By MARGARET L. WILLIS

Dune Acres town council members heard Tuesday that the town’s clubhouse, a three story, log built structure, is unusual and definitely worth working to preserve.

Todd Zeiger, Northern regional director with the Historical Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, spent some time Tuesday examining the building and said Dune Acres has a “wonderful secret.”

His first view of the structure came as a “surprise,” he said.

“A three story log structure is unheard of in this part of the country,” he said; they are more expected in western mountain states.

The building is “in remarkable condition for its age,” he added, noting that a log built structure is difficult to maintain and preserve.

In his short review on a cold, windy day, Zeiger said he saw some issues which need to be addressed on the building, but “nothing insurmountable.”

The Historical Landmarks Foundation, a 501 C-3 not-for-profit, non-governmental agency, has both a grant fund and a revolving loan fund to provide technical assistance for preservation, Zeiger told the council.

The organization is privately funded and functions on endowment funds, memberships and donations, he said.

“We have 11,000 members and employ 50 full-time people,” he told the council. “We’re the largest preservation organization of our kind in the U.S.”

The Foundation could provide bid proposal assistance and advice, Zeiger said.

“I recommend you get at least two or three various bids and compare them on approach and ideas and cost,” he said.

If the town becomes a member of the organization, it could become eligible for financial assistance for the clubhouse preservation project in the form of matching grants or revolving loans.

Zeiger, presenting the council with a resource directory of companies capable of providing the technical expertise to pursue the project, said “We need to step back, make a plan and prioritize.”

Dividing the process into short, medium and long range projects is the first step, Zeiger said.

Council members sought and received assurances that no restrictions on the use or construction on the building would occur if the structure were listed on the National Historic Register.

“Restrictions, such as those you are referring to would come with a locally enacted listing,” he said.

The National Register has no such restrictions, it simply protects the structure from other possible government uses, either state or federal, such as condemnation for roads.

“I would encourage you to nominate the clubhouse,” he said, “and adding the other log structures in town.”

For more information on the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana visit www.historiclandmarks.org

Posted 3/16/2005