New nonprofit community land trust aims to find productive uses for three historic commercial buildings in Tipton

Tipton boasts a picturesque courthouse square anchored by an outstanding 1894 courthouse and surrounded by a remarkable collection of historic buildings, including banks, a library, movie theater, and post office.

But like many rural communities, the city also struggles with a number of vacant and underutilized downtown properties neglected by absentee owners.

Hoping to leverage such landmarks as community assets with potential to spur revitalization, a group of residents formed Tipton Thrives Trust, a nonprofit community land trust that aims to acquire, restore, and maintain such downtown buildings in perpetuity. This spring, Indiana Landmarks gave the group’s efforts a major boost with a $325,000 loan to acquire three historic downtown commercial buildings.

Built as an Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge in 1910, the property at 202 East Jefferson Street later housed Compton’s Hardware. Next door, the turn-of-the-century building at 208 E. Jefferson Street is known locally as the Waffler & Bates Building for original tenants and brothers-in-law Fred Waffler and Al Bates, who ran a restaurant and bakery from the location. In later years, it drew downtown foot traffic as an appliance store, billiards parlor, and cigar shop. The commercial building at 112 North Main Street, also built in 1900, served variously as a loan office, home goods store, clothing shop, and Edward Jones investment office. Today, all three buildings are vacant and deteriorating.

Using an Indiana Landmarks loan, Tipton Thrives Trust acquired three historic commercial buildings with plans to find new uses for the landmarks. (Photo: Mark Dollase)

Tipton Thrives Trust hopes to return these buildings to the vital role they once played downtown, with local businesses at street level and housing above. “We want these properties in the hands of locals who have their highest and best use in mind along with the capacity to restore them,” says Tipton Thrives Trust board member Mindy Colbert.

Tipton Thrives Trust will commission structural assessments to prioritize repairs and determine next steps before marketing the properties for sale. As a condition of the loan, Indiana Landmarks attached protective covenants to protect the buildings’ architectural character. Earlier this year, Tipton Thrives Trust became one of Indiana Landmarks’ newest affiliate members, joining the more than 60 local groups across the state that partner with us to save historic places.

Tipton's courthouse square retains a wealth of historic architecture, including its county courthouse, the Diana Theater, and a historic post office. (Photo: Lee Lewellen)

To help spur investment in Tipton’s downtown, Indiana Landmarks also recommended a $4,000 grant from the Efroymson Family Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation to the Tipton Chamber of Commerce to hire a consultant to nominate Tipton’s historic downtown to the National Register of Historic Places. If approved, the status may qualify downtown building owners for federal tax credits to assist in restoration.

Indiana Landmarks is also coordinating with Tipton Thrives Trust, the City of Tipton, and Pago USA – a development consulting company focused on community revitalization – to monitoring another vacant property, the National Register-listed Tipton County Jail and Sheriff’s Residence, a former entry on Indiana Landmarks’ 10 Most Endangered Landmarks list. “The fate of the Old Jail remains a high priority for Indiana Landmarks and local leaders,” says Mark Dollase, Indiana Landmarks’ vice president of preservation services. “We expect this could present a future opportunity for Tipton Thrives Trust as they help plan for its adaptive reuse.”