The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-05-13
FOR STATE MUSEUM
PLAN TO SAVE WILLIAM HENRY
HARRIsoN's MANSION.
Historical BulIdinu at vlneennes, Ind
In Danger Of Unworthy Fate
Daughters Of the RevcIu-
ton Are Interested.


The Daughters OF the Revolution in
indiana will petition the legislature
to buy the old William Henry Har-
rlson mansion at vincennes for :
state historical museum
This Is not the first effort that has
been made to have the state buy the
house, for historical societies have en-
deavored to have 1t kept as lasting
monument to the memory Of those
who built so well and as a reminder
that this was the birthplace of gov
ernment religion and education In
the west where the foundations Of
large portion OF the country were
laid. says the indianapolis News II
was here that the first Presbyterian
church service was held in the north
west. In 1906 Thomas Cleveland
went to vincennes and preached the
FIRST Presbyterian service In the viii
dernoas in what is known as the coun-
ell room OF the Harrison house.
The house Is two stories high. with
large attic. and basement under
the entire place 1t is threatened
with sale TO a buyer who may turn
It into storage house. The owner
would prefer to have It bought by the
state or a society for an historical mu-
scum. The house is GO by 75 and
the lot by 200 by 125. There are 20
rooms. It's construction was begun
In 1890 and it was completed in 1904
and 1906. The ceilings are 13h feet
high. and the rooms are spacious. The
walls are of brick. and inside and ont
are is inches thick. The glass In the
windows came from England. and II
took two years to have them deliv-
cred. The wood was sawed with the
old-fashioned whipsaw. and all the
! nails were hand forged on the
grounds. The woodwork is hard pan
eled finished with beading and is of
solid. clear black walnut 1t is said
that the walnut in the house to-day is
worth a small fortune.
The most important room in the
house is the council room with its
huge old.fashloned fireplace. One fea-
ture is the great reception hall with
its stairway that makes a three-quar
ter turn la its ascent and has no Wis.
ible means of support. The woodwork
in the hall was all finished by hand
There are secret places in the house
| that are supposed to have been used
/ for the storage of valuables The
woodwork is perfectly fitted and put.
together with wooden pins so that aft
er 100 years II takes close scrutiny
To know where the joints are located.
Directly under the front door is
the old powder magazine The floors
all through the basement are solid
and dry ard in one OF the rear rooms
swinging In the old fireplace is the
old crane where the ycniGon. buffalo
and bear meat was cooked. Many
distinguished guests partook of the
hospitality OF William Henry Har.
rison.
The skilled labor was paid $25,0OO
for It's work, and the slaves did all
| the heavy carrying and lifting.
Indiana had great many relics
among the families of the state. and
many Of these people would be glad
to contribute to the historical eoller-
tion II there were state historical
museum such as this old mansion
might be made.
Hundreds of people visit the house
now and travel many miles over this
and adjoining states to do 1t. TIE
many visitors have become a burden
TO the owners. who mover know When
they are to have requests from peo
pie to see the house. II there wai
more in the house TO see the old man
sion would become Mecca for tn,
patriotic sons and daughters Of In
diana