THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 35, Number 13 Thursday, April 12, 2018 by William Halliar The Oliver Mansion in South Bend. On the corner of Washington and Chapin streets Iron Works and inventor of the “Cold Chilled” plow in South Bend stands a 100-year-old home — a that greatly shaped America’s agricultural history monument to a man, an idea and his dreams. and earned Oliver the nickname “Plowmaker of the It is a testament to a family World.” that lived in the sturdy brick-and- On May 39, 1900, on his par- stone structure for three genera- ent’s 56th wedding anniversary, tions, leaving a legacy of manu- James Doty christened his new facturing and philanthropy to the home Copshaholm to honor the people of South Bend and north- birthplace in Scotland of his par- ern Indiana. ents, James and Susan Catherine. The ornate three-story Vic- Today, Copshaholm is an integral torian mansion, constructed of part of a well-kept, beautifully Indiana granite and brick, was laid out, well-constructed mu- built by Joseph Doty Oliver, son seum complex that includes The of James Oliver, guiding spirit Studebaker National Museum James Doty Oliver James Oliver behind the famous South Bend and The History Museum. Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 April 12, 2018 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 %HDFKHU&RPSDQ\'LUHFWRU\ e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] 'RQDQG7RP0RQWJRPHU\ 2ZQHUV email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.thebeacher.com/ $QGUHZ7DOODFNVRQ (GLWRU 'UHZ:KLWH 3ULQW6DOHVPDQ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by -DQHW%DLQHV ,QVLGH6DOHV&XVWRPHU6HUYLFH TM %HFN\:LUHEDXJK 7\SHVHWWHU'HVLJQHU Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS 5DQG\.D\VHU 3UHVVPDQ 'RUD.D\VHU %LQGHU\ Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also 0LNH%RUDZVNL+RSH&RVWHOOR&KHU\O-RSSHN 3URGXFWLRQ delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. -RKQ%DLQHV.DUHQ*HKU&KULV.D\VHU'HQQLV0D\EHUU\ 'HOLYHU\ breathed new life into Barker Mansion by establish- Continued from Page 1 ing new programs and bringing a younger genera- tion into the fold. Way back in 1867, a small group of history mind- During the tour, I listened intently as Copsha- ed residents in St. Joseph County — 33 in number holm Curator Kristie Erickson and Rosier spoke of — decided that the story of the county should be the problems and challenges in keeping a building preserved in a collection of artifacts as a legacy for with ancient plumbing and wiring in good working all generations. Today, The History Museum has order. more than a half-million objects in its collection and Together, we walked through areas that were un- is Indiana’s second-oldest historical society. der renovation, and Erickson explained the prob- Included in lems of rewiring the building that the old building houses the memo- to bring it up to ries of St. Joseph code. This was of County’s past is particular interest a gallery dedicat- to Rosier, because ed to the history Barker Mansion of South Bend’s faces similar chal- most famous Uni- lenges. Of interest versity — Notre to her as well were Dame. There also the Tiffany Glass is an extensive ornamental win- children’s exhibit, dows that grace and a special na- several rooms of tional repository the Oliver Man- for memorabilia of sion. the American Girls As part of the The Oliver Cold Chilled Plow. Professional Base- tour, Erickson was ball League founded in 1943 by P.K. Wrigley and joined by Marilyn Thompson, the museum’s direc- immortalized in the 1992 fi lm, “A League of Their tor of marketing. We were led through a carriage Own.” This permanent exhibit, “Polished in Pub- house, which now houses museum displays, class- lic, Fierce on the Field,” highlights the women ath- rooms and an original Oliver plow, and out to the letes who made up the league, and the times and grounds of Copshaholm itself. pressures that made them such fi erce competitors: A heavy and ornate wooden door was opened, beautiful, ladylike, fi erce ballplayers — all in one and we were welcomed into a time capsule of life as package. it was lived by the Oliver family for three genera- Recently, on a sunny, crisp day, my friend, Jessica tions. What makes Copshaholm so unique, among Rosier, director of Michigan City’s Barker Mansion, other preserved mansions of the Victorian era met me in the lobby that serves as a welcome center (1837-1901), is that it is fi lled with all of the fam- for the museum complex, eager for a tour of