Madison County Historic Preservation Commission
The Madison County Historic Preservation Commission, (MCHPC) is a seven-member commission appointed by the supervisors and operating in accordance with the Secretary of Interior guidelines, in order to foster the care of historically significant sites by providing education, training and technical services to the citizens of Madison County.
Commissioners
- Linda Griffith Smith, Chair
- Ryan Marquardt, Vice Chair
- Open, Secretary
- Commissioners: Kirk Freeman, Jerry Parkin, Colleen Peterson, Steve Reed
- Ex-Officio Members: Brenda Hollingsworth, Roslea Johnson, Jen McErlean
Certified Local Government
The National Historic Preservation Act established a nationwide program to encourage preservation and wise use of our historic resources. Among other things the Act established the National Register of Historic Places, created State Historic Preservation Officers, and created the Certified Local Government Program to support local governments’ historic preservation programs.
Our Mission
The Madison County Historical Preservation Commission fosters the care and recognition of historically and culturally significant physical and natural sites by providing research and technical services to the citizens of Madison County, in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior Guidelines. Revised and adopted September 2019.
The CLG Program’s Purpose and Objectives
- Promote the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public through the recognition, enhancement, and perpetuation of sites and districts of historical and cultural significance;
- Safeguard the County’s historic, aesthetic, and cultural heritage by preserving sites and districts of historic and cultural significance;
- Stabilize and improve property values;
- Foster pride in the legacy of beauty and achievements of the past;
- Protect and enhance the County’s attractions to tourists and visitors and the support and stimulus to business thereby provided;
- Strengthen the economy of the County;
- Promote the use of landmarks and districts of historic and cultural significance as places for the education, enjoyment, and welfare of the people of the County.
Madison County’s Certified Local Government Beginnings
Certified Local Governments (CLGs) can be affiliated with either City government or County government. In 1989 a group of local citizens formed a County CLG that later became inactive. Twenty years later (2009) a group of citizens worked with the County Supervisors to reinstate the Certified Local Government, known locally as Madison County Historic Preservation Commission (MCHPC). Since that time the commission has been actively laying the groundwork for several projects. These are detailed on the pages of this site, with future projects here.
Commission and Volunteers Receive
Historic Preservation Award
During the 2016 Covered Bridge Festival in October, the MCHPC and their volunteers were honored to be recognized by the Madison County Antique Association on the Mel Penrod Stage. Antique Association President, Connie Bailey, presented the award with these kind words.
“The Madison County Antique Association is pleased to announce that the Madison County Historic Preservation Commission was chosen to receive the Historic Preservation Award for the year 2016. The limestone Courthouse whose steps we are standing on is a significant building to the development of Winterset. Many of the commercial buildings around the square are still historically intact. A desire to preserve these historic treasures led the Commission in an effort to have the entire commercial district listed in the National Historic Register.”
“A group of volunteers spent hours doing research every week on Wednesday. They wrote detailed descriptions of around 104 buildings. They took pictures and recorded all information. The survey was completed and it was concluded that a National Register-eligible historic commercial district was present. The boundary would encompass 83 buildings, 79 of which are contributing and 4 are non-contributing. Many community organizations and individuals contributed to this success. The Winterset Courthouse Historic District became official on December 22, 2015 with the signing by the National Park Service.”
“The Madison County Antique Association is proud to present this award to the Madison County Historic Preservation Commission.”
