TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — On Monday officials fronting the efforts to restore a historic former bank building in downtown Terre Haute shared an update.
The old First National Bank building on Wabash Avenue was donated by the First Financial Corporation to Indiana Landmarks in 2018.
Since then, Indiana Landmarks has been working to rehabilitate the structure. Tommy Kleckner is with the organization and he said they’ve stabilized most of the exterior and cleaned out the interior.
The next step is bringing in an architect to fully develop the rehabilitation plan. That will involve restoring the murals and plaster on the ceiling inside the banking hall. Klecker said that step is one of the final components of the project.
“Right now I’m standing in what I consider to be the most significant feature of this building. As beautiful as the facade is, this banking hall is the wow factor,” Klecker said. “It is one of the, if not the most significant, historic commercial interiors aside from the Indiana Theater.”
As previously reported, Indiana Landmarks received a $300,000 grant from the Jeffris Family Foundation in Wisconsin. The funding will go towards the mural and plaster restoration.
Indiana Landmarks will be responsible for raising an additional $600,000 for the project.
