The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-05-15
FOR STATE MUSEUM
PLAE TO SAVE WILLIAM HENRY
HARRtsoN's MANSION.
Historical Building at vlncennes, Ind
in Danger Of Unworthy Fate
Daughters Of the Revolu
tion Are interested.

The Daughters OF the Revolution in
indiana will petition the legislature
to buy the old William Henry Har
rison mansion at vincennes' for a
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 it kept as lasting
monument to the memory Of those
who built SO well and as 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 tho Indianapolis News. 1t
was here that the first Presbyterian
church service was held in the north
west. In 1905 Thomas Cleveland
went to Vincennes and preached the
first Presbyterian service in the vii
derness in what is known as the coun-
Gil room of the Harrison house.
The house is two stories high, with
large attic. and a basement under
the entire place. II is threatened
with sale to buyer who may turn
it into a storage house. The owner
would prefer to have 1t bought by the
state or a society for an historical mu-
scum. The house is 60 by as and
the lot by 200 by 1875. There are 20
rooms Its construction was begun
in 1890, and It was completed in 1904
and 1905. The ceilings are 13h feet
high, and the rooms are spacious. The
walls are of brick, and inside and out
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 pam
eled finished with beading and is of
solid. clear black walnut. II 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-fashioned fireplace One fea-
ture is the great reception hall with
its stairway that makes a three-quar-
ter turn in 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 v9luables. The
woodwork is perfectly fitted and put
together with wooden pins so that aft
er 100 years it 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 and In one of the rear rooms
swinging in the old fireplace is the
old crane whore the venison. buffalo
and bear meat was cooked. Many
distiseuished guests partook of the
hospitality Of William Henry Har.
rison.
The skilled labor was paid $4,000
for its work, and the slaves did all
the heavy carrying and lifting.
Indiana had a great many relies
among the families OF the state. and
many Of these people would be glad
to contribute to the historical colles-
tion If 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 H. The
many visitors have bScome burden
TO the owners. who never know when
they are TO have requests from peo
pie TO see the house. If there was
more in the house TO see The old man.
sion would become Mecca for the
patriotic sons and daughters of In
diana.