South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-04
FIND SECRET PASSAGE
IN HISTORIC HOUSE
VinCenneS Boy Makes DiSCOv-
cry at Old Harrison Home
and Adds New Mystery.

VINCENNES. Ind, Oct. New
mystery is now connected with the
historic Harrison house in this city,
as the result Of a secret passage being
found by Erwin VanKirk. a 1S-year-
old boy, who lives with his parents in
the old mansion. The building,
which was constructed of brick in
1904, and in which William Henry
Harrison lived while he was COVER
nor, contains a number of secret
rooms and tunnels. which were to
serve as hiding places from the In
dams.
A few days ago. when reading a
history of Vincennes, the VanKirk boy
saw a paragraph which asserted there
was a secret room in the mansion
which had not been opened for so
years. The history was written more
than six years ago. The lad decided
to find the room if possible. After
questioning his parents, he was in
formed that they knew of only one
place where it might be, and that was
under the staircase, which contains
no pillars, and which attracts atten-
ton from every visitor
Cuts Hole Out of Second Floor.
After much search the boy found
two boards in the floor above the
stairs. these being on the second floor
He removed these and discovered n
small room that might be a hiding
place for 10 people The floor of this
space was about five feet below the
second floor. Later he cut hole in the
second floor and found a large room.
Taking a ladder and a lantern, the
boy assembled into the room ana
learned there was no exit.
The only thing found in the room
was a womans shoe of an old make.
1t was a low-cut. with high heel of
wood The stitch runs from the toe
10 the top.
An inspection of the room made by
Allie Arnold, showed that the room
once had a door leading from what
was originally known as the rear"
court of the house. door leading
from the hall swings open at the pres
ent time, and when It is open it COM
pletely hides what may have once
been an opening into the secret room.
According to a student of the history
of the famous house. the secret room
was one in which Gen. Harrison kept
his private papers. 1t may have also
been a hiding place. At first it was
thought that it might have led % the
old tunnel which was found years ago,
but investigator showed that this is
scarcely possible.
The discovery is considered so inter
estinS that the Daughters of the
American Revolution, who have
charge of the house. are to vote on
opening what some believe 10 be an
old entrance. At present it is impos-
sible for persons to see the room with
out a ladder and artificial light. In
the last few years interest in the Har-
risOn house has grown considerably,
more than $50 visitors having been
shown through it last month. A charge
of 10 cents is made for the sightsee-
ing through the house and the discov-
cry of the secret room will cause hun
dreds of local people who have visited
the house on numerous occasions, to
visit it again.
The house now contains many relics,
including a bed used by Col. Francis
Vigo, a painting of William Henry
Harrison, painted at ChillicOthe, o.,
100 years ago, a clock more than 100
years old. and fireplaces, wine closets,
the blind windows. a secret passage
way and wooden pegs used in place of
nails. 1t we'll shows the methods of
construction of more than 100 years
ago.