West End Walking Tour of
Madison Indiana
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| Madison,
on the banks of the Ohio River, became the gateway to the Northwest Territory with the building of the famous "Michigan Road" and,
later, the first railroad west of the Allegheny Mountains (Madison to
Indianapolis). It was selected as the "Typical American Town"
by the Office of War Information during World War II. A movie was widely
distributed by OWl heralding the community. It was the setting for the
movie "Some Came Running" in 1958. Nowhere else in the Midwest
is it possible to find comparable architecture. Within a few blocks can
be found houses showing direct descent from Bulfinch and Latrobe,
splendid examples of the Federal Style, the Classic Revival as sponsored
by Jefferson, and the Americanized Italian Villa style which became
popular in the reign of Victoria. For much of its fine architecture
Madison is indebted to Francis Costigan who came to the bustling,
growing town in 1837 from Baltimore. He had trained under the influence
of Benjamin Henry Latrobe who, up to that time, was America's most
highly educated architect and the man who established the Greek Revival
in this country.
This tour was prepared by Brooklyn Cull and is the property of
Historic
Madison, Inc. and used by permission.
START YOUR TOUR of
approximately two hours (16 short city blocks) from the City Parking Lot
on West Main at Poplar Street. |
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I. Walk one block
south on Poplar to the Jeremiah Sullivan House, 304 W. Second, built
1818, a fine example of the federal style and considered Madison's first
mansion. Unchanged architecturally, it exhibits the excellent taste of
its builder in the fine details in the street door and throughout the
house. The basement kitchen with brick floor and stone fireplace is
furnished in period. On the first floor is the only restored Federal
serving kitchen on record in the country. The third floor contains the
Sullivan family schoolroom. In the rear yard is a reconstructed bake
house and smokehouse. Sullivan, and others, named Indianapolis as a
state legislator and formulated decisions while on the bench of the
Indiana Supreme Court still in use in today's courts. His son, Thomas,
was an early mayor of Indianapolis and his great-grandson, Reginald, had
the distinction of having been twice mayor of that city. There is a
nominal admission charge. This property is owned by Historic Madison,
Inc. |
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2. Cross Second
Street and Poplar Lane to the Schofield House at217 W. Second, probably
built in 1817 and Madison's first two-story brick house. A fine example
of Federal style with unusual lunettes over the front windows. The Grand
Masonic Lodge of Indiana was organized January 12, 1818, here. In the
1970's the Lodge purchased the building and completed its restoration.
Open to the public. |
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3. The
Talbot-Hyatt House at 301 West Second Street is another fine example of
the Federal style of architecture. Richard C. Talbot came to Madison
from Pennsylvania probably in 1814 or 1815 and acquired this land site
on May 5, 1819. He was a local public servant and served his country in
the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. He died in the latter war and was
brought home from New Orleans on a steamboat. When the first log
courthouse burned, Talbot's home was authorized to be used as the office
of the County Clerk. Today the house is owned by Historic Madison, Inc.
Immediately west of the house are the Pioneer Garden and the Carriage
House, additions made during the late 1960's and during the 1970's. Open
to the public from dawn to dusk. |
| Photo Coming
soon! |
4. Continue south
on Poplar to Shrewsbury House Museum at First and Poplar Lane. There is
a nominal admission charge. Built by Francis Costigan, 1846-1849,
Shrewsbury House stands today a splendid example of Regency
architecture, containing large, temple-like rooms with incredibly high
ceilings, intricate plaster cornices, columns of majestic proportions.
