Indiana Governor's Residence

The Indiana Governor's Residence is the official home of the Governor of Indiana and his family and is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. It has been in use since 1973 and as preceded by several different structures.

Current residence

The home is located on historic North Meridian Street in Indianapolis on a six-and-one-half acre estate. Designed by Scott Wadley, with Rabush and Hunter serving as the architects, the English Tudor home was built in 1928. It was acquired by the state in 1973 from the attorney C. Severin Buschman for $242,000. The home was then renovated for around $800,000 including $125,000 in funds from a Lilly Endowment grant. Renovation included the installation of air condition and modern wiring.cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/gov/3116.htm|title=Indiana Governor's Residence|publisher=IN.gov|accessdate=2008-07-09]

Approximately 10,500 sq. ft. with 23 rooms and 11 bathrooms, it is considered typical size for an English Tudor home and resembles many other in the neighborhood that were built in the same time period. Although the appearance is similar, it is structurally unique in that its support and foundation are concrete, whereas typical Tudor homes are wooden. The home's lower flood is open to the public and tours are offered regularly to tourists. The rooms available for viewing include the foyer, a library, formal living room, formal and informal dining room, a sun porch, a kitchen, a butler's pantry, residence staff offices, and event space. The second flood is reserved for living area and off limits to the public. The third floor contains additional bedrooms and a large attic space, rooms can be rented on this floor and the proceeds are used to fund the mansion. The home receives approximately 10,000 visitors annually.

Previous Governor's residences

Before Indiana became a state, the Indiana Territory had two governors. William Henry Harrison, the first governor, built a plantation style home in Vincennes, and named it Grouseland for its many birds. Built in 1804, it was one of the first brick buildings in the territory. The home is still preserved and is a National Historic Landmark. Thomas Posey, the territory's second governor, had a home built in Corydon, Indiana, but lived there only briefly before moving to Jeffersonville. The Posey House is preserved as part of a National Historic District.

There have been six official residences of Indiana's governors since Indiana became a state, but only five were actually inhabited by the first family. There were four other unofficial residences that governors also lived in while no other accommodations were available. The first residence was in Corydon; Jonathan Jennings, the first governor, and his wife Anne lived in it from 1816 until 1822. The building is no longer standing. Governor William Hendricks also lived in Corydon at Governor Hendricks Headquarters, an unofficial residence purchased by Hendricks from Davis Floyd after the Panic of 1819. He lived there during his term as governor from 1822-1825.cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/gov/3192.htm|title= History of Indiana Governor's Residence|publisher=IN.gov|accessdate=2008-07-09]

The second official residence of the governor was built in the center of Indianapolis where the Indiana Sailors and Soldiers Monument now stands. It was designed by Alexander Ralston, who also laid out most of the city. The mansion cost $6,500 and was completed in 1827 during the term of Governor James B. Ray, but it was never used by the governor because of its lack of privacy. It was inhabited by Indiana Chief Justice Isaac Blackford from around 1830 until the 1850s. It was torn down in the 1870s. [cite book|title=Indiana and Indianans|author=Dunn, Jacob Piatt|year=1919|pages=336|location=New York and Chicago|publisher=American Historical Society]

Without a home for the governor, the state purchased the house of D. John Sanders to serve as a residence for the Governor in 1837. The location, on the corner of Market and Illinois Streets in Indianapolis, proved to be damp and unhealthy because of the wetland conditions of the area at the time. Governor James Whitcomb blamed the conditions for his wife's death. In 1861, the home was abandoned during the term of Oliver Morton, who briefly lived in the house but refused to stay. The building was sold during his term and eventually destroyed.

The governor was without an official residence until 1919 when the state purchased a home located at 101 East 27th St., Indianapolis, for $65,000 and furnished for an additional $20,000. It was built by Henry Kahn in 1908 and had the design of an English country house. The home had a Gothic interior with high, beamed ceilings and luxurious Wilton carpeting. After a brief renovation, the home was inhabited by the governor starting in 1919 and was so until 1945. The building was sold by the state to the Marott Hotel who intended to turn it into a clubhouse, but eventually destroyed it to build a parking lot.

The fifth home for the governor was purchased in 1945 and located at 4343 N. Meridian St. The home was built in 1924 by Harry Lane, an auditor for the Indianapolis Stockyards. Three stories high with slated roofs and 12 rooms, it was famed for its golden bathroom fixtures and its high gilt-tipped iron fence. It was purchased from his widow for $72,000. It served as residence for the governor from 1945 until the present mansion was purchased in 1971. The home was sold at an auction to Robert L. Dawson, who in turn sold it to Dr. John C. Klein in 1978, in whose possession it still remains.

After the building was auctioned, there was a brief period while the new mansion was under renovation. During that period governors Edgar Whitcomb and Otis Bowen, took up residence in the Riley Towers located at 200 N. Alabama St. The state leased the penthouse for their residence at a cost of $1,150 per month.

Governor's Residence Commission

The governor's residence is maintained by a trust managed by the Governor's Residence Commission and is part of the Indiana Public Building Foundation located at 4750 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis. The commission was authorized in 1975, charged with overseeing the renovation and maintenance of the home as well as event planning. In 2008, the commission's members included: Linda Goad, Sara Barclay, David Collins, Jim Baker, Mike Bosway, Judy Warren, and Shannon Rezek. The commission is partly funded by private donations. The members are appointed by the Governor and serve at term lengths of his choosing. The commission meets monthly and officially reports to the Office of First Lady. The commission serves without pay, but is reimbursed for expenses. [cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/gov/2369.htm|title=Governor's Residence Commission|publisher=IN.gov|accessdate=2008-07-09] [cite web|url=https://secure.in.gov/apps/govboards/BoardDetails.aspx?BoardId=11133|title=Governor's Residence Commions|publisher=IN.gov|author=Indiana Code|accessdate=2008-07-09]

References

ee also

*Indiana Statehouse
*Governor of Indiana
*Governor Hendrick's Headquarters

External links

* [http://www.in.gov/gov/2343.htm Governor's Residence at State Government Web Site]
* [http://www.ai.org/legislative/ic/code/title4/ar23/ch15.html Indiana Code governing Governor's Residence Commission]