This column’s author refinished the back door on her home (shown here after the work), removing layers of old paint to reveal the original wood, returning the door “to its former splendor”
Submitted photos
This column’s author refinished the back door on her home (shown here before the work), removing layers of old paint to reveal the original wood, returning the door “to its former splendor”
Submitted photos
Helen Reske
Sandi Butler
Tammy Bowman
By Tammy Bowman | For The Times-Post
One of the most uplifting activities you can do is take a Saturday morning stroll through the Pendleton Historic District, and the month of May is an ideal time to do so.
May weekends entice seemingly everyone out of their homes and onto the sidewalks.
In addition to greeting your neighbors, picking up a few items at the farmers market, and listening to the rushing creek, stop by one of the downtown businesses and ask for a copy of the “Pendleton Historic Tours” brochure.
The brochure gives a short list of historic highlights and a map to nearly 30 key locations to observe.
With the brochure in hand, and a keen eye for detail, you can take a walk through 200 years of development.
Pendleton has been placed in the National Register of Historic Places because of its diversity of architectural styles during continuous waves of small development from circa 1820 to present day.
In a compact and walkable area, you can observe original building styles from Federal to modern farmhouse and all residential styles in between.
A three block stretch of Main Street is a shining example of residential diversity.
This street alone contains examples of Federal, Colonial Revival, Art Deco, Eastlake, Bungalow and Ranch architecture, and both commercial and residential use, all existing harmoniously side by side.
This diversity of architecture occurred naturally as Pendleton grew over time and individual building lots were developed.
Modern housing developments often cover dozens of acres with just a handful of styles built over a short time period.
The Pendleton Historic District is the opposite of that — and that’s what makes it distinctive and impossible to reproduce.
Historic Fall Creek, Pendleton Settlement is your partner in preserving the fabric of the Pendleton Historic District and protecting the value and unique lifestyle of a National Register Community.
Please enjoy your stroll through our National Register community and contact our membership with any questions related to the architecture or historical associations of the Pendleton Historic District.
Tammy Bowman is a member of Historic Fall Creek, Pendleton Settlement Inc., a historical preservation group focused on preserving historic buildings and culture in the area. She is also executive director of South Madison Community Foundation, a charitable organization that is built with the donations of many individuals and governed by a citizen board.