Brown Mansion a Crown Jewel of Chesterton History

THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 21, Number 49 Thursday, December 15, 2005 Brown Mansion a Crown Jewel of Chesterton History by Paula McHugh George and Charity Brown built a 3-story brick mansion in Chesterton in 1885. The Brown’s didn’t know it then, but their former home has become one of the crown jew- els of the small, yet rapidly-expanding town near the dunes. The Brown Mansion, built of the same locally-manufactured Porter brick, recent- ly became the new home of the Westchester Township Historical Museum. The museum formerly occupied cramped quarters in the lower level of the Westchester Township Library Technical Services Center. And the Brown Mansion was, up until a few months ago, home to the Duneland School Corporation’s Administrative Center. Luckily for townsfolk, no one let the historic Queen Anne building fall to ruin—it was entered onto the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. And just about everyone in Chesterton would agree that The 1885 Brown Mansion in Chesterton is new the home of the there is no better place than the stately man- Westchester Township Historical Museum. (photo by Dan Bruhn). sion on West Porter Avenue for housing the interesting history of the Duneland com- munity. Brown Mansion Continued on Page 2 Built of bricks from the Porter brickyards, the three-story mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, when the building was occu- The Brown’s prosperity is reflected within and without the tasteful and pied by the Duneland inviting period home. Although not reflected in our photos, the mansion is School Corporation’s currently decorated for the holidays with Victorian flourishes. administrative offices. THE Page 2 December 15, 2005 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 Not your aver- Jane’s sun- age retirement filled office, home, the Brown directly above Mansion’s the parlor, embellishments houses a soap- include the daisy stone-carved motif on the exte- fireplace and rior trim. Note the oozes charm. rounded-corner bricks, also. Other pieces of art, such as the cast- bronze doorknobs and door hinges, original to the home, require taking a closer inspection of the mansion’s treasures. Brown Mansion Continued from Page 1 n’t settle for a smaller abode upon retirement. The George Brown had been a farmer in Jackson Brown’s prosperity is reflected within and without the Township. Much of the cordwood on his 900 acres was tasteful and inviting period home. Exterior gingerbread sold to the Porter brickyards. George and Charity raised trim reflects a daisy motif . Similar flower details echo ten children and left the farming operations to their within: from a finely carved fireplace mantel to brass offspring upon retiring to town. But the couple did- doorknobs to shutter and door hinges. Library Assistant Director and Museum Curator Jane Walsh-Brown describes details of the grand, grandfather clock donated by the A colorful stained glass fanlight in the front entryway Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary to visitor Jim Jeselnick lets in a rainbow of cheer. THE December 15, 2005 Page 3 Westchester Library Assistant Director and Museum Curator Jane Walsh-Brown led the Beacher on a pri- Open ‘til 6 p.m. vate tour of the museum and pointed out these and Evenings other design details of the mansion’s stately interi- or. As we entered a rear parlor from the public access side door, Westminster chimes from a grand, cherry grandfather clock greeted our arrival. The clock, Jane said, came from the former Richardson www.littlehousefashions.comElegant Apparel for the Wildlife Sanctuary collection, as do several other [email protected] Conscious Woman Women’s Apparel period pieces in the mansion. Sunshine splashed through stained glass panels in the front parlor. The oak mantel fireplace with its four flower motifs 25% Off Storewide Sale set a focal point between large, wood-shuttered windows. (The Original Price) Select Items 50% Off. A late 19th-century pair of settees and a game table from the youngest children of the Morgan fam- Its a ily—Chesterton’s earliest homesteaders—comfort- ® ably fill the room without overwhelming the rich Pendleton ... architectural details. Hand-stenciled ceilings and Button-Front ornate capitals provide additional hints to the orig- Jacket - inal owners’ prosperity and taste. The Bradford & Pickstitching Bradford wallpaper remains true to the period of defines the seams, the house. collar and cuffs of Brown