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THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 19, Number 50 Thursday, December 18, 2003 Festivities Capture Spirit of Historic House by Barbara Stodola The clean lines and shingled exterior of the Barker House are features of the Arts and Crafts style of architecture. Holiday decorations and festive events are bring- ing to life the historic character of the house on Barker Road, where Marjory Barker lived for 72 years. Set in the midst of a 35-acre wooded site, the Barker House is now owned by the Save the Dunes Council and Conservation Fund. The house is being decorated for special holiday events, culminating in an open house on Saturday, December 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. The public is invited to see the progress the orga- nization has made on restoring the house to its orig- inal appearance. Boughs of holly, over-mantel wreaths, nutcrackers and other antique ornaments recreate the atmos- phere the Barkers would have enjoyed during their first Christmas season in the house, in 1902. Out in the yard, a new roof is being installed on the private dance hall, one of few such structures remaining in the state of Indiana. Carol Cook, who designed the holiday decorations, peeks through the Barker House Continued on Page 2 stairway arch overlooking the living room. THE Page 2 December 18, 2003 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.bbpnet.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also Subscription Rates delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. 1 year $28 6 months $16 3 months $10 1 month $5 Barker House Continued from Page 1 A parade of nutcrackers captures the spirit of the season. The Barker House is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its historic character has inspired the holiday decorations designed by artist Carol Cook, who is the new adminstrative assistant for the Save the Dunes Council and Conservation Fund. “Marjory was a Save the Dunes Council board mem- ber and we are trying to keep her spirit alive,” Carol said. A holiday tree on the front porch welcomes visitors The cultural life of Michigan City had been marked- to the Barker House. ly improved when Norton Barker, nephew of the industrial magnate John H. Barker, brought to town his bride, “the lovely Marjory Clark of nearby LaPorte.” Carter H. Manny, most observant chronicler of the turn- of-the-century period, admired her style. “Mrs. Norton W. Barker drove a small bay,” Manny wrote, “which was hitched to the only governess cart in town; one of those willow basket type carriages that you entered from the rear and sat somewhat sideways up front... undoubtedly the proper equippage for the younger Barker lady.” Norton Barker, who worked for his uncle at Haskell- Barker Car Company, had built a beautiful brick home at the southwest corner of Washington and Ninth Street, which was the most fashionable neigh- borhood in the 1890s. However, he and his bride lived there only a short time, as they preferred to move out to “the country,” to a wooded property on what then Work is progressing on the dance pavilion at Barker House. When became Barker Road. completed, the building will be used for conservationist meetings. THE December 18, 2003 Page 3 Open ‘til 6 p.m. Evenings www.littlehousefashions.comElegant Apparel for the [email protected] Conscious Woman Women’s Apparel STOREWIDE Tom Anderson is executive director of the Save the Dunes Council, which now occupies the historic house on Barker Road. Their country house was an Arts and Crafts style, much more modernized than other houses built in Michigan City at the time. Some architectural historians SALE believe it was designed by Allen and Irving Pond, col- leagues of Frank Lloyd Wright. It has the shingled exte- rior which was the newest style along the Eastern seaboard and was also used by Wright for his own home in Oak Park. The interior has simplified wood pan- eling and beamed ceilings, rather than the ornate plas- 25% ter ceilings and carved woodwork of the Edwardian period. Norton Barker died quite young, in a yachting Off accident. Marjory, however, who had been born in California and educated in Andover, Massachusetts, continued living in the house on Barker Road until her death in 1974, at the age of 98. She donated 30 acres of the wooded property to the Nature Conservancy, and was described by Manny as “the undisputed lady bountiful of our present city.” The Barker house and five acres of land remained as the home of her daughter Marjery (note spelling difference). Marjery worked