Brown, George, Mansion | |
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| Location | 700 W. Porter Ave., Chesterton, Indiana |
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| Coordinates | 41°36′21″N 87°3′42″W / 41.60583°N 87.06167°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1885 |
| Architect | Hine, Cicero |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001101[1] |
| Added to NRHP | August 28, 1998 |
The George Brown Mansion is an example of the Queen Anne's Style of architecture. It was a dominant style during the 1880s and 1890s, the time when Chesterton was a growing city in northern Indiana. George Brown arrived in the United States in 1852.[2] In 1855, he married Charity Carter, daughter of a local family. He became a successful farmer in the township. The farm was located on what is 950 North, west of 400 East. By the year 1882 he was operating a farm of 900 acres (360 ha). He had expanded into supplying cordwood to the Porter brickyards after 1870. George and Charity had ten children. In 1884 George Brown bought 120 acres (0.49 km2) in the town of Chesterton from the John Thomas family. His plans called for a retirement home on this site. He engaged Chicago architect Cicero Hine to design the house.[2] In 1891 the family sold all but 10 acres (40,000 m2). It was the same year, that he built a brick store downtown at Calumet and Broadway. During the 1902 fire, it was the only store to survive. Charity Brown died in 1895 at 56. George died in 1899 at the age of 71. After a probate fight, his son John Franklin (Frank) moved into the house with his family.[2]
In 2010, the Westchester Historical Society uses the Brown Mansion as the Westchester Township History Museum and Society offices.
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Transcription
WE RECENTLY TOURED ANOTHER HOME WHICH WAS ALSO ANOTHER HOME WHICH WAS ALSO DESIGNATED BY THE SAME ARCHITECT DESIGNATED BY THE SAME ARCHITECT AS THE DEERE-WIMAN HOME, AS THE DEERE-WIMAN HOME, GOVERNOR RICHARD OGILVIE HOME. GOVERNOR RICHARD OGILVIE HOME. >>HE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN >>HE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING LINCOLN NOMINATED THE GETTING LINCOLN NOMINATED THE FIRST TIME. FIRST TIME. AND ORCHESTRATED MUCH OF THE AND ORCHESTRATED MUCH OF THE CONVENTION THAT WAS HELD HERE IN CONVENTION THAT WAS HELD HERE IN DECATUR. DECATUR. HE IS GIVEN CREDIT FOR HAVING HE IS GIVEN CREDIT FOR HAVING COINED THE PHRASE, LINCOLN, THE COINED THE PHRASE, LINCOLN, THE RAIL SPLITTER. RAIL SPLITTER. AT THE TIME LINCOLN HAD A AT THE TIME LINCOLN HAD A REPUTATION OF RAILROADER. REPUTATION OF RAILROADER. HE WAS MUCH MORE A MAN OF THE HE WAS MUCH MORE A MAN OF THE PEOPLE. PEOPLE. IT IS KIND OF INTERESTING HE IS IT IS KIND OF INTERESTING HE IS VIEWED TODAY, NOT AS A CORPORATE VIEWED TODAY, NOT AS A CORPORATE LAWYER, BUT MAN OF THE PEOPLE. LAWYER, BUT MAN OF THE PEOPLE. HE WAS ALSO A CIVIL WAR GENERAL, HE WAS ALSO A CIVIL WAR GENERAL, SERVED UNDER GRANT, AND WAS SERVED UNDER GRANT, AND WAS WOUNDED SERIOUSLY WOUNDED AT THE WOUNDED SERIOUSLY WOUNDED AT THE BATTLE IN MISSISSIPPI. BATTLE IN MISSISSIPPI. AS A RESULT OF THAT, HE HAD TO AS A RESULT OF THAT, HE HAD TO LEAVE THE FRONT, BUT CAME BACK LEAVE THE FRONT, BUT CAME BACK AND RAN FOR GOVERNOR AT ABRAHAM AND RAN FOR GOVERNOR AT ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S SUGGESTION. LINCOLN'S SUGGESTION. SERVED AS GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS SERVED AS GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS FOR THREE TERMS. FOR THREE TERMS. WHEN HE MARRIED HIS FIRST WIFE, WHEN HE MARRIED HIS FIRST WIFE, ANNA WHITE, THEY LIVED IN A ANNA WHITE, THEY LIVED IN A SMALL HOUSE IMMEDIATELY WEST OF SMALL HOUSE IMMEDIATELY WEST OF THIS ONE. THIS ONE. SHE WAS THE FIRST LADY OF SHE WAS THE FIRST LADY OF ILLINOIS INTO HIS FIRST TERM, ILLINOIS INTO HIS FIRST TERM, BUT SHE DIED IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUT SHE DIED IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN SPRINGFIELD. MANSION IN SPRINGFIELD. THE GOVERNOR HAD ALREADY TALKED THE GOVERNOR