With massive outside doors twelve feet tall, the central hall contains
Costigan's most famous free-standing spiral staircase. The drawing room
with its double pairs of Corinthian columns, elaborate plaster work and
twin fireplaces has the original white paint applied in 1849. |
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5. Go west from
Shrewsbury House on south side of First Street. Note the Presbyterian
Church, built in 1846, with the Christopher Wren style bell tower. One
of Madison's better remembered private schools serving children of
today's primary school age, was conducted by Miss Martha McClure in the
church basement during the 1850's and 1860's. |
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6. Continue west
on First Street to the James F. D. Lanier Memorial, 500 West First
Street. The Lanier home is owned by the State of Indiana; no admission
charge. Built by the the architect, Francis Costigan, 1840-1844, this
stately porticoed mansion is a splendid example of the Classic Revival
style of architecture and it is reminiscent of the cultured, leisurely
and prosperous eighteen-forties. The fine wrought and cast iron on this
and other Costigan houses was designed by him and fabricated at Madison
foundries. When Uncoln called for six regiments from Indiana in the
Civil War, it was Lanier who advanced nearly half a million dollars to
equip them. Other loans to Indiana, all on the note of Governor Morton,
are said to have been significant in determining the eventual outcome of
the war. While at the Lanier Mansion don't miss the 1850's cutting and
vegetable garden. |
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7. From the
garden of the Lanier home, look west beyond the Boys' Club to the
octagonal building on First Street. This was the third passenger station
of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The second station was just over the knoll
to the south on the river bank; swept away in the 1937 flood. The depot
and the new Historical Museum are owned by the Jefferson County
Historical Society. Both are open to the public. |
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8. Go north on
Elm one block to the Colonial Inn (Colby House) on the northeast comer
of Second and Elm.Tradition has it that the house was built with a loan
made to a newcomer on the basis of unseen contents of a large trunk
deposited with Lanier's bank. The bank discovered the truth after the
borrower's lengthy absence--the contents were worthless. Lanier and his
family occupied the house while the Lanier home was being completed. It
was operated as an inn for many years until about 1920 but is now a
private residence. |
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9. Go north one
block, then west on Main to the Trolley Barn, the site of a city market
in the late 19th Century and the home of the Madison Power and Electric
Company prior to its interior renovation when a number of shops were
established in the 1970's. Immediately west is Margie's Country Store,
an example of exterior preservation through agreement between Historic
Madison, Inc. and private business. |
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10. Directly
across Main Street (No.718) is the Holstein. Whitsitt House, Greek
Revival, 1840. Costigan may have been the architect. This house shows
the influence of the East Coast, particularly of the houses in Salem,
Portsmouth, and Kennebunk designed by Bulfinch and McIntyre. |
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11. Go east on
Main Street. Note the iron lace on the front of the house at No.620
Main--Italian Villa architectural style. |
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12. Continuing
east on Main. note the house at No.610. It was the home, during the
Civil War of Mrs. Helm, a half-sister of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. Her
husband, a Confederate officer, was killed at Chickamauga. The widow
left her home in Lexington. Ky. on account of hostile war feelings at
the time. After she came to Madison she played the organ in the
Episcopal Church. On her first entrance into the church she is said to
have been handed a hymn book with her name in it: It proved to be the
very hymnal she had packed in Lexington. It had turned up in Madison in
confiscated luggage. |
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13. Turn north on
Vine Street. The First Baptist Church. built in 1850-1860, underwent
considerable addition and renovation a century later. |
| Photo Coming
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14. Continue
north to John Paul Park located north and west of the Third and Vine
intersection. Named in honor of Madison's founder this area was at one
time the West Third Street Cemetery. |
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15. Go east on
Third Street to 408. The home of Madison's famous architect, Francis
Costigan, was built in 1849 on a 22-foot wide lot and reflects the skill
and ingenuity of the man. Within are interesting double stairs with a
now- famous push gate at the top. Note the sliding front door. This
property is owned by Historic Madison, Inc. Open to the public. |
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16. The house at
312 West Third was built by Indiana's Lt Governor, 1841-1843, Jesse
Bright. He was a U.S. Senator from Indiana at the time of the Civil War.
The house was remodeled at a later date. |
| Photo Coming
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17. The house at
310 West Third was built in 1837 and has survived almost without
alteration. |
| Photo Coming
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18. The houses on
the west side of Broadway and north of Third include excellent examples
of Madison's early architecture--the one at 509 built about 1837. |
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19. One-half
block east of Broadway, at 210 West Third, is the original Roberts
Chapel, now occupied by Sherman, Barber & Mullikin, Accountants.
Named for an early Methodist, Bishop Roberts, it was used as a place of
worship by Methodist until 1851 when it was sold to St. Patrick's
Benevolent Society. |
| Photo Coming
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20. At 419
Broadway is the house built by Mrs. John Paul, wife of Madison's
founder, in 1837. It is a good example of Baltimore style. Edward
Eggleston, the author, lived here , around the turn of the century. |
| Photo Coming
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21. Note the
architecture of the buildings as you move south toward Main Street
Trinity Methodist Church, erected in 1873, shows Norman-Gothic style as
influenced by English taste. |
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22. The fountain,
originally cast iron, was presented, in 1876, to the Philadelphia
Centennial Exposition by the Republic of France. It was then purchased
by the Indiana Order of Odd Fellows and presented to Madison. It was
returned to its original condition--but recast in bronze-- during the
latter 1970's and re-dedicated in the summer of 1980. |
| Photo Coming
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23. Note the old
iron store fronts at 323-327 West Main. These are good examples of the
Italianate style which flourished in steamboat days and which now
give Madison--much of its character. The heavy cornices at the roof line
and the ornate window caps derive from that style, introduced in the
early 1850's. Madison's Main Street exhibits many fine examples. |
| Photo Coming
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24. Go east on
the north side of Main. Note the iron balcony on the second floor of the
old brick building at 306 West Main, especially the unusually pattern in
the iron work. Date: about 1850 |
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