for the LaPorte County Juvenile Court, and later became a partner in Hamil & Barker Antiquarian Booksellers in Chicago. Barker House Continued on Page 4 Meet Us For Lunch And A Style Show THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18 - ROSKOE’S, LA PORTE 409409 AlexanderAlexander StreetStreet LaPorte,LaPorte, IN IN 326-8602 OnOn Hwy Hwy 35 35 - - 55 BlocksBlocks South of of Lincolnway Lincolnway TurnTurn RightRight on Alexander Finishing touches are placed on another Barker House tree by Sandy Monday - Friday 9:30 to 7 Saturday 9:30 to 5 Wilmore (left) and Carol Cook, both staff members. Monday-Friday 10 to 6 Saturday 9:30 to 5 THE Page 4 December 18, 2003 Barker House Continued from Page 3 She continued living in the house until she died in 1980, at the age of 79. Her brother Wallace had moved to Charlottesville, Virginia. The Barker House, occupied for some years by the Audubon Society, must be maintained for conserva- tion purposes. The Save the Dunes Council and Conservation Fund, present owners, have begun fund-raising efforts to restore the house to its origi- nal condition. They have a matching grant from the Indiana DNR, which distributes funds from the U.S. Dept. of the Interior. The holiday dinner is to be followed up in the spring with fund-raising events appropriate to the sea- son and the historic character of the house. Committee members are Jeanette and George Neagu, Sandra Henderson, Ruth Osann, Anne Norton, Peg Mohar and Charlotte Read, assistant director of the Save the Dunes Council, Marilyn Spencer. is pictured beside a tree decorated with antique ornaments. Sandy Wilmore, director of the Conservation Fund, Above the Barker House doorway is the motto of the places an ornamental deer on the living room mantel. Save the Dunes Council, present owner of the house. nibbles and holiday Thecheer! Christmas Holiday Pat’s Gift Shop Jewelry Sale Sale Sale Marquette Mall, Michigan City at Buggie and Yaya’s Sweet Things 872-5724 buy one at 10%...buy two at 20%...buy three at 30% or May your holiday season be filled with buy four, let’s talk...or buy a big 'un at 20%...buy two big 'uns mirth, simplicity, miracles, wonder and at 30%...get the picture? How low peace & love. can this GIFT IDEAS: INDOOR OR OUTDOOR WINDCHIMES, sale go? HERITAGE LACE WALL HANGING, LAMPE BERGER - THE Ho ho “MAGIC” LAMP, MICHIGAN CITY ITEMS, ANGELS, SNOWMEN. STOP IN AND BROWSE. Sunday, December 21 at the Loft at Michigan Thyme 2-5 pm Choose to make shopping and giving be a Call Helen Welsh with any questions. Gift wrapping. joyous part of your holiday celebration. 874-BEAD THE December 18, 2003 Page 5 Barker House Receives Funding Barker House, at 444 Barker Road in Michigan City, is an outstanding part of the cultural and architec- tural history of the city. Although less well known than Restaurant & Bar its "cousin" the Barker Mansion, Barker House has been placed on the National Register of Historic at Whittaker Woods Places. Now work on its restoration has been given a boost. Nightly Dinner Save the Dunes Conservation Fund has grateful- ly accepted a matching funds grant for $46,600 from Specials the Indiana Department of Natural Resource Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology in Indianapolis. Monday The funds come from the National Park Service (U. Stuffed Pork Tenderloin S. Department of the Interior), which distributes federal funds to the states through the Historic $7.95 Preservation Fund Program. The funds will be used for the rehabilitation of Tuesday the early 20th century Shingle and Arts and Crafts Spaghetti and Meatballs Style Barker House, Carriage House, Dance Pavilion, $7.95 and Garage. The preventive preservation mainte- nance and rehabilitation include roof, masonry, car- Wednesday pentry and wood repairs, cleaning, and painting. Currently owned and occupied by Save the Dunes Full Slab BBQ Ribs Conservation Fund, the complex is used as office $9.95 and meeting space by several northern Indiana envi- ronmental organizations. It is surrounded by the Thursday Barker Woods Nature Preserve, owned by The Nature Conservancy. Corned Beef and Cabbage $9.95 Salvation Army Angel Tree Friday This holiday season your gift to a child in need will Seafood and Pasta Buffet enable The Salvation Army to distribute toys to boys $15.95 and girls who might not receive any Christmas pre- sents without your help. From now until Dec. 24th, Sunday Breakfast Buffet the Angel Tree will be at Marquette Mall between J.C. Penney and KB Toys. $10.95 adults The Angel Tree hours are daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m.