Touring Noblesville's History

Read the story here (p.9)

Serendipity and Schoolhouses

Serendipity.  That’s what Dottie said as we got back into her car after a chat with a local man after we stopped to snap a picture of his house.  The front door was open and he invited us in and showed us around.  We connected because we’re ‘old house’ people, or more accurately, ‘old building’ people.  Old buildings are a way to connect with the past, with people who came before us, a way to honor the hard lives they led, and a way to be a part of what will be history someday.

            After I interviewed Dottie Young, who grew up right in Clarksville, for some of the history on last week’s schoolhouse cover story, she invited me to go along on a tour of old remaining schoolhouses in the area. She told me fascinating stories of people and places as we passed mile after mile of cornfields. “That house was constructed without nails,” she said as we passed a large white farmhouse, and “my mother was born in a house that used to stand here on this corner.” 

Dottie told me of tiny, nearly forgotten cemeteries tucked in the acres.  She has ancestors buried at many of them, dating back to when this area was settled.  She took me to an early surviving log cabin—and I was amazed.  It still has a wood shingle roof!

I’d never been on most of these roads, but I’d been to one of the old schoolhouses we visited.  I actually wrote about it here back when I first discovered it by accident. Just a shell now, in ruins but still standing, it touched me so deeply then and still does.  Dottie thinks it was called ‘Willow Pond’.

Down the road from that schoolhouse is where we met Josh Reynolds.  His is an amazing story of how he and his wife Laura purchased their schoolhouse and have renovated it into a beautiful, cozy home with soaring fourteen foot ceilings and wood floors. What’s now the front door wasn’t the original entrance, but there was a big hole in the wall from where a tractor had been driven right through the wall—on purpose—a common practice back then.  The limestone plaque is inscribed with the name Charles Zeis, Dottie’s great-grandfather.

I feel so much gratitude for those who work to preserve our stories and our buildings and our past. 

Historic Homes--1567 Logan St.

Location: 1567 Logan Street

Owners: Mel and Nancy Joliff, since 1996

Style & History: This Victorian cottage, built in 1871, has undergone many changes and hardly resembles the original structure. Many of the home's renovations occurred in the early 1920's, when rched openings, a kitchen, full bath, and an additional bedroom were all added. The entryway was altered to accommodate the delivery of dining room furniture. At that time, the house was owned by prominent Noblesville businessman, A. H. Hare.

What are your favorite features? “We love the cottage style. The open feel of the living and dining room areas is great for entertaining and family dinners. Two fireplaces add character, one is a focal point in the living room and the second is, surprisingly, in the finished basement which we now use for exercising.”

What work have you done on your house? “New cement board siding and a total kitchen make-over were our last two major projects. Although we've nearly redone the whole house, when spring comes around, we plan to enlarge and upgrade the main bathroom. We'd love to put one of the porches back on the front of the house. It actually had two porches on the front.”

What do you like about this area/neighborhood? “We value getting to know our neighbors in Old Town. The front porches, detached garages and ability to walk downtown to shop, dine and enjoy events make connecting with them easy.”

Historic Homes of Noblesville

Location: 1471 Cherry Street
Owner: Bryan Glover, since March of 2010

Style: Victorian Cottage, circa 1902. The footprint of this t-plan home, which sits on a brick foundation, has changed very little since its construction 108 years ago. The home’s existing front porch is new construction and slightly larger than the original porch which wrapped around only 2 sides of the home. Although new, the turned porch posts and spindle railing reflect the home’s Victorian construction, as does the multi-color paint scheme.

What work have you done on your house? “I had an upstairs master suite added in a remodel. Investor Clay Hildreth added several feet to the back of the house which allowed him to open up the attic and make it livable space. The French doors, bedroom doors and built-in china cabinet which were in the house before the restoration were stripped, refinished and re-hung. Next spring will be landscaping. That includes flowers and plants outdoors, and a pergola/patio for the back. ”

What are your homes favorite features? “ The doors are about 8' tall! The glass panes in the French doors are mostly the original glass. Another favorite is the upstairs master suite, especially the "rain" shower.”

