Ball State’s Center for Historic Preservation recently took on an exciting project in Fairmount, a small town with an outsized cultural legacy. Best known as the hometown of Hollywood icon James Dean and Garfield creator Jim Davis, Fairmount’s historic downtown tells the story of a community shaped by ambition, adaptation, and resilience.

First settled in the 1830s and officially laid out in 1850, Fairmount thrived through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While many small towns faded, Fairmount remained a place of creative inspiration—its quiet streets and classic storefronts forming the backdrop for two of America’s most enduring pop culture legacies. From its Victorian-era commercial blocks to its early 20th-century storefronts, downtown Fairmount holds the architectural imprint of generations past, making its preservation vital to the town’s identity.

To help safeguard this history, the Center for Historic Preservation—supported by Indiana Main Street and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs—developed a plan to ensure that Fairmount’s character remains a visible and lasting part of its future.

Graduate assistant Isabelle Copeland played a key role in this effort, crafting façade rehabilitation recommendations for five historic downtown structures: the Masonic Temple, the M.A. Hiatt Building, the Hollingsworth Building, the Main Street Service Station, and the primary structure in J.W. Dale’s Block.

The project involved extensive historical research, collaboration with local stakeholders, and the development of preservation-minded design recommendations. Isabelle presented her findings to Fairmount Main Street President Andrew Heald, building owners, and community members, providing them with a comprehensive booklet and a visual poster showcasing proposed improvements.

This initiative highlights the power of historic preservation—not just in maintaining Fairmount’s architectural charm but in celebrating its unique cultural heritage. With each restored storefront, Ball State students are proving that preservation is about more than safeguarding the past—it’s about keeping Fairmount’s story alive for future generations of dreamers, creators, and rebels.