Council designates Klingensmith Farmstead and Wilkinson Hall House as local historic districts

The Carmel Common Council voted to designate two properties as local historic districts on Oct. 20: the Klingensmith Pettenner Farmstead at 14420 Cherry Tree Road (ordinance D27 92-25) and the Wilkinson Hall House at 2724 East Smoky Row (ordinance D27 93-25). Both measures were recommended unanimously by the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission and were approved by the council.

Mark (Carmel Historic Preservation Commission staff) presented the Klingensmith Pettenner nomination and described the site as an early-20th-century bungalow (1913) with a barn, chicken coop and other outbuildings that together represent Carmels agricultural history. "This is one of the last vestiges of Carmel's agricultural history," Mark said, and the commission recommended local designation.

Rosemary Petner, the current owner and applicant, spoke in support of the designation, describing herself as a longtime caretaker of the property and noting the Klingensmith family's long history in the area.

For the Wilkinson Hall House, Mark described a property with a log section believed to date from c.1835 and a later brick addition from the 1850s. The house had been under interim protection and later donated to a preservation organization; adjacent homeowners Matt and Erin Hubert purchased the property and have begun stabilization work. Matt Hubert told the council the family had started structural improvements and intends to preserve the building in perpetuity.

Both designations passed after brief council comment and unanimous votes. Councilors said the actions preserved tangible connections to Carmel's early settlement and agricultural past.

Ending: The designations will be implemented according to the city's historic-preservation ordinance and will require review of future exterior changes through the Historic Preservation Commission.