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Scribner House
Scribner House in New Albany, closeup.jpg
Scribner House (New Albany, Indiana) is located in Indiana
Scribner House (New Albany, Indiana)
Location in Indiana
Scribner House (New Albany, Indiana) is located in the United States
Scribner House (New Albany, Indiana)
Location in the United States
Location 106 E. Main St., New Albany, Indiana
Area less than one acre
Built 1813 (1813)-1814
Built by Scribner, Joel
Architectural style Federal
NRHP reference No. 77000015
Added to NRHP November 9, 1977

The Scribner House is a very old and important house located in New Albany, Indiana. It was built by Joel Scribner, who was one of the three brothers who helped start the city of New Albany. Joel and his brothers, Nathaniel and Abner, moved from New York State. They named their new town "New Albany" to remember the capital city of their home state.

This special house is in downtown New Albany, right on the corner of State and Main Streets. It's also close to the Sherman Minton Bridge. The Scribner House is the oldest building in New Albany, making it a true piece of history!

The Story of the Scribner House

Joel Scribner built this house between 1813 and 1814. He used trees like ash, oak, and poplar that were cut down when the land was cleared. The house was designed in a style called "New England Federal". This style was popular for buildings in the early days of the United States.

What Does the House Look Like Inside?

The Scribner House has two and a half stories. The main floor has two living rooms, called parlors, and a hallway. Upstairs, on the second floor, there are three bedrooms. Both of these floors used to have a back porch. From these porches, people could enjoy a beautiful view of the Ohio River.

The ground floor of the house holds a large kitchen. This kitchen has a very wide fireplace. This fireplace was used for all the cooking back in the early 1800s!

Who Lived in the Scribner House?

The Scribner House stayed in the Scribner family for many years. The last family member to own it was Harriet Scribner. She was part of a group called the Daughters of the American Revolution. This group works to preserve American history.

Harriet sold the house to the Piankeshaw Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. This group made sure to keep the house just as Harriet had left it. Soon after selling it, Harriet passed away. In 1977, the Scribner House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site.

Visiting the Scribner House

You can visit the Scribner House during special open house events. These events happen twice a year. One is on the third Saturday in May, and the other is on the first Sunday in December. The December open house even includes a special Victorian tea party!

If you can't make it to an open house, you can also arrange other tours by making an appointment. All third-grade students in Floyd County also get to visit the Scribner House during their school year. It's a great way for them to learn about local history!

See also

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