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 very special building located in Lafayette, Indiana. It stands at the corner of 10th and South streets. This house is known as one of the best examples of a large Gothic Revival style home still around in the United States.
Moses Fowler, who owned the house, was a very successful businessman. He passed away in 1889 when he was 74 years old. He and his wife, Eliza, were very generous. They gave money to many community projects, including Purdue University.
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Building the Fowler House
The Moses Fowler House was built between 1851 and 1852. Moses Fowler wanted a grand home. Workers used local wood like black walnut and white oak for the beautiful carvings.
Special Details
Skilled Italian workers came all the way from New York City. They traveled using the Wabash and Erie Canal. These artists created the fancy plaster designs on the ceilings. When it was finished, the house was one of the most impressive homes in all of Indiana.
The ideas for the house's design came from a book. It was called The Architecture of Country Houses. Moses Fowler bought this book in New York City. It was written by Andrew Jackson Downing around 1851.
Who Was Moses Fowler?
Moses Fowler first came to Lafayette in 1839. He moved from Circleville, Ohio. He started a dry goods business with his friend, John Purdue. John Purdue later founded Purdue University.
Fowler's Businesses
After 1844, Moses Fowler started many different businesses. These ventures helped him become very wealthy. He was involved in selling goods, raising cattle, and even railroads. He also worked in banking.
Both Moses and Eliza Fowler are buried in Spring Vale Cemetery in Lafayette.
A New Chapter for the House
In 1902, Moses and Eliza's grandson, Cecil G. Fowler, inherited the house. Cecil and his wife, Louise, moved in. Cecil also worked in banking, like his grandfather. He also helped develop new projects.
Major Renovations
Between 1916 and 1917, the Fowlers moved out for a while. The house went through big changes. They added a large dining room and living room in the Tudor style. An indoor kitchen, laundry, and garage were also built. The house also got new rooms for servants.
Upstairs, the house now had seven bedrooms and five bathrooms. This included a new guest room and a master suite. Outside, a beautiful Italian-style patio was added. It had fountains, a reflecting pool, and formal gardens. The Fowlers loved to host parties. They were famous for their large and fancy gatherings.
In 1940, the Fowlers sold the house. Their children were grown up by then. The Tippecanoe County Historical Association bought it.
The House as a Museum
From 1940 until 2015, the Moses Fowler House was home to the Tippecanoe County Historical Association. It was used in many ways. Sometimes it was a museum. Other times it held offices or stored historical items.
The 1852 Foundation
In 2015, a new group was formed called The 1852 Foundation. This group is a non-profit charity. Matt and Dr. Ann Jonkman helped start it. The 1852 Foundation bought the Fowler House Mansion.
From 2015 to 2018, they spent a lot of money restoring the house. They made repairs and updated it to modern standards. Now, the house is open to the public for tours. It can also be used for special events.
Images for kids
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Moses Fowler, around 1880
Gallery
