HMI announces Galvin Scholarship Recipient, honors retiring board member & announces new board members and programs

Annual and Business Meeting Held

Historic Madison, Inc. (HMI) President John Staicer announced at its Annual Meeting that Avery Clayton, a senior at Madison Consolidated High School, is the recipient of the 2025 John & Maureen Galvin/HMI scholarship. The scholarship is awarded in honor of the Galvin's decades of community and preservation-related successes. Since 2013, HMI has awarded $16,000 to 16 deserving recipients.

The non-profit agency also honored one long-time board member who stepped off the board. Dr. Tom Eckert joined the Board in 1997 and served with distinction, especially during the COVID pandemic. Chris Cody, Pam Crozier, Andrew Forrester, and Toby Harris were elected to join the HMI board of directors.

In other news from the HMI Annual Meeting, John Staicer reported the following 2024 highlights and accomplishments:

● HMI adopted a new Strategic Plan to keep the organization focused on the future and more fully realize its vision and mission in the future by building off past successes

● Completed major masonry restoration of the west side of the Judge Jeremiah Sullivan House, including rebuilding of two chimneys

● Created new exhibits of the Sullivan family, highlighting their contributions to local, state, and national history

● Continued stained glass restoration at St. Michael the Archangel

● Designed and held new programs, including Loving Your Old House, to teach owners of historic buildings how to better care for them, the Shrewsbury-Windle House Concert Series, and the Women Who Saved - an exploration of early female preservationists in Madison and the buildings they preserved

● Participated in the very successful statewide preservation conference held in Madison with special programs and tours offered at 5 HMI historic sites, 

● Celebrated the dedication of the Ohio River Legacy Park on land donated by HMI to the City

● 80 volunteers led tours for more than 5,700 visitors through HMI's historic properties during special programs and regular tours. Volunteers also served on the board of directors, gave free architectural walking tours, researched, sorted and cataloged artifacts, and much more.

Staicer also reported on the organization’s other efforts in 2024 to enhance Madison’s quality of life through the following: a wide variety of outreach efforts, including the Jefferson County Tourism Association, the Nights Before Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes, the Tri Kappa Tour of Homes, Leadership Jefferson County, and more.

At the board meeting immediately after the Annual Meeting, the following officers were elected for one-year terms: Kevin Yancey, Chair; John Staicer, President; Lisa Cutshall, Vice-President; John Muessel, Treasurer; and Jessica Butler, Secretary.

Staicer announced upcoming highlights for 2025, which include:

● HMI Museum properties, including the Shrewsbury-Windle House, the Dr. Hutchings Office & Museum, Schroeder Saddletree Factory Museum, and Costigan House, are open for visitation. The Sullivan House will reopen in May. Days and hours vary – please follow our social media or check our website for details. Group tours are welcome year-round with reservations.

● Architecture Walking tours begin in May – see social media and website for details.

● Once-a-month tours of St. Michaels will begin in May - see social media and website for details.

● The HMI Preservation Gala is set for June 6 at Shrewsbury-Windle House. More details about this ticketed event will be available soon.

● Archicamp will once again take place June 24-26

● A new Loving Your Old House series of hands-on preservation programs for adults will take place this summer.

● The Shrewsbury-Windle House Concert Series takes place April 27 & August 3

● Special Chautauqua events will be held at the end of September

● A Christmas Carol will be performed at Shrewsbury-Windle House in November in cooperation with Hanover College Theatre Department - dates will be announced

● A holiday music event will take place at St. Michael the Archangel in December - details to follow

Historic Madison, Inc. was founded in 1960 to save the Jeremiah Sullivan house from demolition. The non-profit organization plays a key role in the preservation, restoration, education, and development of the Madison community. Historic Madison continues to encourage the preservation and restoration of buildings and monuments having historical and architectural significance, to provide additional museums for the public, and to encourage the restoration of properties in Madison’s National Historic Landmark District.

information about membership or volunteer opportunities, visit our website, www.historicmadisoninc.com, call us at 812-265-2967, or find us on social media.