Tri-Kappa Tour of Homes
Historic
Madison Inc.
to open Shrewsbury-Windle House
The
late Ann Windle was
an active member of Tri-Kappa
Staff
Report
(October 2012) Tri-Kappa Tour of Homes participants
will have a special treat when they gain access to one of Americas
greatest 19th century architectural wonders, the 163-year-old Shrewsbury-Windle
House, located at 301 W. First St., in Madison, Ind.
|
File
photo by Don Ward
The
Shrewsbury-Windle House is
expected to be a highlight of the
Tri-Kappa Tour of Homes this year.
|
The former home of Historic Madison Inc. founders John
and Ann Windle, both deceased, was deeded to HMI last year and has been
renovated for public tours.
The public got a sneak peek at the home last winter during the Nights
Before Christmas Tour of Homes.
The house has been on the tour many times in years past because the
late Ann Windle was an integral part of the Tri-Kappa Sorority home
tour and a sorority member. She died July 30, 2009. John Windle died
in February 1987.
For the Tri-Kappa Tour, HMI will open only one upstairs bedroom and
also display some of the early Tri-Kappa Tour of Homes programs, which
were recently found in the house.
The Windles entertained guests there over the course of more than
50 years. They would be happy knowing the public will once again enjoy
this amazing landmark, said HMI Executive Director John Staicer.
The property is celebrated by generations of architects and lovers of
old buildings for its ornate carved stone work and elaborate iron railings,
a spectacular free standing spiral staircase, intricate plaster moldings,
12-foot tall doors and 16-foot high ceilings.
The house was built in 1846-1849 for Capt. Charles L. Shrewsbury and
his family. It was designed in the Classic Revival style by Francis
Costigan, Indianas most distinguished pre-Civil War architect
and master builder. Costigan designed a number of other Madison buildings,
including the state-owned J.F.D. Lanier Mansion and the Francis Costigan
House, located on Third Street and now an HMI house museum.
The Shrewsbury-Windle House was designated a National Historic Landmark
in 1994 by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as one of the most important
architectural treasures in America.
HMI held its Spring Gala at the house last June. Attendees were allowed
to tour the house. During the event, Staicer announced that HMI had
received a $14,000 grant from the Jeffris Heartland Fund of the National
Trust for Historic Preservation for a historic structure report to be
conducted on the house. Proceeds from the Gala and silent auction will
help raise the money necessary to match the grant. The historic structure
report is estimated to cost $28,000.
The Windles bought the home and moved from Chicago in 1948 to save it
from being turned into a rooming house. The Windles lived in it and
operated it as an antiques gallery, opening it to the public from the
late 1940s until 2005. They founded HMI in the Shrewsbury-Windle House
in 1960 to preserve Madisons outstanding nationally significant
architecture.
As the not-for-profit organizations first president, John Windle
oversaw a wide range of property acquisitions and activities to bring
attention to, and assist in the preservation of, Madisons large
and nationally significant collection of 19th architectural gems. Madisons
historic district includes more than 1,600 19th and early 20th century
buildings including a vibrant commercial core, residential neighborhoods,
churches, school buildings and even industrial structures.
Back to October 2012
Articles.