Moses Fowler House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Moses Fowler House
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Front of the house in 2017
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 Location in Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Corner of 10th and South Sts., Lafayette, Indiana |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1852 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000009 |
| Added to NRHP | August 5, 1971 |
The Moses Fowler House is a historic and beautiful home located in Lafayette, Indiana. It stands at the corner of 10th and South streets. This house is considered one of the best examples of a large Gothic Revival style home still found in the United States. It was built by Moses Fowler, a very successful businessman, in the 1850s.
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Who Was Moses Fowler?
Moses Fowler was born in 1815 and became a very wealthy person. He moved to Lafayette, Indiana, in 1839 from Ohio. He started a dry goods business with his friend, John Purdue, who later founded Purdue University.
After a few years, Moses Fowler went into other businesses. He became successful in many areas, including wholesale trade, raising cattle, railroads, and banking. By the time he passed away in 1889, he had built a large fortune. Moses and his wife, Eliza, were very generous. They donated money to help their community, including Purdue University. Both Moses and Eliza are buried in Lafayette's Spring Vale Cemetery.
Building a Grand Home
Moses Fowler had his grand house built between 1851 and 1852. The wood used for the detailed carvings inside came from local black walnut and white oak trees. To create the fancy plasterwork ceilings, especially in the north and south parlors, skilled Italian craftsmen were brought all the way from New York City. They traveled by the Wabash and Erie Canal.
When it was finished, the Moses Fowler House was one of the most impressive homes in all of Indiana. The main ideas for the house's design came from a book called The Architecture of Country Houses. Moses Fowler bought this book by Andrew Jackson Downing during a business trip to New York City around 1851.
Life in the Fowler House
In 1902, Moses and Eliza's grandson, Cecil G. Fowler, inherited the house. Cecil and his wife, Louise, made it their home. Cecil followed his father and grandfather into banking. He was also a developer, meaning he helped build new areas. He even worked with Carl G. Fisher, who developed the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to build a fancy hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.
Between 1916 and 1917, the Fowlers moved out of the house for a while. During this time, the house had big changes and additions. A large dining room and living room were added in the Tudor style. They also added an indoor kitchen, laundry room, garage, and rooms for servants. Upstairs, the house now had seven bedrooms and five bathrooms, including a new guest bedroom and a master suite.
Outside, a beautiful Italian-style patio was added. It had fountains, a reflecting pool, a small tea house, and formal gardens. The Fowlers loved to host parties and were known for their large and exciting gatherings.
A Home for History
In 1940, after their children had grown up, the Fowlers sold the house. The Tippecanoe County Historical Association bought it. From 1940 until 2015, the Moses Fowler House was home to this historical group. It was used in different ways, including as a museum, offices, and a place to store historical collections.
In 2015, a new group called The 1852 Foundation was started. This non-profit charity was created with help from Matt and Dr. Ann Jonkman. The 1852 Foundation bought the Fowler House Mansion. From 2015 to 2018, they spent over $1.3 million to restore and repair the house. They also updated it to meet modern building codes and added new facilities. Now, the house is open to the public for tours and can be used for special events.
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