Preservation 911: The Greensfelder Mansion, Logansport Indiana

The Greensfelder family figured prominently in the history of Logansport. The Greensfelder commercial building was lost several years ago after Indiana Landmarks bought it and a partial collapse resulted in an emergency demolition. I've been lobbying Indiana Landmarks to acquire this one and maybe its time to ratchet up the public outcry.

The Greensfelder is perhaps one of the best examples of a late Victorian /early Edwardian home in Logansport. Built in 1902. The home combines Queen Anne elements with free classic detailing and the exterior includes features like a slate roof, large front porch with free classic details and a second floor balcony. Built by a prominent local family on a prominent location at 806 Market Street this home sits in a two block area of larger mansions.

Grand staircase

The property is on the market at a very affordable price and faces the real possibility of being bought by someone who world turn in into apartments and in that process remove the history of the grand interior. It is that "over the top interior' that makes the Greensfelder  Mansion special and its level of originality make it a significant home and it is a significant part of Logansport history.

Mosaic tile entry

The interior of this home is in deed over the top. You are greeted at the entryway by a finely carved wood door and a Mosaic tiled floor.

Rare Lincrusta wainscot

The staircase still has its original Lincrusta wainscot. The home has several large Pocket doors between the formal room and high ceilings.

This 'wedding cake' ceiling detail is very rare in intact condition

Rare treatment for a wood floor with a mosaic style executed in wood.

The front Formal parlor features a finely detailed 'wedding cake' plaster embellishments on the ceiling as well as a grand fireplace with fine carving and mirrors. The wood floors are all inlaid with creative patterns and different stain creating mosaic effect in wood.

The 'star' of the house is its grand formal Dining Room with custom designed US Encaustic Tile floor, this "tile carpet" is highly unusual.

Highly decorative

One of several rooms with this treatment . This bath features several colors of tile..

Formal dining Built in

The home features a rear servants staircase that travels all 4 levels. The basement is large with generous storage and recent boiler, the home also has a great deal of updated wiring and two circuit boxes.

Master bedroom has built in wardrobe and sitting room

Period Lighting

The second floor a has  a long hall, Master suite with its own sitting room and built in closet, several guest room and a period bath with large claw foot tub.

One of several finely detailed fireplaces

The third floor is open and huge with the ability to create more bedrooms or a grand ballroom. While this house will require a significant investment, its level of historic authenticity makes this an extremely worthwhile project. Priced at only 39,900. it is very affordable and we can only hope a preservation minded individual buys it.  I am encouraging Indiana Landmarks to buy it and I encourage you to contact the regional director Todd Ziegler tzeiger@indianalandmarks.org and ask landmarks to option this home  or buy it outright. More info is on the realtor site and Deb Drinkwine is the listing agent with Pacesetter Realty. Listing info 806 Market

We need to save this historic home, it is too important a  part of Logansport History. This would make a great Bed and breakfast or a fine single family residence. We need a "preservation hero" or a local group to come together and acquire it.

1937 Art Deco/International, Logansport Indiana 90K

I will be a first to admit my preference for Victorian and Tudor architecture, but when a 1937 Art Deco/International style house comes along that is largely unaltered non an estate size lot?....well I have to share it. This house is priced at an amazing 90K.

Lets be honest these Deco era Homes are highly prized and this home would easily sell for 500K-2,3 million in major city.

Not only is this a nice size home at  2444 Sq ft. It has a full basement and sits on TWO ACRES.

The white with red accent floor tile, Glass tile walls and RED bathroom fixtures are exceptional , because they are still there.

More info and photos of 2509 High Street, Logansport Indiana are HERE

Midwest Mansions: Grand Woodruff Victorian in Indianapolis

Private and hidden from the street

Many Woodruff Place mansions have endured HGTV renovation ruining the character of the interior. Not the case here this home is remarkably intact and the "updates' do not detract from its history.

grand staircase

The Stats: 7 beds 5 baths 7,248 sqft

Pocket doors to parlor

Love those built-ins

We like the great built ins. the grand staircase. I toured this house a few years back and its now getting where it needs to be, Priced at 484,900/ This home has had close to 200K in improvements.

Kitchen has everything

Great Ceiling

Woodruff Place is going one way, UP, as it represents the grandest homes close to the Urban core.

One of the Woodruff fountains

 

House under construction

More photos and info 608 Woodruff

An Elusive Stick style Victorian, Logansport Indiana

there is probably a wealth of detail under that siding!