Copsha- ily’s original furnishings, photographs, books and holm and the history museum. Jessica graciously papers. The sensation is that of stepping back in agreed to join me, and I looked forward to hearing time, observing family members who have just left her take on the story we were about to hear. the rooms we’ve visited. Indeed, it was fi tting that Rosier joined me on Open drawers and closets, and you will fi nd the this tour. The Barkers, Olivers and Studebakers family’s clothes still neatly folded and ready to wear. were contemporaries. Through their ingenuity, vi- Kitchen cabinets are fi lled with spices that still fi ll sion and family legacy, they contributed so much to the air with their aromas. The drawers are packed the history and culture of our region. with vintage kitchen utensils, gleaming and ready Rosier is an elegant, soft-spoken woman who has to prepare a sumptuous meal. THE April 12, 2018 Page 3 The magnifi cent den of the Oliver Mansion. J.D. Oliver began building the home, designed by New York architect Charles Alonzo Rich, in 1895. It 269-756-3879 was not complete and ready for the family to move into until Jan. 1, 1897. This was to be no ordinary home. It was designed as a three-story building in the Romanesque Queen Anne style. The Olivers were very much dedicated to family, and for their family they wanted a beautiful home to refl ect their success, and to be a place of peace and rest for those they loved, and a source of enter- tainment for friends and acquaintances. The foundation of the home was constructed of granite quarried from St. Joseph and surrounding counties. It was custom cut and fi t together on site by stonemasons from Europe. A veranda was de- signed encircling much of the home, with a roof sup- ported by 14 granite columns crafted and shipped from quarries in Vermont. The roof was created to last for generations and constructed of red-baked clay tiles and copper. Continued on Page 4 The Oliver Mansion dining room. THE Page 4 April 12, 2018 and the Oliver history begins with the life of just Continued from Page 3 one person and a dream that will not let him rest until it becomes a reality. The fi nished home had 38 rooms, with 14 fi replac- James Oliver (Aug. 28, 1823-Feb. 2, 1908) was es for ambiance since the heat to warm the building a dreamer of dreams. “I was classed with the fools was provided by two coal-fi red boilers located in the who pursue the fallacy of perpetual motion,” he once nearby carriage house. Imagine 10 bedrooms and said. But it takes more than mere dreams to become nine bathrooms with many sitting rooms and re- a man of renown in any community. Action and vi- ceiving rooms, including a third-fl oor ballroom with sion are required, as well as a bit of good old-fash- adjacent poolroom and smoking porch, and you may ioned luck. start to picture this magnifi cent home. James Oliver was a man of ideas. He accumu- The home was one of the fi rst in the area to have lated 45 patents during his lifetime, many of which electricity. Many critics at the time thought electric had to do with the process of creating stronger, more lights were a passing fad, so gas fi xtures were pro- durable iron castings. He was born in Scotland and vided for lighting. The Tiffany Glass Studio in New moved with his family early in life to the wilds of York provided leaded glass windows and decorative America where, as was the custom in those pioneer light fi xtures, and a curiously modern, whole house days, he took odd jobs with local farmers, helping vacuuming system was part of the package, with a them plow and tend their fi elds. motor located in the carriage house next door. Early American plows Over the years, the were made of wood. Even mansion was home to though early inventors three generations of the Oliver family. The last such as Thomas Jeffer- to live there was Joseph son had improved plow Doty Oliver Jr., who died mold board designs, that in 1972. After his death, is, the curved shape of the home remained un- the body of the plow, the occupied by family mem- wooden plows of the day bers, but was respect- must have left much to fully preserved and be desired. Clever James maintained by a trusted Oliver observed the defi - family butler. Copsha- ciencies and dreamed of holm remained in Oliver solutions. family possession until One of James’ sisters it was gifted to the city married a gentleman after the death of J.D.’s The intricate details along The incredible detail surrounding from the Hoosier state bannisters in the mansion.