Palace Lodge (Winslow, Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Palace Lodge
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Front and side of the Palace Lodge
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Center and Main Sts., Winslow, Indiana |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001217 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1984 |
The Palace Lodge is a historic building in the small town of Winslow, Indiana. It was built a long time ago, in the late 1800s. Since then, it has been home to many different shops. It was also a meeting place for two special clubs. The building is important because of its unique old design. It is now recognized as a historic site.
History of the Palace Lodge
In the late 1800s, two different social clubs were active in Winslow. These were the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Both groups wanted a place to meet. So, they decided to work together. They built a new building in downtown Winslow in 1892. It was located where Main Street (now State Road 61) and Center Street meet.
The two clubs used the building together. They held their meetings on the first floor. The second floor was used for offices. But soon after the building was finished, the clubs had money problems. They had to sell the building in 1898.
A local businessman named Logan Robling bought the property. He turned it into a general store. His son, Monroe Robling, joined him in the business. They called their store "L. Robling and Son." They ran the store until 1946. Then, they sold the building to Monroe's daughter, Winifred, and her husband, Neil Brown. The Browns opened a grocery store there. They ran their grocery store for 35 years. Both the general store and the grocery store only used the first floor. The second floor was usually rented out as offices or apartments.
Building Design and Architecture
The Palace Lodge is a rectangular building with an Italianate style. The front of the building faces west toward Main Street. Its northern side faces Center Street. The building has two stories. It is about 23 feet wide and 90 feet long.
The front and side of the building have many window sections, called "bays." A special part of the building is its northwest corner. Instead of a sharp right angle, this corner is angled at 45 degrees. You can enter the building through three doors. One is at the back, one is in the middle of the northern side, and one is at the angled corner. The building has different sizes of windows. The first-floor windows on the Center Street side are small and high up. The second-floor windows on both sides are large. The two first-floor windows on the Main Street side are also large. They have special glass panels above them called "transoms."
The Palace Lodge is built from brick. But many of its fancy details are made from cast iron. The original cast-iron storefront is still on the first floor of the western side. You can also see iron brackets that form the decorative edge, called a "cornice," above the front and northwest corner. The northern side of the building is all brick. This includes its cornice and two tall chimneys.
Inside, the building still has its original layout. The first floor is one big room. The second floor has six smaller rooms. The walls inside are covered with plaster. The floors are made of oak and pine wood. Large oak beams support the building's structure.
Recent History and Importance
After the Brown Grocery Store closed, the Palace Lodge was empty for a while. Later, a new owner bought it. They planned to fix it up. They wanted to create space for offices, apartments, and a shop. Today, the building is home to Outfitters Station. This store sells clothing and leather goods. It opened in 2007.
The Palace Lodge is the oldest business building in Winslow. It is also the best example of a business block from the late 1800s in the town. Because its design is so well preserved, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It was the very first property in Pike County to get this special recognition. The next property in the county to be listed was the Patoka Bridges Historic District in 2005.