When we spotted this house at 1514 High Street (long before it came up for sale, we took note of the bracketry on the front two story bayed front and immediately recognized it as a stick style Victorian.

The stick style rose of out of modern carpentry, due to the industrial revolution, millwork became more automated and as a nod to the old stick Tudor style in England. We think under that 1920's siding lurks to patterned shingle work board batten gables and some ghost lines of the applied stick trim.

The porch looks like an early 1900 addition and would have likely had a more interesting porch. This house priced at only 29,900 in a nice neighborhood is a bargain  by anyone's standards and we bet is an excellent restoration candidate.

More info: 1514 High street

Federal House: Centerville Indiana

This early home represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to own and cherish an extraordinary property in downtown Centerville, Indiana on Main Street (US 40) the National Road.

Historic detail of this special home that features over 2000 sq ft, a formal dining room, a living room with fireplace, cozy family room with built-ins, 1/2 bath and laundry combo, and a very efficient kitchen on the main level. The original period detailing is all there.

Upstairs you will find a master bath and dressing room, and two spacious bedrooms. The yard is very special and features a patio, arched entry from Main Street, large patio area, green space, and garden space.

 

The garage is a home for your cars and features a covered front porch, a large finished area, two office spaces, a workshop and a complete full attic space

Offered at only 188,000 this would appear to be a great value and of special interest to car collectors .

More info: 205 Main Street

Midwest Mansions: Henning House, Fourth Street, Louisville KY

Many of the "grand mansions" in Old Louisville have been converted to luxury condos over the last few years so its a rare event to see a single family mansion on Fourth street come up for sale.

Fabulous renovations to this Old Louisville "Grande Dame" brick Mansion featuring Olmstead's Central Park as its front view! Also known as the "Henning House", this home is thought to be one of the first steel beam constructed homes in Louisville and offers wonderful entertaining possibilities with grand size and flow of all main level rooms, a working elevator servicing all 3 levels, updated Trane HVAC systems, updated foam insulation, upgrades to electrical and plumbing system, refurbished chimneys and much more!!

 

Elegance, grace and style greet you in the front vestibule with marble flooring and leaded glass doors and windows with entrance to the formal foyer with hardwood floors, fireplace and columned entry to a formal living room with bayed sitting area and views of Central Park.

This home is 6 bedrooms, 3 full, 2 1/2 baths and over 7500 square ft. At 950K the price of admission to own this grand mansion is high but its a rare occasion to acquire a single family mansion of this size and detail in historic Old Louisville.

More information and photos: Henning House

Historic Peter Martin House, 955 Cherry St, Huntington Indiana

"The Peter Martin House" is a high Victorian/Italianate all brick home built in 1875 by Peter Martin, a German immigrant and stone mason whose skill quickly helped him rise to wealth and prominence in Huntington. This home has been loved and cared for over the years and updated to accommodate living practices of today. The wood floors have ornate designs and all the rooms are large with 10 foot ceilings on both the main level and the upstairs. Five Bedroom, over 3000 sq ft, and priced at 138,900.00

Recent updates include newer roof, windows, gutters, new paint, and tank-less water heater. There are also two HVAC units working efficiently to heat and cool this 3000 square foot home. The kitchen has been updated with new counters and is extremely functional!

There are three living areas, a stunning formal dining room with beautiful plaster work and functional pocket doors, and a main level office with a closet that can double as a 5th bedroom! The double lot is awesome and there is a huge 3 car heated garage! The bedrooms are all very large and there is ample storage with large closets and a third floor walk up. This is a great opportunity to own a beautiful historic home in the great city of Huntington. Seller is offering a one year home warranty.

More info: Martin House

Victorian: 844 Forest, South Bend Indiana

Often we look at Victorian homes that were re-muddled in the 1950 or 1960's. Far too often today we see homes that are what I call "HGTV modern" on the inside. Preservation minded people often have to look beyond 'unfortunate improvements' of the moment to look at the more historical aspects of a home. This house is one of those cases. great house, priced at 179K.

This house has a great deal of character on the outside. In lovely historic Chapin Park neighborhood. It is rare to find a home in this area with 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths home. This home  is close to downtown, the River and Leeper Park, Bike/Running Trails, Universities, Hospitals and Arts & Entertainment. The home also has a nice sized fenced yard and detached garage.

We see some opportunity here to take this house back in time. A little paint, some wallpaper, historic lighting and this house can return back to its 1890's roots and be ready for another century of living.

More info: 844 Forest