Council grants local historic designation to 1905 Woodman Hall to support rehabilitation and grant eligibility

The Fountain City Council voted Aug. 26 to grant local historic‑site designation to the 1905 Woodman Hall, a long‑standing commercial and civic building across from City Hall that the Fountain Urban Renewal Authority acquired in 2018. City staff told council the building, erected circa 1905 for Camp 231 of Woodmen of the World, has served multiple community functions — including a general store, post office, movie and performance theater, roller rink and civic meeting hall — and exhibits Italianate exterior features such as recessed corner entry and lozenge‑pattern windows. Planning staff said local designation would allow the site to qualify for a 2025 State Historic Fund competitive grant only if the property has local, state or federal historic designation. Planning Commission reviewed the nomination Aug. 6 and recommended approval by a 5–1 vote. The council approved Resolution 25‑037 granting local historic designation by a 6–0 vote. The designation does not prevent sale of the property, city staff said; instead it establishes a local review framework that can control or guide alterations and that can be used when applying for preservation grants. Council member Herzberg moved to approve the resolution; Council member Hinton seconded.