The Brendonwood Historic District Foundation (the Foundation) was founded to preserve and maintain the District’s diverse historic resources and environment while encouraging its appreciation and protection. The Foundation is recognized as a tax-exempt organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

The Foundation’s tax-exempt status is based on specific reference to preserving and maintaining the historic aspects of “contributing” properties. While Brendonwood is blessed with numerous architectural and natural features, homes and community amenities, only the items specified as contributing sites and owned by the Common may be subject to funding from the Foundation.

 

 

Plot #90 was dedicated to the Brendonwood Common for a meeting house and is considered a site contributing to the historic character and architecture of the District. Entertainment and recreation were part of the original Charles Lewis vision for this community and T.E. Hibben designed the Common House to serve as a hub for community interaction and collaboration. The buildings and its grounds were intended and are still used for activities relating to celebrations and picnics, neighborhood pitch-in dinners, neighborhood committee events, public meetings related to preservation education, and conversations on topics of historic relevance.

 

In addition to the Common House, there are two additional significant contributing sites:

 

The first of these contributing sites is the Brendonwood Historic District main entry, a formal double lane drive named The Mall. Rows of trees line it, creating an elegant entrance to the Historic District. Originally bordered by seven rows of elms, those trees fell victim to the Dutch Elm disease in the 1940-50s and have been replaced over the years, most recently with Frontier Elm trees.  The Mall features an enormous boulder located at its entrance on which is a bronze plaque etched with the name Brendonwood. This was put in place as part of the original landscape design and remains there in its original location today.  

 

The second additional contributing site is the golf course, which is located on a crescent shaped landscape known as Sycamore Flats. It is adjacent to Fall Creek and still features several sycamore trees. Sycamore Flats was designed and built in 1923 by Lawrence Sheridan and was given to the Common by Charles S. Lewis for the use of its members as a private recreational facility. The course has seen both neglect and rebirth.  It continues today as a fine nine-hole golf course used primarily as a members-only club.

 

Three additional extant structures include a curved stone bridge across a drainage creek on Sycamore Flats, the tennis court, and the swimming pool. At the time of Brendonwood’s application for historic designation to the United States Department of the Interior, in 2004, the pool and its adjacent decking and landscape had not yet reached 50 years of age and therefore were not included in the application as a contributing structure (1959 erection).  The tennis facility was built in 1924 but was not specifically listed in the 2004 application to the Department of the Interior as contributing. The pool house is a contemporary structure, the built in the 1980s and therefore does not qualify as contributing to historic character or significance.

 

 

The Foundation and Brendonwood Common are obligated to promote the public’s access to the Historic District. Central Indiana residents will benefit from the education activities pertaining to the Brendonwood Historic District. Residents of the Fall Creek Valley will benefit from the preservation and restoration work performed and from facilities and sites made available to the public and Residents of the Brendonwood Historic District will gain an appreciation of protection activities and revitalization efforts. 

 

 

Brendonwood Historic District Foundation will:

• Preserve and maintain contributing sites and related landscapes in the Brendonwood Historic District
• Preserve and maintain the unique environmental characteristics of the Brendonwood Historic District considering its physical location adjacent to Fall Creek and within the Fall Creek Valley
• Broaden understanding of the environmental and economic impact of preservation as an essential tool for community revitalization, quality of life enhancement and sustainability
• Expand the preservation constituency by increasing public awareness of historic resources
• Collect best practices regarding preservation and disseminate knowledge within the Central Indiana community.

When considering projects and initiatives to fund, the Foundation board must answer “yes” both of the following questions:

1. Is the Foundation’s grant or payment needed to preserve the historic property?  
2. Will the property’s historic nature be negatively impacted if the Foundation does not pay the expense?

Past activities related to preserving and maintaining the Brendonwood Historic District. 

 

• The Brendonwood Garden Club, formally established in 1948, continues as an active organization (now under the auspices of the Woodlands & Streams Committee) for the beautification of the historic district. The club replaced the dead elms on The Mall. Its activities are consistent with the beautification of the Brendonwood Historic District and include educating the community about proper planting techniques, local indigenous plant species, and fund raising to contribute to the beautification of The Mall, Sycamore Flats, and historically pertinent common areas.  

• Periodically, cross country running events are hosted on Sycamore Flats as requested by local high schools.