Meeting on Wayland historic district set for April 18

The Henry County Historic Preservation Commission would like to invite any interested residents to a public informational meeting on the proposed West Main Residential Historic District and the National Register of Historic Places.

The meeting will be held on Monday April 18 at 7 p.m. at the Wayland Community Center, 218 W. Main St., Wayland.

Property owners and other interested residents are encouraged to attend to learn more about nominating the potential historic district to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and the benefits of owning a property listed on the NRHP.

This meeting will serve as an opportunity to answer questions as well as an opportunity to gauge public support for the proposed nomination.

The proposed West Main Residential Historic District includes the 300 block and part of the 400 block of West Main Street in Wayland. The potential historic district includes 16 properties with approximately 21 contributing resources (historic houses and garages) and six non-contributing resources.

Additional history on the neighborhood will be presented at the meeting.

A map of the proposed historic district also will be available at the meeting.

In 2015-16, the Henry County Historic Preservation Commission conducted a reconnaissance level survey of the entire town of Wayland as well as Jefferson Township.

Many local residents volunteered as part of this project, and historic houses, businesses, churches, farms, and other buildings were identified as part of this project.

Preliminary historic information was collected on the properties in Wayland, including the houses along West Main Street. This potential “West Main Residential Historic District” was identified through this previous survey work.

Project consultant Rebecca Lawin McCarley will present information on the proposed historic district, about the National Register of Historic Places, and on the benefits of listing and financial incentive programs for properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places at the meeting. McCarley notes that no additional restrictions are placed on property owners who have buildings listed in a historic district.

With local support for the project, the Henry County Historic Preservation Commission (HCHPC) would likely move forward with the consultant on this project during the summer, starting with completing additional research on each property within the proposed West Main Residential Historic District as well as research on the neighborhood as a whole.

Anyone who might be interested in assisting with research or who has historic information or photographs of these properties is encouraged to attend the meeting on April 18 or contact the HCHPC.