What do you like about this area/neighborhood? “The proximity to downtown and being able to easily access the things I like to do. I live close to my business and Noble Coffee where I spend a lot of time. I’ve met so many people here.”

Six private residences open their doors for Tour of Historic Homes

The circa 1875 Italianate -style home of Mark and Suzanne Augustson at 1352 Cherry St., is one of six private homes on the tour.

The ornate woodwork on the stairway is one of the favorite features of the home owned by Pete and Barb Lapitsky at 1139 Cherry St.

Pete and Barb Lapitsky attend the Noblesville Preservation Alliance Tour of Historic homes every year, checking out what their fellow residents have done with the homes they own.

“I like to get ideas and see features that my house doesn’t have,” Pete says. “I especially love the wood features in the homes. I love the charm and small town, neighborhood feel.”

Now, it's the Lapitsky's turn to show what they have done with their own creation. Their home is one of six private residences on the tour annual tour Sept. 18 downtown in addition to other historic points of interest in the city.

One of the oldest of its kind in Central Indiana, the tour will also include Fire Engine 521, in service for 40 years in Noblesville, the Henry Flagler train car, the Victorian House, the Sheriff’s Residence, the Judge Stone House, and the First Presbyterian Church.
Geoff Davis of the Blue Stone Folk School will be conducting workshops throughout the day in the Judge Stone House. NEED ADDRESS History buffs will enjoy several talks by Hamilton County historian David Heighway at 11 a.m. And 1 p.m., also in the Judge Stone House.

There will be music performances throughout the day at various locations, and a hog roast fundraiser at the First Presbyterian Church, 1207 Conner St.

The homeowners have been busy preparing for the tour. The residences include:
1179 Conner St.—Althouse family
1393 Conner St.—Walters family
1471 Cherry St.—Glover family
1352 Cherry St.—Augustson family
1139 Cherry St.—Lapitsky family
1082 Maple Ave.—Dawson family

Advance tickets may be purchased for $10 at the Sheriff’s Residence, 810 Conner, A Corner Cottage, 895 Conner St., Noble Coffee and Tea, 933 Logan, Mr. G’s, 2209 Conner, and online at www.noblesvillepreservation.com.

On the day of the tour, tickets will be $12 and available at the Sheriff’s Residence and the First Presbyterian Church.
Proceeds from the tour will fund NPA projects, such as the new homeowner façade grant program which will award a total of $3,000 a year to historic home owners in the city limits for exterior improvements.



Historic Homes of Noblesville

Location: 1107 Logan Street


Owners: Matt and Megan Taylor, and children Madison, Travis and Shawn Taylor, since September 2009

Constructed by: Arza and Lauretta Truitt. Arza Truitt was a druggist with Truitt and Sons Apothecary located on the east side of the square in 1900. He married Lauretta Campbell in 1880. The couple had two sons.

Style: This Queen Anne home was built circa 1880 and has been added on to several times. The first was around 1896, when the Truitts added a master bedroom and a sitting room, and the porch was enlarged to the existing wraparound porch, and in modern times a large addition was constructed on the east side. The home retains its original carriage house.

What work have you done on your house? “We’ve gotten plaster repaired and done interior painting, and this summer we’re working on landscaping and a backyard patio. We also plan to put in a modern kitchen.”

What are your favorite features? “The front and back porches, the working gas fixtures throughout, the woodwork and tall ceilings, the pocket doors, and all of the detailed hardware.”

What do you enjoy about the neighborhood? “We can watch the parades from our porch, we like walking downtown to enjoy the shops and eat ice cream, we enjoy our friendly neighbors and the unique architecture here. Our first home was a bungalow on Maple Street. After living in Fishers for seven years, we wanted to get back to Noblesville and raise our kids here.”

The Magic of the Diana Theater

With hot summer nights upon us, I thought I’d share about a well loved movie theatre located about 16 miles north of Noblesville. A quintessential small town single screen theater, the Diana Theater, built in 1926, has reached iconic status. Moviegoers flock from miles and miles around, and the times we’ve gone we’ve always seen people we know from Noblesville.


