Masonry Magazine December 1997 Page. 27
by Beth Douglass Silcox
With the birth of retail strip malls, many American "Main Streets" were deserted as small retailers were unable to compete with large, national chains. In an effort to curb the economic destruction strip malls could have on Noblesville's town square, then Mayor Mary Sue Rowland dedicated her administration to the economic and historic rejuvenation of downtown Noblesville and partnered with the state-wide Indiana Main Street organization for guidance.
As the idea of town square rejuvenation was taking hold and county commissioners contemplated sites for the new Judicial Center, the City of Noblesville's Public Safety Facility was in need of expansion to meet the needs of a rapidly growing city population. Rowland's administration began exploring options for relocating the police and fire departments, as well as the city clerk and courts. During pre-planning for each of these projects, county and city officials set goals that not only provided for modern and efficient municipal buildings, but also kept sight of the necessity to preserve the architectural heritage of downtown Noblesville. Their foresight would later prove to be an essential part of rejuvenating and solidifying the the town square's economic future.
Downtown's rejuvenation began with a Streetscape Project that accentuated the Victorian ambiance created by the 1877 masonry Courthouse and other buildings on