This year’s Benton House Tour of Homes will be held on Sunday, September 16 from noon-5 p.m. and features two historic homes that most eastsiders have driven by at least once and thought “I’d love to see the inside of THAT house!” The Hartman Home on Brookville Road, one of the oldest homes in Indianapolis, is on the tour. The Ellenberger Farmhouse on 10th Street, is another historic home that has caught the eye of many eastsiders and will be featured on the tour. In addition to those two fine old homes, four beautiful private homes will be open, plus the Benton House, the renovated historic Historic Irvington Flats (Missions Building), the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, and George W. Julian School 57. Tickets are $12 in advance at Ace Hardware at 10th and Arlington, Black Sheep Gifts, and Hampton Designs in Irvington; at the door, tickets are $15. Tour-goers can buy a ticket at any of the stops for cash or go to the Benton House to pay with a credit card. All proceeds from the home tour go to support the maintenance of the Benton House.
In addition to the beautiful properties, the Benton House grounds will play host to several area bands playing live music, and food vendors. In the parking lot, check out the Grove Japanese Imports Classy Car Show with owners of classic cars showing off their vintage rides.
In last week’s issue of the Weekly View, we published the official guide to the Benton House Tour of Homes as a preview of the ten properties. Homeowners of each property (or the caretakers) will be on hand to answer questions and tell how their stories contribute to the rich history of the building, and to the Irvington community. For example the historic Ellenberger house on East 10th Street remained in the Ellenberger family for over a century, from 1863 to 1980. The Hartman House on Brookville Road also remained in the Hartman family for nearly a century, from 1837 to the early 1920s.
The “youngsters” on the tour also have interesting history and beautiful details, and represent the evolution in architecture that has graced Irvington since its founding. Visitors can see examples of Craftsman, Mid-century Modern, and Queen Anne homes which all have their own unique features that reflect changing times and tastes. Visitors can also walk through the old Missions Building as it undergoes a transformation to a modern apartment complex — a trend in “revisioning” old buildings for today’s housing market.
Classic Second Empire architecture, and authentic details are the hallmarks of the Benton House, which was home to the president of Butler University for years. Just up the street, the Bona Thompson Memorial Center was the Butler University library, and is home to important exhibits that tell the story of Irvington. Current exhibits include “The Family Forsyth,” with etchings and paintings by William Forsyth, his daughter Constance, and his son-in-law Robert Selby; “Presenting Irvington Artists” brings visitors into the current and future dynamic arts community of Irvington.
After the tour, and weather permitting, check out two other important Irvington landmarks, thanks to the preservation efforts of the Irvington Historic Landmarks Foundation. The Kile Oak is an ancient Bur Oak that is a witness to history at 300-400 years old. The Irvington Garden Club volunteers to maintain the habitat garden. The Wilson-Parker Pioneer Cemetery is where the stalwart pioneers who helped settle the east side are laid to rest.
Bring a notebook and camera to capture ideas for your own next redecorating project or renovation. There’s lots of inspiration to be found on the 45th Annual Benton House Tour of Homes.