HAD ALREADY TALKED WITH AN ARCHITECT IN CHICAGO, WITH AN ARCHITECT IN CHICAGO, WILLIAM LE BARON JENNEY WHICH WILLIAM LE BARON JENNEY WHICH WILL, AND JENNEY HAD DESIGNED A WILL, AND JENNEY HAD DESIGNED A HOUSE IN 1868, BUT AFTER ANNA'S HOUSE IN 1868, BUT AFTER ANNA'S DEATH, GOVERNOR PUT THE DESIGNS DEATH, GOVERNOR PUT THE DESIGNS AWAY, AND AT THE END OF HIS AWAY, AND AT THE END OF HIS FIRST TERM, HE CAME BACK TO FIRST TERM, HE CAME BACK TO DECATUR AND LIVED IN THAT HOUSE DECATUR AND LIVED IN THAT HOUSE WITH HIS TWO SURVIVING CHILDREN. WITH HIS TWO SURVIVING CHILDREN. LATER MARRIED EM MA GILETTE KEY, LATER MARRIED EM MA GILETTE KEY, A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, CONSIDERABLY A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, CONSIDERABLY YOUNGER THAN THE GOVERNOR, IN YOUNGER THAN THE GOVERNOR, IN 1880, HIS AGE IS LISTED AS 55 1880, HIS AGE IS LISTED AS 55 AND HER'S IS 35. AND HER'S IS 35. SHE HAD BEEN MARRIED BEFORE, HAD SHE HAD BEEN MARRIED BEFORE, HAD A SON, HYRUM. A SON, HYRUM. WHEN THEY MOVED INTO THE GREEK WHEN THEY MOVED INTO THE GREEK REVIVAL HOUSE, THERE WERE TWO REVIVAL HOUSE, THERE WERE TWO ADULTS AND THREE CHILDREN. THEY ADULTS AND THREE CHILDREN. THEY BROUGHT THE DESIGNS BACK OUT. BROUGHT THE DESIGNS BACK OUT. EM MA MODIFIED THEM SERIOUSLY. EM MA MODIFIED THEM SERIOUSLY. THEY BUILT THE HOUSE ONTO THE THEY BUILT THE HOUSE ONTO THE OLD HOUSE. OLD HOUSE. AND IT BECAME THEN A WING OF AND IT BECAME THEN A WING OF THIS HOUSE. THIS HOUSE. THE PLAN WAS THAT THE OLD HOUSE THE PLAN WAS THAT THE OLD HOUSE WOULD HOUSE THE KITCHEN, AND THE WOULD HOUSE THE KITCHEN, AND THE SERVANTS QUARTERS. SERVANTS QUARTERS. THIS HOUSE WAS STRICTLY FOR THE THIS HOUSE WAS STRICTLY FOR THE FAMILY. FAMILY. THE HOUSE WAS NOT IN THIS THE HOUSE WAS NOT IN THIS CONDITION. CONDITION. AT THE TIME WE CAME IN, THE AT THE TIME WE CAME IN, THE PARLOR, THERE WAS AN APARTMENT, PARLOR, THERE WAS AN APARTMENT, A RESTROOM WE HAD TO TAKE OUT, A RESTROOM WE HAD TO TAKE OUT, ALL THE MAN THE MANTLES, ALL OFM ALL THE MAN THE MANTLES, ALL OFM WERE REMOVED, THEY WERE UPSTAIRS WERE REMOVED, THEY WERE UPSTAIRS AND TAKEN TO THE ATTIC. AND TAKEN TO THE ATTIC. WHEN THEY GOT TO THE ONE IN THE WHEN THEY GOT TO THE ONE IN THE PARLOR, IT WAS TOO BIG. PARLOR, IT WAS TOO BIG. THEY SOLD IT, BUT WE DID HAVE A THEY SOLD IT, BUT WE DID HAVE A PICTURE OF IT. PICTURE OF IT. WHEN WE BEGAN TO DO THE WHEN WE BEGAN TO DO THE RESTORATION, WE HAD IT COPIED. RESTORATION, WE HAD IT COPIED. THEN WHEN WE CAME TO THE DINING THEN WHEN WE CAME TO THE DINING ROOM, THERE WAS A WALL THAT WE ROOM, THERE WAS A WALL THAT WE FELT WAS NOT CORRECT. FELT WAS NOT CORRECT. WE TOOK THE WALL DOWN, AND THERE WE TOOK THE WALL DOWN, AND THERE WERE PIECES OF THE WALLPAPER, WERE PIECES OF THE WALLPAPER, THE WIDTH OF THE TWO BY FOUR THE WIDTH OF THE TWO BY FOUR THAT WAS UP AGAINST THE WALL, THAT WAS UP AGAINST THE WALL, THAT WAS WHERE WE FOUND A LITTLE THAT WAS WHERE WE FOUND A LITTLE WATCHES OF THE WALLPAPER AND THE WATCHES OF THE WALLPAPER AND THE WAY IT WAS DONE BEFORE THE CHAIR WAY IT WAS DONE BEFORE THE CHAIR RAIL. RAIL. MOST PEOPLE ABOUT WE TELL THEM MOST PEOPLE ABOUT WE TELL THEM THIS WAS WALLPAPER, THEY TELL US THIS WAS WALLPAPER, THEY TELL US OH, NO, THAT'S WOOD, AND IT DOES OH, NO, THAT'S WOOD, AND IT DOES LOOK VERY MUCH LIKE WOOD. LOOK VERY MUCH LIKE WOOD. THE LIBRARY IS THE MOST THE LIBRARY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROOM IN THE HOUSE IMPORTANT ROOM IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE IT IS TOTALLY ORIGINAL. BECAUSE IT IS TOTALLY ORIGINAL. THE GENTLEMAN WHO BOUGHT THE THE GENTLEMAN WHO BOUGHT THE HOUSE WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER. HOUSE WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER. HE TOOK PICTURES OF THE HE TOOK PICTURES OF THE INTERIOR. INTERIOR. THEY DID USE THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS THEY DID USE THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS TO RESTORE THE HOUSE SO THAT TO RESTORE THE HOUSE SO THAT THEY HAD AT LEAST COMPARABLE THEY HAD AT LEAST COMPARABLE FURNITURE PIECES IN THE RIGHT FURNITURE PIECES IN THE RIGHT PLACES, AND IN THE RIGHT STYLE. PLACES, AND IN THE RIGHT STYLE. WE HAVE AN INTERESTING MIXTURE WE HAVE AN INTERESTING MIXTURE IN THE HOUSE. IN THE HOUSE. SOME PIECES BELONG TO THE SOME PIECES BELONG TO THE FAMILY. FAMILY. SOME PIECES BELONG TO OTHER OLD SOME PIECES BELONG TO OTHER OLD DECATUR FAMILIES. DECATUR FAMILIES. ONE PIECE IN PARTICULAR WE ARE ONE PIECE IN PARTICULAR WE ARE CERTAIN WAS IN THE HOUSE WHEN CERTAIN WAS IN THE HOUSE WHEN THE OGILVIES LIVED HERE AND THAT THE OGILVIES LIVED HERE AND THAT IS THE HALL TREE IN THE FRONT IS THE HALL TREE IN THE FRONT HALL. