Mt. Pleasant to host meeting on historic survey of downtown

A public meeting on the historical and architectural survey project for the buildings in downtown Mount Pleasant will be held on Monday, Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room on the third story of Union Block (111 W. Monroe St). Project consultant Rebecca Lawin McCarley of SPARK Consulting, Cedar Rapids, will present information on the project. This historical survey began in June, and it will continue into early 2024.

This project is spearheaded by the Mount Pleasant Historic Preservation Commission and funded by Certified Local Government (CLG) grant. Main Street Mount Pleasant and Henry County Heritage Trust are partners with the commission on this project, supporting their efforts to recognize the significant history and architecture found in downtown Mount Pleasant. The goal of the historical and architectural survey is to research and evaluate the significance of the individual buildings in downtown Mount Pleasant, as well as assess the possibility of listing a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in the future.

The survey area for the project encompasses the buildings around the square, as well as additional historic commercial buildings extending out from the square along Jefferson St, Main St, Monroe St, Washington St, and adjacent blocks. A total of 139 downtown properties are included in this project. The resources in downtown Mount Pleasant are primarily commercial, with some additional public, religious, and residential buildings as well.

The public meeting on Monday, Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. will be followed immediately by a volunteer meeting for current volunteers and training for any additional residents interested in volunteering to assist with the project. Volunteers are needed to complete research, type research summaries, and take photographs. No previous experience is needed – interested volunteers of all backgrounds can make positive contributions to this project.