The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-03-28
GOVERNORS MANSION
A csl.5rit1 Structure to B. Torn AWAY to
Make Room for ths CyOlOr,ms.
The Notable Events That Occurred Within
tbs walls of the Ancient Building
During the Time OF Indiana's
First Chief Executives.

AS indianapolis emerges from her chIyslIis
state and throws off the garb that she has worn
so long, the numerous land marks and old
structures that are being daily torn avs call
to the mind Of the old inhsbitsnt many
memories of almost forgotten incidents in the
history of the city. The recent announcement
that the old building near the corner of
Market and Illinois SITS, opposite THE SENTIS RI
Office, ard at present occupied by Ripley K
Hedges, undertakes, is to be removed TO make
way Tor the Cyclorams, brings back 20 recOilee-
ton the time when this same building was the
scene of many gathering of the best society
OF this city.
The ground on which the building is situated
was owned in the year 1886 by DR., John San
ders. who is remembered as being the father
OF some of the most prominent ladies of In
cianapolis Dr. Sanders was the father
Of Mrs. zeralia seguin Wallace. the
David F. Beatty and the wife of &. ]. Calling,
inventor Of the famous eating guns In Il 9
year 1887 Gov. Wallace was elected to the guber-
material chair. Previous to that time the gov
err or of Indiana had resided in houses owned
by themselves, but GOV. Wallace was elected
from 8 town outside of indianapolis, and when
he moved here had no place 10 live in. The
le legislature therefore bought the ground men
tic ned and proceeded TO erect upon ii gUber
nsiorisl mansion, and ii was occupied for
many years by suect eding governors After
GOV. Wallace came Gov. Bigger, then James
WhitcOmb, after whom our hoosier poet is
Joseph A. Wright, who was followed by
Henry s. Lane, all of whom resided in this
building. GOV. Morton also occupied it fo p
q short time, but abandoned it in 1858 owing to
bad sanitary arrar gements.
In early days 1t was the custom OF the gov
ernCr TO give weekly receptions. and many were
the bright and happy occasions that took place
in this structure 1t was here that GOV. Wright
received the famous Hungarian revOlutionist
and patriot, Kossu h, who was making tour Of
this country, having been forced to fee from
his native land. This occasion was a particu-
lsrly memorable one. The elite of the state
eigner. and the reception was gorgeous to an
extreme. K0ssuth was accompanied By quite q
staff of mobiles ard their wives, among whom
was Count Pulaski. a leading spirit in she Hun
all appeared in full dress uniform, and music
and reVelry reiened to late hour.
II was here also that Lazy Murray. maid OF
honor to queen Victoria. was received. This
Murray was very wealthy English woman, and
she was travelling all over the world for reerea'
ton and amusement. She remained in this
city several days as the guest OF the governor
During Gov. WsllaCe's term the first Atlantic
cable Was laid, and when the news arrived in
this city that the project was a success g gen
eral jubilee Hss held. GOV. Wright gave quite
q party TO commemorate the incident, which
was largely attended ny the citizens OF the
state. This cable ate rwsrd proved fail
ure, but il was not long until the cable
which stretches to day from continent to cont
nent was laid, and which has proved such 3
blessing TO the world.
The building was never healthy place, and
was occupied under the protest OF all those V nc
resided there. GOV, Whitcomb's wife died
theirs, as also did the wife of Gov. Wright GOV
Willard came very near dying in the building
and lived only a short lime after the expiration
of his term. Gov. Morton's wife was also con
tinuslly sick during his occupancy OF The
building, which finally resulted in its aban