The History of the Hamilton County Artists' Association (HCAA)
The Hamilton County Artists' Association operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit run mostly by volunteers and stands as the original and only juried fine arts organization in Hamilton County, Indiana. The HCAA is made up of selected artists from cities within Hamilton County, such as Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Cicero, and of course Noblesville. The membership consists of over 60 Hamilton County artists, who have been juried into the HCAA, as well as Supporting Members from across Indiana. The HCAA’s mission is to provide opportunities for artistic development, fellowship, and art appreciation to its members and the community; thereby enhancing the quality of life in Hamilton County.
Where it All Started
The HCAA was established in 1950 by approximately nine artists from the area, most having ties to Noblesville, Indiana. Founding members included Amanda Kirby, Elizabeth Kaiser, and Malcom Black, with Floyd Hopper joining shortly after. The first art exhibit was held in Hare Chevrolet’s former showroom at the corner of 10th and Conner Streets in Noblesville. Since then, the HCAA has continued the tradition of holding an annual exhibit, which is now hosted in one of the Hamilton County libraries each fall. A percentage of each artwork's sale is donated to fund the Association’s Visual Arts Major Scholarship, awarded to a Hamilton County high school senior pursuing a fine arts degree.
For 24 years, the HCAA created a historic calendar featuring black and white sketches of various historic buildings around Hamilton County. In 2007, the Association celebrated the 25th edition of the calendar by printing full-color versions of the artists' non-historic creations, with support from Rowland Printing.
The HCAA’s Home: The Birdie Gallery
Although the HCAA has a long history in Noblesville, the building they now call home has an even deeper historical significance. The historic First Baptist Church, originally known as the First Colored Missionary Baptist Church, was located at the corner of 5th and Cherry Streets (formerly Amo and Brock Streets), on the eastern edge of the Riverside Cemetery, which runs along the White River. Historical records indicate that the church was started in 1873 and completed in 1875 at a cost of approximately $650.
Over the years, the church was led by several pastors, but one, in particular, stood out—Barney Stone, who became one of Noblesville’s most respected citizens. Born a slave in 1847 in Spencer County, Kentucky, his parents were unable to live together, as his father was a slave on a nearby farm. Together, they had ten children, all of whom were also enslaved. After witnessing the brutal treatment of his mother and siblings, who were beaten and sold to other plantations, Barney ran away at the age of sixteen and joined the Union Army. It was there that he learned to read and write, thanks to the soldiers who taught him. As a young man, Barney continued his education, and by the age of twenty-one, he was preaching sermons. He married at twenty-four and had five children.
When he was about forty-five, his daughter Beulah graduated from Noblesville High School and later attended college in Kentucky. Barney was deeply involved in the community of Noblesville. He served as a Circuit Court Bailiff and was a member of both the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic Lodge. He took great pride in his military service and led many Memorial Day services at two local cemeteries. A staunch Republican, he held the right to vote in the highest regard. At eighty-five, he campaigned across the state for Herbert Hoover’s presidential campaign. At ninety-one, he traveled to Gettysburg to hear President Franklin Roosevelt speak. Barney was the only Civil War veteran from Hamilton County who made the trip, and he later said, “When I stood on the same ground where Lincoln stood, where he delivered his great speech, I think it was the happiest moment of my life.” He expressed immense gratitude for being freed from the shackles of slavery by a great nation.
Barney lived to be ninety-five, becoming the last surviving Civil War veteran in Hamilton County and possibly the last African-American Civil War veteran in the United States. His funeral, held at the church, lasted three hours to allow everyone to honor his extraordinary life. The First Colored Missionary Baptist Church later became First Baptist Church, which then became the home of the HCAA.
The gallery's name honors the legacy of Roberta 'Birdie' Bloomhorst, who was the wife of Ken Bloomhorst, a longtime juried artist and supporter of the HCAA.
Acquisition and Renovation of the Building
In 2005, Rodney Reveal and Patty Mac Innis presented a proposal to the City of Noblesville to convert the First Baptist Church into an art center. The City Council agreed to purchase the building for $55,000, with the HCAA granted 10% ownership. Over the next year, a dedicated group of artists and volunteers, coordinated by Reveal, began restoring the building. They performed extensive renovations, including stripping plaster, restoring windows, insulating, and adding a new roof, electrical wiring, and a new kitchen. Donated labor, materials, and funding from various organizations, including the Legacy Fund, the Efroymson Fund, and the Noblesville Cultural Arts Commission, helped make these improvements possible. The Grand Opening of the Art Center took place on April 27, 2007, with many dignitaries in attendance, including Amanda Kirby, one of the founding artists from 1950.
Full Ownership of the Building
The City of Noblesville continued to grant the HCAA equity in the building, reducing the "option price" for full ownership by $5,000 every two years. By January 1, 2018, the option price was $30,000. That fall, under President Kay Richards, a committee presented to the City Council requesting that the last $30,000 of the building's ownership be waived, granting the HCAA full ownership of the property. After the presentation, the City Council agreed to grant the HCAA full ownership, and the Association officially owned the building free and clear by January 2018.
Ongoing Mission and Community Engagement
The HCAA continues to serve the Hamilton County community through various programs and activities. In addition to the annual art exhibit and scholarship awards, the Association is involved in many volunteer activities, such as conducting art demonstrations at local schools, donating artwork for charity auctions, participating in "paint outs," and hosting special exhibits. The HCAA also offers monthly meetings, half of which are open to the public and focus on educational art presentations.
Today, the HCAA stands as the original and only juried fine arts organization in Hamilton County, consisting of over 60 juried artists from cities including Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Cicero, and Noblesville. The HCAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, run mostly by volunteers, and is dedicated to providing opportunities for artistic development, fellowship, and art appreciation to both its members and the broader community.
The Birdie Gallery, located at 195 South 5th Street in Noblesville, is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from February through November, offering free admission.