top of page


Architectural Spotlight: Free Classic Queen Anne
As of late, I have been working on a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the c. 1890 Thomas & Louisa Little House in Hendricks County, Indiana. The home, which was threatened with demolition due to development, was placed on Indiana Landmarks' 10 Most Endangered List in 2023. In 2024, in order to save it, the house was moved approximately 650 feet north of its original location. It is now undergoing a thoughtful and extensive restoration by its new owners.
Mark Belloni
2 hours ago6 min read


Why historic preservation matters in today’s built environment
I sometimes wish I could time-travel—not to live in another century permanently, but just to drop in for a day or two. The reason...
Mark Belloni
Oct 56 min read


Plainfield, Indiana's curb appeal grant program: a great start, but incomplete
I was excited to see the town of Plainfield in Hendricks County launch its Curb Appeal Grant Program . The program, which has been...
Mark Belloni
Jul 275 min read


Researching Squankum House, Part I
My work as a historian is deeply shaped by my personal experience of living in, researching, and restoring a historic home over the past seven years. This experience gives me a unique connection to the work I do for my clients. I channel the passion I have for my own home into the research I conduct for others, whether I’m writing a narrative history of a property or preparing a nomination for the National Register of Historic Places . In this blog post, I’d like to briefly
Mark Belloni
Jun 299 min read


Historic preservation shouldn't be partisan
Scearce House, built in 1852, Danville, Indiana. Currently under consideration for listing on the National Register of Historic Places....
Mark Belloni
May 303 min read


National Register of Historic Places Standout: Stan Hywet Hall
Both of my parents are from northeastern Ohio, so I’ve been making trips to the area my entire life. Despite that, I had never heard of...
Mark Belloni
May 92 min read


Architectural spotlight: Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture dramatically shaped the American landscape in the mid-1800s. In this post, we’ll explore the style’s origins...
Mark Belloni
Apr 244 min read


The history of the land beneath the south I-465 and I-65 interchange
Read more about the author here . If you’ve ever driven east on I-465 south of Indianapolis and taken the exit onto I-65, you’ve likely noticed this stately white house perched on a hill. It's so close to the interstate that it’s impossible not to wonder why it’s there. The house is a relic of a bygone era, when the area now dominated by the massive I-465 and I-65 interchange was a rural retreat, with country estates built by well-off Indianapolis residents standing alongside
Mark Belloni
Apr 620 min read


Historic Preservation Spotlight: North Salem United Methodist Church
North Salem Methodist Episcopal Church (Now United Methodist) c. 1923, shortly after its dedication. Photo courtesy of the Indiana Album,...
Mark Belloni
Mar 283 min read


The National Register of Historic Places: a quick explanation
National Register of Historic Places recognition plaque If you love historic buildings, you’ve probably seen a plaque that reads: This...
Mark Belloni
Mar 133 min read


National Register of Historic Places Standout: St. Louis Union Station
St. Louis Union Station, seen from across Market Street. My father-in-law is a big St. Louis sports fan, so we try to make a trip to the...
Mark Belloni
Feb 274 min read


The research value of historic newspapers
Whether you're researching a house, a community, a person, or an entire family, historic newspapers are an invaluable resource. Every...
Mark Belloni
Feb 133 min read


Researching historic homes using Sanborn maps
An incredibly valuable (and fun to use!) source available to historians researching historic homes are Sanborn maps. First printed in...
Mark Belloni
Jan 303 min read


House historian luck
Tax records , deeds, maps , and photographs are all sources readily available to house historians . Sometimes, however, historians are...
Mark Belloni
Jan 182 min read


Architectural spotlight: Italianate
When driving around the rural Midwest, the landscape is dominated by the Italianate. With its tall, narrow windows, low-hipped roofs, and...
Mark Belloni
Jan 102 min read


Historic placenames: bringing depth to house and family histories
When researching house and family histories , one of my favorite things to do is discover the local placenames that were historically...
Mark Belloni
Jan 35 min read


The history of home: then and now photographs of Cartersburg Springs
As we drive through the places we call home, it's easy to take the landscape for granted, overlooking the layers of history hidden in plain
Mark Belloni
Dec 26, 20243 min read


How to use tax records to research your historic home
Tax records are one of my favorite sources to use when researching historic homes.
Mark Belloni
Dec 19, 20243 min read


Beyond famous figures: valuing ordinary house history
An easy trap to fall into when thinking about old homes is to only consider them important and worthy of preservation if they were owned by
Mark Belloni
Dec 13, 20242 min read
bottom of page
