The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-15

heroic Davies. White and owen VINO gave
their lives at Tippecanoe. trimmed in flames
fadeless garland. with those Of the three
dusky warriors, Pontiac. Tecumtha and
winnemacl And the proud guardians OF
their dust and fame-the veterans Of the
hottest war ever ~waged-the veterans In
blue. who carried the Stars and Stripes on
a thousand battlefelds and never turned
their backs to the foe"
FOUNDING OF THE HOME.
In accordance with the petitions from
many G. A r.. posts the Legislature OF 1895
appropriated $4,000 for buildings, and S26
a year for the maintenance OF each inmate
in the new Indiana Soldiers Home. The
ed to the G. A. r. of the State by Tippe-
canoe county and the citizens OF Lafayette.
with the proviso that a home for the sol
diers should be built upon 1t. This consists
OF Isl acres given by the citizens Of the
county and S. acres given by the citizens
OF Lafayette. In addition TO this, Colonel
De Hart, OF Lafayette, gave a narrow tract
Of land which bordered the river, known
as Tecumseh trail. which lies between the
land for the home and the river. This gave
the home a river front OF about 1000 feet.
In addition to this Tippecanoe county gave
$.632.50 in cash for the home. Thus forth
fed. the veterans asked the State to build
the home and maintain II, or, rather, to
build the main buildings, for more than
half Of the inmates will be cared for in cot
tages to be erected by Grand Army posts,
counties and citizens. There are now nine
OF these cottages completed and ready for
occupancy.
The law provided for certain buildings to
be erected by the board OF trustees. These
buildings, and no others, were to be erect
ed with the appropriation. 1t was found,
when the land was surveyed and calcula-
tons made on buildings. that it would re-
quire more room to properly care for the
number OF veterans that was expected. The
trustees then decided to lay out their
grounds to provide space for more build
ings than the ones already provided for.
and trust to the future for money with
which to erect them. The buildings now on
the ground. built by the State appropriation,
are Old Peoples Home, dining hall, hos
pital. laundry and power house, commits
sary and quartermaster's buildings. These
are all substantially built OF brick and are
well furnished. 1t required SAG, 600 to put up
the buildings, and the balance OF the appro-
priation was expended In the necessary
equipment. 1t is believed that the cost of
the buildings was remarkably low. The bids
ranged from SAC, 600 to $4,000, the second
Lowest being nearly $4,000.
The plans provide for an Old Mems
Home and an administration building, for
which The trustees hope TO get an appropria-
ton next winter. 1t will require about &5,-
600 to build and equip them.
The grounds are laid out with a view to
the convenience Of the inmates. or MEM
bers, as they are officially termed. The din
ing hall stands in the center OF a circle
LEO feet in diameter. This building faces
east and looks down a plaza GOO feet in
length. where it is proposed to erect the
administration building, thus giving a good
view of the grounds from the main offices.
On either side of the broad plaza is the
Old Peoples and proposed Old Mems build
ings. The commissary is on one side and
the quartermaster on the other side Of the
administration building. This grand plaza
leads to the main driveway ascending from
the river road.
The dining hall is located nearly in the
center OF the large circle, 100 feet in
diameter. Radiating from the dining hall are
four avenues. besides the plaza, which ends
in the front Of the hall. These avenues
diverge to the outside of the circle. Along
these avenues and facing the circle are the
lots for the cottages, nine Of which are al
ready built. This arrangement makes the
dining hall convenient for all the buildings
where people will live and sleep. The Old
Mems and Old Peoples buildings have their
own dining rooms. as they are intended for
people unable to leave the building for their
meals. The former Will be for the invalid
men, and the latter for men and their wives,
who, while not Ill enough to be in the hos
pital, cannot walk to the main dining hall.
The second floor of the dining hall is in
tended for widows.
The trustees have endeavored to make ev-
erything as complete and homelike as posi-
Bile. While they have not been extravagant
in the expenditure Of money. they have pro-
vided many things of a substantial and per-
manent character at little more expense
than is ordinarily found in such places.
Each of the large buildings is provided with
boilers and complete steam-heating an
p~aratus, with a radiator in each room. NJ
merous toilet rooms have been provided. be-
sides larger rooms for general purposes. 1t
was found that many of the old women were
addicted to the use of the pipe. and a room
was set aside for them. 1t is called the
sewing circle ROOM" but in reality it is the
smoker" Another large room has chairs
and a table, and Is intended as a reading
room and place for games. such as dominos
and checkers.
FURNITURE IN THE ROOMS.
Each room contains an iron bedstead.
which Is fitted with the best OF reinforced
woven wire springs and a cotton mattress.
Few hotels have beds as good. A wash
stand and two rockers complete the furniture
of the room. In many cases little additions
to this have been made by the occupant,
but on account Of the numerous changes
that are necessary now to arrange quarters
for all, members are not advised to fit ND
their rooms. as many will do I'm the future.
The dining hall is the most pretentious
building that has yet been erected. 1t has
an east front Of liz feet and a south front
of 81 feet The main entrance is on the east
side. In the center of this front is a broad
porch, on each side Of which is a spacious
waiting room. The dining room is the pref
test room on the grounds. 1t is large and
airy, and very cheerful in appearance. The
ceiling is high and finished with sheet steel.
embossed and painted in tints, salmon pre-
dominating. One row OF posts is in the CEN
ter of the room, but otherwise it is clear of
obstruction 1t gets light from the four sides
through large windows. BY crowding some