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WYTHOUGAN VALLEY PRESERVATION COUNCIL, INC. 308 South Michigan St. - Plymouth, IN 46563 (574) 936-7517 `preserving the standing reminders of our collective Marshall County past" December 23, 2003 Mr. Chris Baynes 100 N. Senate Avenue Rm N8 5 5 Indianapolis, IN 46204 RE: US 31 - Plymouth to South Bend Study, Marshall County historic properties Dear Mr. Baynes: I am writing this letter ons behalf of Wythougan Valley Preservation Council, Marshall County's local ureservation organization and Linda Rippy, Marshall County Historian. I have been in ' review of the U.S. 31 Plymouth to South Bend Study material forwarded to Linda Rippy and have been at times a consulting party to INDOT on other projects. I understand Mrs. Rippy has forwarded some concerns regarding historic properties potentially affected by the proposed routes; we have recently surveyed the areas of potential effe6ts and would Eke to offer some comments. I must first offer this preface to all comments concerning historic properties. The idea of a "new" new U.S. 31 itself does not seem absolutely necessary. Had new 31 been constructed correctly we would not be in this current situation today. Although I find it amusing to justify a newly constructed road destroying property, farm & wetlands to enable individuals from South Bend to arrive in Indianapolis 20 minutes sooner (over the entire length none -the -less), I will concede that safety must be considered.I only hope that the speed Emit is enforced on the new road unlike the current road, which if it then is, I predict people in South Bend would get to Indianapolis 20 minutes LATER than they do currently. Yet again, I concede to individuals who must be far more intelligent than I (or powerful) to determine that we do indeed need this road. Again, Mrs. Rippy, and I surveyed the area of potential effects. We most favor combined Alternate Route C, E, & F as it passes through Marshall County, following the old Vandalia Railroad Line. Alternate G and combined Alternates C, E, G, G -C would have detrimental affects on historic properties whereas the alternate route which follows the old Vandalia Line would have minimal affect to historic properties. Please consider the following: 1) The two alternate routes we object to above will pass too near the White Family Cemetery on East 2C Road, North Township, Marshall County (one to the immediate east and one to the immediate west). Part of the character (and protection from vandalism) of this small cemetery is its secluded location on a wooded hilltop. The dozen or so graves are intermingled with mature trees and surrounded by a loose laid stone fence. The entire hilltop is wooded and should remain so. Our fear is that although the new highway would