Tuesday was a busy day, and only now have I found the time to describe the evening’s stroll from our home to three neighborhood functions taking place nearby on Spring Street in New Albany.
First stop was the Carnegie Center for Art and History, where WAVE-TV’s Troubleshooter Informational Seminar took place. Several local agencies were present, along with representatives of neighborhood associations and at least one city council member, Steve Price.
Our East Spring Street Neighborhood Association’s relentless leader, Greg Roberts, was holding court when we arrived, showing photos of neighborhood properties that are in violation of ordinances with respect to appearance and upkeep. Ordinances regulate these aspects of ownership, but the ordinances are not enforced, and enforcement is the gist of the association’s current activities.
While there, we learned that the house for sale across the street no longer houses tenants because one of them had been running a meth lab from the kitchen and washing hazardous chemicals down the drains. It isn’t clear whether the tenant fled or was arrested, and we don’t know what the future holds for the property.
We also learned that the fascinating but condemned house on 11th Street (between Market and Spring) once was an elegant mansion before being purchased by a landlord little interested in maintenance. Is there hope for the building? Greg Roberts is investigating.
Next was the short walk to Destinations Booksellers for the new shop’s inaugural dessert night. I chatted with owners Randy and Ann, and with Brandon, a recent aquaintance and pub customer who has posted his thoughts several times on NA Confidential.
At seven, the Floyd County Historical Society met at the Calumet (cal-you-MAY) Club, a restoration-work-in-progress owned by the Bliss family.
Dick Bliss is pouring money and soul into a loving remodeling of the building into a home for his wife Mary Pat’s travel business, and also a banquet and conference center. The family was out in force for the occasion, and of course it was marvelous seeing all of them.
The building itself was constructed in the 1920’s, and was the home of a post-Great War meeting place for returning servicemen. Bankrupted by the Depression, the group sold out to the local textile workers union, which leased part of it to the federal government for use as New Albany’s military induction center.
In turn, with no union shops remaining hereabouts, the union cashed in its chips a few years back and sold the building to Bliss, who has been working ever since to return it to viability, and is succeeding magnificently.
Diana and I joined the Floyd County Historical Society for the very fair price of $2.00 per year, each, and returned home for a nightcap. Sometimes, even if only for a moment, New Albany seems to make sense.
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