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Source Lafayette/West Lafayette Nostalgia Facebook

Lafayette, IN is an old river city, caught in a tug-of-war between growth and her rich heritage. Part of what makes Lafayette so special is the historical architecture, the old neighborhoods, wrought-iron fences, necropolises of white marble, and much more. As time marches on, often we find that the things that make our community special can fall prey to "progress" and decay. Soon the things that make our city special can quickly vanish. Lafayette knows this all too well. Despite having survived relatively unscathed the "urban renewal" years of 1950-1990, we've lost many important landmarks, not only in our long history, but also in our recent past. As we revive our downtown, it's essential that we find a way to protect our historical architecture in order to protect what makes downtown attractive in the first place. Our very icon as a city, our beloved courthouse, is a symbol of what historic preservation can provide. However, I don't believe this can be achieved with hostility or division. Many opponents of historic preservation have understandable concerns about cost, practicality, and how much historic preservation may affect their property rights. So how do we protect our city's history while being inclusive? I commend the impressive work of Wabash Valley Trust and the efforts of our city's historic preservation committee. The goal of this blog is to explore Lafayette's history and architecture in a way that connects us all to these "old buildings" and places. Cuz you don't know what you got till it's gone..

Source Lafayette/West Lafayette Nostalgia Facebook