DeForest Skinner House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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DeForest Skinner House
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 208 Washington St, Valparaiso, Indiana |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1860 |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Upright & wing |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000568 |
| Added to NRHP | June 24, 2008 |
The DeForest Skinner House, also known as the Skinner Homestead, is a historic home in Valparaiso, Indiana. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 24, 2008. This means it's an important building worth protecting because of its history and unique style.
Built around 1860, this house has two stories. It is designed in the Italianate style, which was popular for homes during that time. The house has strong brick foundations and walls made of weatherboard. Its roof is covered with asphalt. You can find this historic house just a few blocks north of the Porter County Courthouse. A special stone for stepping out of carriages, with the Skinner family name on it, is still by the north porch.
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Who Was DeForest Skinner?
DeForest Skinner bought this house around 1861, the same year he married Rachel Ann Maxwell. He had moved to Valparaiso in 1847 when he was just eleven years old. Even at a young age, DeForest showed a lot of talent for business. He worked for many different companies and learned a lot about how to succeed.
Skinner's Public Service
DeForest Skinner was also involved in politics. From 1874 to 1878, he served as a member of the Indiana Senate. This meant he helped make laws for the state of Indiana. He was part of the Republican Party. Later, in 1880 and 1888, he represented his area at the Democratic National Conventions. These were big meetings where important decisions were made for the Democratic Party.
A Leader in Business
Besides politics, DeForest Skinner was a very important person in the business world. He was the President of the First National Bank from 1887 until he passed away in 1902. He also represented Indiana at the World's Congress of Bankers in 1893. This was a major event where bankers from all over the world met. He was also on the board of directors for the Chicago and Grand Trunk Railroad. This meant he helped make big decisions for the railroad company. DeForest Skinner passed away in this very house in 1902.
The Skinner Family Legacy
After DeForest Skinner's death, his son, Leslie Reid Skinner, took over the house. Leslie was born in 1873. He followed in his father's footsteps in the railroad business. Leslie became a director of the railroad after his father's death. This made him the youngest railroad director in the entire United States at the time!
Later Owners of the House
Leslie and his wife sold the DeForest Skinner House in 1919 to Louis Szold. Mr. Szold lived in the house until 1946. In 1930, he started renting out parts of the house as apartments. Other owners continued to use the house as apartments for many years. However, in December 2005, the current owners, Kirk and Caroline Conner, bought the house. They began working to restore and renovate it, bringing it back to its original beauty.