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, HALL. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, AND IT IS A PART OF OLD DECATUR. AND IT IS A PART OF OLD DECATUR. THERE IS SO MUCH HISTORY, SO THERE IS SO MUCH HISTORY, SO MUCH NATIONAL HISTORY THAT THIS MUCH NATIONAL HISTORY THAT THIS IS INVOLVED IN. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EVENTS AND HISTORY OF THE OGILVIE, LOG ON HISTORY OF THE OGILVIE, LOG ON TO WWW.OGELVIE.ORG OR CALL TO WWW.OGELVIE.ORG OR CALL (217)429-9422.
Architecture
The Queen Anne's Stylehouse was built in 1885 by George and Charity Brown.[3] The contrasting colors of brick are characteristics of this style. The smooth white limestone horizontal band encircle the house, contrasting with the rough red brick. The brick was obtained locally from the Porter brick yards. more contrast is achieved with the straight exterior walls broken by the two-story bay windows on the east and front of the building. The front bay has George Brown's initials and date of construction in white limestone. Asymmetrical shapes are characteristic of the Queen Anne style. The architect, Cicero Hine, blended a variety of stone, from plain and decorative molded bricks, and limestone trim. Additional variation comes from the patterned wooden clapboards on the third floor balcony.[4] The decorative variations in porches and balconies are highlighted by dormers, decorative gables and fanciful brackets under all the overhangs. Originally there was a wide veranda across the front and around the east side.[5]
The interior reflects the Queen Anne style with an asymmetrical floor plan. Through the front doors is a large entry hall. The interior includes stained and etched glass windows, plaster corbels and arches. The fireplace is decorated in a flower motif of oak with a faux marble painted soapstone enclosure. Door lights are made of engraved glass.[4] The third floor has a ballroom for formal dances. The third floor balcony is accessible from the dance floor.[3]
The house was constructed on local materials, including Porter bricks and Jackson Township lumber. It included hot and cold running water, with a bathroom on the second floor, and a coal fired furnace.[2]
Gallery
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East Facade -
Southwest corner -
Main entrance -
Fan light over front door; -
Dining Room -
3rd Floor Stairway -
Parlor -
Carved date on Chimney -
Chimney top
National Register of Historic Sites
- Chesterton Commercial Historic District
- Chesterton Residential Historic District
- George Brown Mansion
- Norris and Harriet Coambs Lustron House
- New York Central Railroad Passenger Depot, Chesterton, Indiana
- Martin Young House
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ a b c d "The History of the Brown Mansion". Archived from the original on 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ^ a b Photos: Local historians hear history of Brown Mansion, Chesterton Tribune, 3/10/2006
- ^ a b "The Architecture of the Brown Mansion". Archived from the original on 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ^ "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2016-06-01. Note: This includes Jim Morrow (April 2007). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: George Brown Mansion" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-06-01. and Accompanying photographs.
External links
Media related to George Brown Mansion at Wikimedia Commons
This page was last edited on 8 December 2022, at 04:42