Legion Hut, Courthouse receive restoration grants

Governor Mike Beebe, Department of Arkansas Heritage Director Cathie Matthews and Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Director Frances McSwain congratulate Lawrence W. Ashlock for receiving a grant for American Legion Lamp Hendrix Post 26. (Photo provided) [Click to enlarge]

Governor Mike Beebe announced last week that the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, has awarded $2,048,177 in grants for projects in 35 Arkansas counties through its County Courthouse Restoration Subgrant, Historic Preservation Restoration Grant, Certified Local Government Grant and Documentary Media Grant programs.

Poinsett County received a $109,856 County Courthouse Restoration Subgrant for roof restoration at the 1917 courthouse in Harrisburg and Lamb-Hendrix American Legion Post No. 26 in Lepanto received a $12,300 Historic Preservation Restoration Grant for renovations at its 1937 Legion hut.

Twenty-four projects shared $832,000 in Historic Preservation Restoration Grants, which distribute funds raised through the Real Estate Transfer Tax to rehabilitate buildings listed on the Arkansas or National Registers of Historic Places and owned by local governments or not-for-profit organizations. Grant requests totaled $1,599,002.

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is the agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage responsible for identifying, evaluating, registering and preserving the state's cultural resources. Other agencies are the Arkansas Arts Council, the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, the Old State House Museum, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Historic Arkansas Museum.