File:Brown Mansion, circa 1910 - Chesterton, Indiana (4155516902).jpg

RESIDENCE CHESTERTON IND

Date: Circa 1910 Source Type: Postcard Publisher, Printer, Photographer: M. L. Photo Company (#10) Postmark: None Collection: Steven R. Shook Remark: This house is referred to as the Brown Mansion and currently serves as the home of the Westchester Township History Museum.

Located at 700 West Porter Avenue, in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana, this single family house was designed by Chicago architect <a rel="noreferrer nofollow">Cicero Hine</a> and built in 1885 for George Brown. The architecture incorporates a mix of Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque, and Victorian gothic designs.

<a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64745971/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">George Brown</a> was born in County Cumberland, England, on December 28, 1828, and died December 21, 1899, in Chesterton; he is interred in Chesterton Cemetery. George settled in Porter County's Jackson Township in 1852 where he would farm and also sell timber for use as locomotive fuel, local brick production, and lumber. He married <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64746037/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Charity Carter</a> on July 15, 1877.

Brown purchased 120 acres of land in Chesterton from the Thomas family in 1884, but sold 110 of these acres in 1891.

The following news item concerning the George brown and his home appeared on the front page of the December 24, 1885, issue of The Tribune, published in Chesterton:

RESIDENCE OF GEORGE BROWN, ESQ. CHESTERTON IND CICERO HINE ARCHITECT CHICAGO ILL

DESCRIPTION. This house has been built during the present year in a charming location adjoining Chesterton, Ind. It commands a beautiful view of the surrounding country. The front and side shown in the above sketch faces south and east. The outside walls are build of selected cherry colored brick with moulded brick at window and door openings, and angles of chimneys. The walls are relieved by bands of stone, as are also windows. There are two panels of raised tile in front chimney, in blue and brown; chimney is braced by handsome wrought-iron brace. There is a wide veranda on South and east sides. On east side, on level with roof is a balcony commanding a beautiful view of surrounding country from the south, north, east and west. On roof are gables facing west and east, ornamented with raised tiled and colored hammered glass. The house inside has a spacious hall and doorway. The hall opens into parlor by large sliding doors, which in turn is connected with the sitting room by similar doors; both of these rooms have large bay windows. The hall parlor, sitting room and front bed-room up stairs are finished in cherry, hammered bronze finish to doors and windows of above rooms. Also to front and side outside doors; stained and beveled glass in front door and transom; stained glass in hall doors and transom of parlor, sitting room and front bed-room; cherry mantel in parlor and bed-room, overlaid with tile. The stairway is finished in oak and cherry, with an elaborate carved newel post. The finish on the wood work in parlor, sitting room and hall is in cherry; the kitchen and dining room is in oak. The finish on the wood work of the other rooms is in different colors. The ceilings in hall, parlor, sitting room, and four other rooms are richly frescoed. The walls of these rooms are relieved by paper of very rich material and color. Bathroom in the second story; hot and cold water. There is a large room in the attic, neatly finished, which can be used as a ball-room. The house is heated throughout by furnaces; hot and cold water supply throughout. In the basement is the laundry with all conveniences.

The plans of this building were made by Cicero Hine, Architect, of Chicago.

The contractors are: Nathan Demass, Chesterton, Wood-work; Henry Lembster, Valparaiso, Brick-work; Chris Lembke, Plaster; Swan Nilson, Chesterton, Painter and Frescoer. The work under the charge of these respective gentlemen, has progressed admirably, and according to the wishes of the architect. All material in the building is of superior quality and is put in place in a masterly manner. The furnishing of the house has not been accomplished, but will in all probability be done by next spring. The furniture will be made expressly for the house by a Grand Rapids firm.

MR. GEORGE BROWN,

for whom this magnificent building is being erected, is a farmer, well-known throughout the northern part of the state. In life he has been a successful man. Starting with nothing but his hands and brain, he has risen to possession of a handsome fortune. He is a pioneer settler of Jackson township, having settled there when it was a wilderness. When land was cheap, and covered with forests he secured much of it, and then cut off the timber into lumber and wood. Some years he sold as high as three and four thousand cords of wood to the brick yards. He also dealt largely in grain and stock. About two years ago Mr. Brown concluded to partially retire from the active life he had been leading and secured a handsome farm adjoining Chesterton, and on this he has erected the above residence in which to spend the remainder of his days. George Brown is an Englishman by birth. He emigrated to the United States in 1852. For a time he lived in New York, state, but then being a shrewd, energetic man, was attracted to the "New West" by the superior inducements then offered. He first landed in Indiana at Laporte, but shortly after settled in Jackson township, this count. Here he thrived, and reared a family. His marriage was in 1855, to Charity A. Carter. The children are: Mary J., Josiah J., Jerome, George M., James, Elizabeth C., Charles W., Anna M., and Carrie. Three of these children are married and possess handsome farms in various parts of the county.

The politics of the subject of this sketch is unmixed Jacksonian democracy. As a partisan, he has always been recognized as one whose position was known to the world -- outspoken, uncompromising, and an indefatigable worker. At the time of the candidacy for congress of the late Hon. John N. Skinner, on the Greenback and Democratic ticket, Mr. Brown, Mr. Skinner's ardent advocate, tireless in his efforts, and ever alert to improve a fair opportunity for vantage ground. All efforts, however, of the supporters of Mr. Skinner were futile, and Mr. Brown, with his co-workers, accepted with the dignity of a philosopher, the defeat, the inevitable result of the political landslide. However the success of the democrats in 1884 in electing Cleveland, Hendricks and Gray, wiped out all previous disappointment. Although a great worker in politics, Mr. Brown is no office-seeker. He wants no office with the gift of man, and would under no circumstances accept one, were it offered.

During the summer of 1887, Brown was sued by Henry Lembster in the Porter County Circuit Court for the balance of pay for his mason work on the home. Brown and his architect claimed "that the work was poorly done and that the building is not according to contract." The case was decided on June 14 in favor of Lembster. Lembster would also do the mason work on the Porter School where the Hageman Branch of the Westchester Public Library now stands.

Sources: The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; January 28, 1899; Volume 12, Number 3, Page 1, Column 5. Column titled "Charity M. Brown."

The Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; January 28, 1899; Volume 15, Number 42, Page 1, Column 4. Column titled "Deaths. George Brown."

Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Illustrated. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey & Company. 771 p. [see p. 357]

Porter County Vidette, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; October 8, 1885; Volume 29, Number 41, Page 4, Column 1. Column titled "The County. Chestertnn [sic]."

The Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; December 24, 1885; Volume 2, Number 39, Page 1, Columns 5-6.

The Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; June 9, 1887; Volume 4, Number 10, Page 4, Column 2. Column titled "At Home and Abroad."

The Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; June 16, 1887; Volume 4, Number 11, Page 4, Column 2. Column titled "At Home and Abroad."