THE HOUSE
(time-line down
left margin)
The first stage (brick section) of the
house began about 1861. For some interesting
new revelations, click here
to see a listing of that early history.
THE FARMER FAMILY
(their time-line down
the right margin)
Ed Farmer & Mary Ellen
Thornton's families.
HOUSE AS PARSONAGE:PRESBYTERIAN
In 1869, we believe a brick two-story front
was added by the First Presbyterian Minister,
Ambrose Moore. After the Presbyterian Churches
reformed, he was minister of the Walnut St. Church.
Our Registrar, Janice Partenheimer, made the
the determination of the earlier structure's
ante bellum starting date from her research
of the property tax records.
NEXT DOOR:
WOODBURN HOUSE. Please note
the involvement of the Woodburn House in
providing boarding for students, a very active
"ferment" of student activity, "young people's
parties and parlor chances," "the organization
there of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and a
notorious "bogus" publication, "The Dagger."
See
IU History of Student Housing.
HOUSE DURING UNIVERSITY ERA:
Recall, Indiana University was five blocks
south of courthouse square in this era.
This house was virtually at the center of
student social life. At some point a very
interesting artifact of student life was
scratched on the inside of the lower
part of the south-side second bottle-glass window
from the the street, namely the Greek letters,
Kappa Kappa Gamma suggesting that sorority
had some kind of representation among
the students in residence there.
Kappa Kappa Gamma, was
founded in Illinois in 1870.
That
pioneering sorority had a presence,
the very early Delta Chapter, at IU by 1872.
WIDOW CATHERINE B. RAWLES bought the
home in 1878. The 1880 census
reveals she and
her children were operating it as a boarding house for
IU students. About 1884 the University moved
to the current Dunn Meadow location, primarily
due to the
disastrous 1883 fire on the old campus.
The housing of students by widow Rawles
was no longer a self sustaining operation.
See:
IU Archives' Chronology of the University.
HOUSE AS RESIDENCE:
In 1887 she sold the house to her son,
someday to be
Professor William A. Rawles,
the eminent IU Dean of the School of Commerce
& Finance [use "back" to return from Rawles/IU
time line]. Various degrees of association with
IU and the house next door, the famous
Woodburn House, have existed since that period.
Professor Rawles, in turn, sold the house
to Laura Lanman in the fall of 1888.
[ We do know from the Bloomington City
Directory of 1907-08 that Catherine Rawles lived
with her son, Charles, a cashier at the
First National Bank, at 518 E. 7th St.
Professor William A. Rawles & wife, Harriet
lived at 924 E. 3rd St. Phone 318. Laura
Lanman children were John, Lad, and Laura.]
HOUSE AS RESIDENCE:
World War I through Depression: 1888-1936. Laura Lanman
deeded the house to her married daughter, Mrs. John Dolan
i.e., Laura in March 1903.
1927 - Charles C. Farmer's business (Ed's father)
burned in that winter.
1936 - Beauty Contest Winner - Mary Ellen Thornton
HOUSE AS STORE FRONT:
Depression through World War II Era: 1936-1945
Mr. Dolan operated a large business,
a spoke and barrel factory near Third St. Park.
Due to various mishaps a bank received this property
after Mr. Dolan's death. It was purchased by
Dayton George and wife in May 1942 from bank.
This era is still being investigated.
1939 - Marriage of Edwin Farmer
and Mary Ellen Thornton
HOUSE AS STORE FRONT:
Sold to Robert S. Telfer in March 1944.
Operated as a book bindry 1944-1952.
1944 - A Stolen Moment Amidst World War II
Ed survived European campaigns to return
to Mary Ellen and his family.
HOUSE AS HEATING & COOLING BUSINESS
& FARMER FAMILY RESIDENCE:
Ed and Mary Farmer bought the house in 1952.
Ed operated the heating and cooling business on
the first floor, and the couple lived on the second floor.