Is it worth the drive? Well, if you don’t mind not having 16 screens to choose from, you want to experience some history and/or you want a fun date or family activity that won’t break the bank, the Diana in Tipton is for you. And I sure hope it is, it’s worth it.

Our last trip up there was late last summer and we’re overdue for another. We saw Up! and took the whole fam, which is always a feat and something we never do, with the exception of going to the Diana.

That’s because the Diana has a cry room. When the baby got restless, we just headed upstairs to the cry room and watched the rest of the movie up there without worrying about bugging anyone.

When we left the theater it was still light out and was 9:30. We marveled at it and took the drive home, stopping at DQ on the way. A perfect summer night.

But you know what gets me every time?

Noblesville had a Diana Theater once. Right at Ninth and Clinton, where there is now a parking lot. How did such a good thing get away? I don’t know the answer to that, but it makes me realize how imperative it is to embrace the small town charms and icons we have left and how much richer our lives are because of them.

Visit www.fandango.com, zipcode 46072 for the Diana’s movie times.

Local owners 'planting' a future for old schoolhouse

Kim Porter, owner of the lovely garden center known as Garden Thyme, is as vibrant and enthusiastic a gardener as you’ll ever meet. I love this place because I love plants, love to buy local, and love to help a good cause. Garden Thyme meets all three.


The two room brick schoolhouse was built in 1898 and used until 1930, when it basically became a storage building of farm equipment. When Kim and her husband purchased the property in 1898 a century after it was built, it was just a shell of its former self. There is no longer a floor, the side porches flanking the large arched window in front are long gone, as is the belfry and other elements. Kim uses the plant profits and returns them to the schoolhouse in the form of restoration.

Her latest project was to get the old roof replaced and the chimneys rebuilt, a project she’s so pleased about. The roof work was done by local roofer TJ Myers of MRC Roofing and his crew, while the brickwork was done by Scott Broady. “It took me eight years to save for the new roof. I would like to get new windows next, and then a floor. I envision teaching gardening classes in the school. I shop local when I can and try to support the little guy. It’s a joint effort and I couldn’t have done it without my customers. So thank you to all of you, and if you haven’t been here yet, stop by and say hello.”

Garden Thyme is located just east of Clarksville at 14520 SR 38 East. It’s open Tuesday-Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 11-4. See the website at http://www.pinkpeppercorn.com/ for photos and upcoming events (Chocolate Fest is Sat. June 5th from 10-4).

Historic preservation part of First Friday event

May is Historic Preservation month, a month to become more aware of the historic structures surrounding us and to bring focus to the importance of preserving our architectural wealth.

The Noblesville Preservation Alliance (NPA) will offer historic walking tours downtown at the First Friday event, May 7 from 5:30-8 pm. The Indiana Historical Society will provide a scavenger hunt, the Indiana Transportation Museum will be giving train rides, there will be May Day baskets for children to make, a May Pole, and also flowers and plants for sale.

The NPA web site, http://www.noblesvillepreservation.com/, has a map and photos of many of the downtown historic homes.
In a message from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Web site (www.preservationnation.org) “We know that preservation is good for communities and good for the pocketbook, but in the face of our growing climate crisis, we can also say with confidence that preservation has a significant role to play in fostering development that is more environmentally and economically sustainable. By giving Preservation Month the theme of sustainability, we are hopeful communities and organizations across the country will help us spread the word that preservation is inherently green. When you reinvest in older and historic buildings, live in a historic home, or even become a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation or your local preservation organization, you support a more sustainable world. Spread the word this May – Old is the New Green!”

The public can download a "This Place Matters" sign from the National Trust Web site, and then have their picture taken with it in front of their favorite historic place to be uploaded back to the site for display.
Visit the NPA website at www.noblesvillepreservation.com to see a map and photos of many of the downtown historic homes. Better yet, get inspired and come out May 7th to take a springtime stroll through these neighborhoods and enjoy these historic treasures.

And to all those working to restore and maintain these historic structures, thank you for your commitment to preserving the past for the future. Preservation matters.