Mansion Continued on Page 4 this shorter shirt jacket style. Made in the USA. $198 Sale-$148.50. Long A-Line Skirt - The soft, brushed hand of worsted wool flannel brings fluid grace to this easy-fitting A-line skirt. The fabric has been cut on the cross grain for exceptional flow. The modern welt waist looks sleek and stays comfort- A late 19th century pair of settees and a game able, thanks to our table. all-around Comfort Waist with back zip. Half-lined. No pock- ets interrupt the sleek, slimming sil- houette Made in the USA. 35" Long. $128 Sale-$96. Meet Us For Lunch And A Style Show THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15 - TIPPECANOE PLACE, SOUTH BEND 409409 Alexander StreetStreet, LaPorte, IN 326-8602 Bradford & Bradford On Hwy 35 - 5 Blocks South of Lincolnway wallpaper period- TurnTurn Rightright on AlexanderAlexander designed wallpaper in Monday-FridayMonday - Friday10 am 9:30to 6 pmto 7 Saturday Saturday 9:30 9:30 am to to5 5 pm the mansion’s parlor. THE Page 4 December 15, 2005 Brown Mansion Continued from Page 3 In the dining room, the ceiling is wallpapered in shim- mery, earthy tones to compliment the patterned walls and centerpiece framed nature print. The print had been owned by early dunes’ activists William and Flora Richardson, and was donated by the Richardson Wildlife Sanctuary. (About he only thing missing is a fresh-from-the-oven Christmas goose for the table). One of three glass-doored bookcases from the William and Flora Richardson collection is installed in the large foyer. Jane told us that the tomes within this particular bookshelf all represent the history, politics, and soci- ology of the 1930’s. While visitors to the museum are restricted to the main floor of the mansion, Jane allowed us to be escorted upstairs to view the second-floor bedrooms- turned-offices, and up another flight to view the orig- The mansion’s oak balustrade, built by Nathan DeMass, inal ballroom-turned-storage space. The mansion’s oak is notable for its ornamental rectangular woodworking. balustrade, built by Nathan DeMass, is notable for its ornamental rectangular woodworking. Many works of locally-known artists decorate the walls. And other pieces of art, such as the cast-bronze doorknobs and door hinges, original to the home, require taking a closer inspection of the mansion’s treasures. If Jane had not pointed them out, we surely would have missed them. Jane’s sun-filled office, directly above the parlor, houses a soapstone-carved fireplace and oozes charm. Most of us would drool to have an office space so pleasant, but Jane pointed out that her duties within the building and elsewhere has kept her thus far from enjoying it to the hilt. The other former bedrooms house the offices of LuAnne DePriest, Programming and Publicity Assistant, and Kathi Mudd, Museum Educator. A research room where much study and exhibit preparation goes on behind the scenes is where Eva Hopkins does some of her work. The staff research room has doors that lead to other LuAnne DePriest, Programming and Publicity Assistant, confers with doors that are closets-turned-storage areas. Museum Curator Jane Walsh-Brown. Kathi Mudd, new Museum As Jane led us up to the top floor, she excitedly point- Educator, has her back to the camera. ed out the compact sitting area off the stairwell that we imagined would be the perfect spot to steal away to read a good book. Or, to just gaze out the windows and imagine the scene, or panorama of a century ago. The ballroom on the top floor would probably dis- appoint most contemporary visitors who harbor romantic visions. It nowhere resembles that of the Barker Mansion, because the Brown Mansion’s ballroom has been converted for use as a storage area for historical records and such. However, there is one fea- ture on this level that stands out: Jane led us over fur- nace ducts—carefully, of course—out through a small door onto the home’s portico. Standing eastward, we absorbed a nifty birds-eye view of the town from Porter Avenue. On the porch’s north side, Jane pointed out the cat slide roof that was the perfect venue for a Brown daughter’s elopement. The steeply- pitched roof at the back of the mansion slides to the top of the former carriage house. From there, a short Kathi Mudd is the newest member of the museum staff, serving as Museum Educator. ladder stole away 18-year old Loretta Mae Brown into THE December 15, 2005 Page 5 the arms of her true love, Val Cole, explained the couple’s grandson, Tim Cole.

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