Projects  The Preservation Alliance gave the local libraries a collection of books on how to maintain, evaluate and restore old buildings. This collection is stored at the Champaign County Library in Urbana and is available through the interlibrary loan at the North Lewisburg Branch of the Champaign County Library, the Mechanicsburg Library and the St. Paris Library. These materials may not be removed from the library. The Preservation Alliance will gladly take suggestions for new purchases for this collection at 937/652-4108 or 800/791-6010. Please provide the title, author, publisher, date and the ISBN number. Current projects included the contribution up to $400 to have the Man-On-The Monument evaluated for restoration. This project was a part of Urbana's Downtown Revitalization. This project has been completed. The Champaign County Preservation Alliance paid half of $5000 to restore the "Indian Hunter" by John Qunicy Adams Ward, in conjunction with a Save Our Sculpture grant. This is the only sculpture restored by SOS in the State of Ohio. This statue is located in the Oak Dale Cemetery. The Champaign County Preservation Alliance, The Simon Kenton Historical Corridor, the Champaign County Historical Society, and the Simon Kenton Pathfinders are working together to promote the bikepath on the Erie Lackawanna Railroad. This bikeway starts at the new YMCA in Urbana and connects with the Clark County bikeway at County Line Road and continue into Springfield, Yellow Springs, Xenia and Milford. See the Simon Kenton Pathfinders website for additional information - http://www.Simonkentontrail.org As a part of the continued effort to support the bikeway the Preservation Alliance had the two abandoned railroad cars dating to the turn of the Twentieth Century appraised and negotiated the ownership of the railroad cars to be used as information centers and reststops along the biketrail. The two railroad cars were moved on Saturday, October 7th, 2001 This restoration is done with the combined efforts of the Simon Kenton Pathfinders, Simon Kenton Historical Corridor and the Champaign County Historical Society. One car could not be restored so the remaining railcar was moved in June, 2006. This surviving car was a X23 boxcar converted to a caboose during 1943 during the Second World War. To the best of our knowledge there are only four NX23s left. This effort will try to identify all historical buildings, the interurban line, and many other historical aspects of railroading in Urbana and Champaign County. Four main aspects of the three railroads intersecting in Urbana include: the route of Lincoln's Funeral Train; the location of the Illinois Car Company, producers of passenger cars; the Johnson Manufacturing Company, producers of railroad oil cans; and the second steepest railroad grade in the state of Ohio, located in front of Graham High School on west US 36. The Preservation Alliance has restored the 1930 historical marker along North Main Street at the railroad crossing in Urbana, identifying the location of General Hull's Headquarters during the War of 1812. This marker will be included along the proposed bikeway.  During the fall of 2005 windows on the west side of the Mechanicsburg Second Baptist Church were installed. During the 2005-06 winter the Mechanicsburg Second Baptist Church was struck by lightning, the roof trusses have been restored, a new ceiling has been installed and the sanctuary has been painted. Monies for the restoration came from the Saxbe Family and revenue from the Home and Garden Tour. preparations are being made to replace the roof on the Second Baptist Church. Currently the CCPA is looking for volunteers to open the railcar for public viewing during weekends and for special occasions. For 2009 the CCPA is awarding two $1000 grants for persons improving their property - personal or commercial.. These are matching grants in Champaign County. The projects must be completed within 12 months of receiving grants. Applications will be made available to interested parties by requesting from Chamber of Commerce, Urbana, OH 43078. Applications are due by May 15 and awards will be presented May 31, 2009.