By RAY ADLER
Ask Adler
There are several old houses in the county.
The R. L. Wilson house is located in the historic district of Noblesville, just south of the square, at 293 S. 8th St. It was constructed circa 1900. Some of the homes on South 10th Street were constructed around that same time.
9th Street was originally known as Catherine Street and the area is known as the South 9th Street Historic District. It is roughly bounded by Maple, Division, 10th, and the west side of 9th Street, with 39 contributing buildings. 197 S. 9th St. was built in 1870. 307 S. 9th was built in 1899. 395 S. 9th was built in 1870. 105 S. 10th St. was built 1864 in the Greek revival style with a low pitch gable roof. 195 S. 10th was built in 1875 and is a two-story Italianate T plan house. A newspaper article reports that it was painted by James Whitcomb Riley before he was famous as a poet.
My wife and I own a home that was built in 1858 according to her family history and in 1860 according to the taxing authorities. A family great-great-grandfather, Daniel Waltz, was reportedly one of the founders of the town of Arcadia. Early settlers began to move in that area circa 1833. On December 12, 1836, John and Harriet Schaefer purchased 160 acres of land adjacent to the plot owned by Daniel and Matilda Waltz, which was later to become the heart of downtown Arcadia. Daniel’s son, not wanting to live in the big city, moved out to the edge of town and built the house where our family still lives.
One Thanksgiving, great-grandpa John Chenoweth remarked to my son Thomas that he had had Thanksgiving dinner in the same room with his great-grandfather. 164 years in the same house. I married into a very stable family. Pastor Tim Brock once told me that he believed he married up. However, he said he was sure that I married outside of my species.
I found a large potato board in the cellar when we took possession. It was native cherry approximately 30 feet long, three feet wide and almost three inches thick. I took it to craftsman Dave Pickett who made a china cabinet for my wife.
The home has nothing new or valuable from a monetary standpoint; just family history and memories. The early part of the house had supporting logs that were only hued on top. The bark is still visible on the bottom. Later supporting beams were squared on all four sides with the ax marks clearly visible. A rock wall basement and large cisterns were features when we acquired the property.
Conner Prairie has the Conner house built circa 1823. When we took the children there, they asked what was so special about that house. It looked just like ours! Sugar glass windows. Faux marble wainscoting. No doorknobs, just thumb latches. Vegetable cellar. Potato board. Hand-dug well. Horse carriage with cinders floor. Barn with rock floor. Large garden. Indeed, the two homes do look alike.
With all the new construction and development in Hamilton County, it is certainly special to live in a home with such a rich history.
Educational material and not legal advice, written by the team at Adler attorneys. Email andrea@noblesvilleattorney.com with questions or comments.