Indiana Preservationist 1977

              the
Historic
Landmarks
Foundation
of Indiana
Indiana Preservationist
3402 Boulevard Place, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208
Spring 1977
Eli Lilly 1885-1977
Mr. Eli Lilly, Chairman Emeritus of
Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana,
died in Indianapolis on 24 January 1977.
He was 91 years old.
"He loved Indiana and he loved
Indianapolis, and due to his
influence, future generations are
going to reap rich benefits from
initiatives that he fostered. But
the most remarkable thing about
Mr. Lilly was his gentle human
spirit."
—Herman B Wells,   Chancellor
of Indiana University and
HLFI board member
Historic Landmarks Foundation of
Indiana will always be aware of Eli
Lilly's shaping spirit, for it was his own
belief in the importance of preservation
that led to the creation and initial
endowment of this organization.
In characteristic unassuming fashion,
Mr, Lilly bestowed countless gifts on
Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana
through the years. He was unfailingly
modest about his donations, even when
the sums involved were something short
of modest. Always, they came without
strings, and without any name-the-
building-after-me pressure.  In fact,
his gifts were often delivered with a
request that he remain anonymous as the
donor. H. Roll McLaughlin, chairman
Donations in memory of Mr, Lilly may be
made to the Foster Hall Restoration Fund
of Park-Tudor School in Indianapolis.
Foster Hall (left) was built on the Lilly
Orchard property in 1927 by J. K. Lilly,
Sr0 The property was given to the school
in 1965 by the Lilly familyo Foster Hall
is now being restored as a living
memorial to Eli Lilly,,
Madison's "winning" Main Street chosen
Early in March, the Midwest Office
of the National Trust for Historic
Preservation announced the selection of
three winners from among the ten towns
entered in its Main Street Project
competitiono The Ohio River town of
Madison, Indiana, walked off with the
contest's high-scoring honors and was
one of those chosen to participate in
the demonstration program,, Lafayette,
the only other Hoosier city in the
final ten, was passed over in favor of
Galesburg, Illinois, and Hot Springs,
South Dakota,
The Main Street Project is exclusive
to the Midwest, and was developed in
response to the number of requests for
assistance in Main Street restoration
received by the Trust's Midwest Office
in 1976. The project is intended to
proceed through three phases: the three
demonstration projects; publication of
a practical handbook and a 20-minute
film; and co-sponsorship of a national
conference.
Madison and the other two towns
selected for the demonstration phase
will receive 18 months of intensive
assistance in laying the groundwork for
Main Street restoration. National
Trust staff will work with Madisonfs
community leaders in analyzing the
economic and physical condition of Main
Street, as well as assessing its
potential. The project team will then
develop an illustrated comprehensive
plan for Main Street's physical and
economic revitalization. The plan will
emphasize organization and coordination,
but will also feature design guidelines
for storefronts, signage, landscaping,
and street furniture.
Because of the need for well-designed
and executed models, the Trust considers
the success of the demonstration towns
a crucial aspect of the program. The
selection process was therefore highly
competitive, and was based on strict,
detailed criteria. Robert Carter, Main
Street Project director for the Trust,
visited the ten semifinalist towns in
order to rate them in the following
areas: architectural character of the
central business district; economic
of the board of Historic Landmarks and
a close personal friend of Mr. Lilly's,
has remarked: "His generosity is so
extensive that one could fill a book
and not cover everything." Historic
Landmarks received yet another, more
than generous amount upon Mr. Lilly's
deatho
Throughout his life, Mr. Lilly was a
devoted student of history, particularly
of Indiana history, and he possessed
a historian's uniquely insightful
perspective on the world. From his
father and grandfather, he inherited
his belief in "the incalculable value
of sound traditions," both in business
and private life. From them Mr. Lilly
also inherited an acute sense of personal
and family responsibility. He took
seriously his grandfather's admonition
to "take what you find here and make it
better."
Eli Lilly's financial support of
historic preservation was, therefore,
not a merely nostalgic or sentimental
indulgence of his wealth, but rather
an expression of his infoimed conviction
of its importance. He recognized that
a lively sense of the past gives
direction to the future. Preservation
and restoration were, in his mind,
ways of taking what is found here and
making it better.
A recent saying that seems sage
States sissies are not for old age
But kind words from friends
Make full amends
And certify we haven't turned the last page.
Cordially,
jfin>
Main Street storefronts (above) will
receive attention in the comprehensive
plan produced by the Trust's project team.
capacity; organizational ability; and
administrative ability. Madison's
score topped Carter's chart. Strong
business and community support for
downtown restoration helped in securing
the town's first place finish.