John H. Bass Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John H. Bass Mansion
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Front of the house
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2701 Spring Street Fort Wayne, Indiana |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Wing & Mahurin |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000056 |
| Added to NRHP | June 2, 1982 |
The Bass Mansion, also known as Brookside, is a historic building in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It's located at the University of Saint Francis. This amazing mansion is made of hand-carved sandstone. It was the home of a wealthy businessman named John Henry Bass from 1902 to 1944.
In 1944, the Sisters of Saint Francis of Perpetual Adoration bought the mansion. They also bought over 65 acres of land around it. They moved their college to this new location. Since then, the mansion has been used as a library and a place for college residents to live.
The Bass Mansion: A Historic Home
The Bass Mansion, also called Brookside, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's a very important historical site.
A Look Back in Time
In 1889, John Henry Bass (who lived from 1835 to 1922) hired local architects. Their names were Wing and Mahurin. He wanted them to build a summer home for him. He called this home Brookside. Mr. Bass also made the land around the house look beautiful. He even created a man-made lake that went around three sides of the home.
However, in 1902, something unexpected happened. A gas explosion caused a fire in the basement. Most of the house was destroyed, except for some of the outside walls. But Mr. Bass didn't give up! By 1903, the house was rebuilt. This time, it was made with a strong mix of stone, concrete, and steel. These materials are still holding strong today.
Bringing History Back to Life
After many years of being used by the university, the mansion needed some care. So, in 2009, work began to restore it. By the end of 2010, the mansion looked brand new again!
As part of the restoration, the university brought back its original name: Brookside. This is what John Henry Bass had first planned to call it. The restoration of this 1903 building was a huge project. Workers had to study the original decorations very carefully. Each room had a different theme. It was tricky because there weren't many clues left about the original designs.
The goal was to bring back the mansion's unique beauty. Conrad Schmitt Studios helped with this big job. They worked on saving and recreating the fancy paintings and stencil designs. Today, you can see beautiful murals, stenciling, and special painting techniques inside. These amazing details make the restored Bass Mansion truly special.
