Hall and the faces of the ribbon cutters on Saturday, November 10 as the Delphi Preservation Society commemorated the completion of the Façade Restoration Project.  Mayor Lee Hoard represented the City of Delphi at the ceremony and shared the honors of cutting the ribbon with Jim Glass, head of the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology at Indiana's Department of Natural Resources. DHPA administered the Historic Preservation Fund grant that the Society was awarded in 2006 from the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service. Grants were also received from the Carroll County Community Foundation, the Carroll County REMC Operation Roundup, and the Efroymson Fund, a CICF Fund.
 
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, November 10, 2007
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lynn Corson, DPS Project Manager for the Façade Restoration, was presented a certificate of appreciation by DPS president Anita Werling for his leadership and management of the project. Also acknowledged were the granting agencies, the City of Delphi, the architect and contractors for the project, as well as the many volunteers. On hand at the event was Dick Traeger, Traeger & Company, who rebuilt the balcony—complete with pendants seen in earlier photos of the building, repairing and painting the cornice on the center and south end of the building, and replicating and installing the cornice elements that had been missing from the north end of the building for decades. Contractors unable to attend were Bill Jackson, Heinrich Construction, who restored the windows on the second and third floors of the building; and Sam Smith, the Old World Company, who fabricated and installed the striped canvas awnings over the first floor storefronts.
 
Nearly forty enthusiasts looked on as the ribbon was cut for the Façade Restoration Project. These and many others enjoyed refreshments inside the building while viewing posters highlighting the façade transformation. Opera house tours were also offered throughout the afternoon. For those unable to climb the steep steps, a slide show ran continuously inside the building presenting views of the Opera House and information about the Society's plans to restore it as a performing arts center.

 

The event was covered by Eric Weddle of Lafayette's Journal and Courier. His article may be viewed by clicking this link: http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071111/NEWS/711110337/1141/NEWS

 

The Delphi Preservation Society received editorial praise for its activities in the November 13, 2007 Opinions article "Dedicated to Restoring Delphi history." The editorial may be viewed at this link:

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071113/OPINION/71113008/1144/OPINION