This is one of my favorite old houses.
Known as the “Matthews Mansion”, this historic home of John Matthews, considered the “Father of Indiana Limestone Industry”, was constructed between 1879-1880, entirely of limestone in the French Second Empire Style. Contemporary history maintains the house was designed by architect Jean-Louis Charles Garnier, most noted for designing the Opera House in Paris, France. The house has spacious light-filled rooms and a partially finished, walk-out basement. It is constructed of very large limestone blocks laid without mortar. The limestone walls are 22 inches thick. There are 2 double-flue, capped chimneys to provide a flue in every room. Zinc-lined gutters. Dormer window frames are zinc. The walls and original ceilings are horse-hair plaster. Etched glass panels called “flash glass” originally filled the transoms and 3 remain (2 cobalt blue, 1 ruby above back door). The mansard roof of hexagonal slate tiles is topped by an ornamental cast iron railing. Most of the woodwork is black walnut. 3 working fireplaces with stainless liners. The Mansion is part of the Matthews and Sons Stone Co. Historic District in the National and State Registers of Historic Places. Smithville fiber optic ready. All city utilities. Detached, insulated 4-car garage with storage room above. Historic dry-stack stone fence. Property is zoned Light Industrial with Historic Preservation Overlay.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6...5595828_zpid/?
Not sure I like the flooring they put in the house when it was remodeled. A little too modern without the imperfections of age.
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Originally Posted by pinkytoe
