*Avriel Shull* has finally made it. Almost 3 years after I started work on the nomination for the Thornhurst Addition Historic District the National Park Service has recognized Thornhurst with listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The addition is listed under Criterion C for its intact Mid-Century Modern architecture by a master designer/builder, Avriel Shull. And it's listed as an exception to the 50-years or older age requirement because, even though some of the homes are not yet 50 years old, the work is so significant it merits recognition.
Thornhurst is now Indiana's first MCM addition to be on the National Register. I'm thrilled that Marsh Davis of Indiana Landmarks asked me to research and write this project. Marsh knew about my interest and research into Mid-Century Modern design stretching back 15 years or more to when I was the owner of a 20th Century vintage modern shop, durwyn smedley 20th century, as well as a historian.
This nomination brought all my past work and research into play, and it was a hard sell requiring lots of extra research, photos, money and time. But it payed off in the end. Yeah for Indiana! Yeah for Avriel Shull! Yeah for Thornhurst!
You can read the National Register nomination here: http://1.usa.gov/btb0vj
Congratulations! That is fabulous news.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's exciting to see it finally listed!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI drove by there last weekend to check it out the area. The first house pictured above has been repainted -- yuk! Interesting area with a few that don't fit architectually -- too bad.
ReplyDelete7 houses were built or moved into the addition after Avriel's death.It's still the most intact MCM neighborhood in the area. All 21 of her designed homes are still there, though a few have been altered a bit, mostly by painting the simulated masonry--big no no.
ReplyDeleteSome of the masonry veneer has always been painted though, as in the house mentioned above.
ReplyDeleteHm. I don't know about "always." But I suspect that when it was new it wasn't painted. Many of the homes have simulated masonry; only a few are painted and at least three of those were painted within the last few years. I don't know if they had been previously painted or not but I'd guess they weren't painted originally. Have you been around since the Thornhurst houses were new? If so, I'd be really interested in a conversation with you.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, paint color is a personal choice and it isn't a permanent change and therefore not much of an issue. Painting brick or masonry that's not previously painted is a bigger issue cause once it's been painted there's no going back.
ReplyDeleteI like what Courtney has to say about her Thornhurst home. http://courtneysblerg.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteYour timing is amazing. I discovered the neighborhood a few months ago as I was driving through Carmel. Like a week later, I saw your article in Urban Times. So cool!
ReplyDeleteAs a MCM fan, I truly appreciate the work you did to promote and preserve this awesome neighborhood.
Thanks, James. I love Thornhurst and getting to write the National Register nomination for it. The neighbors there have done the good work of keeping it historic and the city actually funded the National Register project. There is something historic in Carmel!
ReplyDelete