Albert R. Beardsley
Albert R. Beardsley was a guiding force in the early days of the Miles Medical Company, later to become Miles Laboratories. Albert, better known as A.R., had become wealthy and was a leading member of the Elkhart community. He and his wife Elizabeth, also a prominent citizen, felt it was appropriate for them to have an elegant home where they could live well and greet business associates and other dignitaries. Ruthmere, at the corner of Beardsley and Grove Streets, is definitely a showplace, with its grand parlor, mahogany woodwork and exquisite library, as well as a dining room with hand-painted velvet wall coverings. A spectacular game room downstairs was the site of many nights of pinochle, along with poetry readings, literary presentations and talks about the Beardsleys' many travels. Today, the game room is used for special events and intimate concerts. From the front of the house, you can see the conservatory, but what you can't see is that there's actually a tunnel under the driveway that comes from the game room over to the conservatory, built so Elizabeth didn't have to go outside to get there. The garage toward the back of the house has the chauffeur's quarters upstairs (A.R. never drove a car) and a turntable downstairs so a car could be drive in, turned around and driven back out without backing up. A 1912 Pratt/Elcar, a 1916 Milburn Electric and a 1917 Cadillac are on display inside. Elizabeth died in 1924, and A.R. followed her in death just six months later. They only lived at Ruthmere for 14 years, but their home remains an exquisite architectural example, and a wonderful snapshot of what life was like for Elkhart's wealthiest people a century ago.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Ruthmere Architecture
Ruthmere was built between 1908 and 1910 by A.R. Beardsley and his wife, Elizabeth Baldwin Beardsley. It was named after their only daughter, Ruth, who died in infancy. The “mere” part of the name means “near the water,” referring to the Saint Joseph River.The home was designed by E. Hill Turnock, an architect whose influence can be seen all over Elkhart, even today. In Chicago, Turnock had been a student of William LeBaron Jenney, and had also worked with Frank Lloyd Wright. His own architectural style is fairly distinctive -- his Brewster Apartment building is a jewel of Chicago architecture. But compared to his other structures, Ruthmere is unique. It is designed largely in the Beaux Arts style, but has Art Nouveau and Prairie School features as well. Like many wealthy homes of the time, it is rather eclectic in its influences and its furnishings.After Albert and Elizabeth’s deaths in 1924, the home remained a private residence until Albert's great-great nephew, Robert B. Beardsley, an architectural preservationist, launched a restoration effort, which he also supervised. The site opened to the public in 1972 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.When you tour Ruthmere, you’ll see a multifaceted cultural and historical museum that offers visitors a glimpse into the lives of a wealthy couple of the early twentieth century, along with rich exposure to architecture and art. Ruthmere hosts numerous special events, including concerts, garden parties and special exhibits, as well as weddings and other private affairs.Tours of Ruthmere are offered daily from April through December. Be sure to take advantage of this rich cultural resource.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Elkhart Purchase
Look across Elkhart’s Main Street bridge toward the downtown area. On the other side of the river, you’ll see what is more or less the original city of Elkhart. This is the land that Havilah Beardsley purchased from the Indian Chief Pierre Moran before the bridge, or anything else, existed here. In 1831, Dr. Beardsley paid the Chief fifteen hundred dollars for this land and hired George Crawford to lay out a plan for the city. Settlers started moving in, but in 1835, there was a problem.A Frenchman by the name of Richard Godfroy claimed he’d already purchased the land in 1826 from Pierre Moran for three hundred dollars. He claimed to have Presidential approval, which was required on any business dealings with the Indians. Well, everything stopped. The settlers stopped coming. Some wanted their money back. It was not good. Because no one wanted to buy land in a town if they weren’t sure it would ever BE a town. Godfroy’s paperwork was questionable at the very least, partly because Moran claimed Godfroy got him drunk in order to make the deal. And as it turned out, Godfroy had only given Moran a down payment: a horse and cart which he said were worth one hundred and twelve dollars. Moran, now sober, said they were only worth twenty-five dollars, now that he thought about it. None of this mattered much because Beardsley, and Elkhart, were still stuck, but it did provide Beardsley with a bit of an opening.Havilah Beardsley agreed to give Godfroy some land in Elkhart equal in value to the horse and cart, essentially to buy him off, while offering Pierre Moran a much more reasonable price of fifteen hundred dollars for the land. Finally, President Andrew Jackson approved the sale. Beardsley owned the land free and clear, and the town on the riverbank was born. This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Main Street Bridge
If you look toward Elkhart’s downtown area, the first thing you see is the venerable Main Street Bridge, built in 1927 as the “Memorial Bridge,” to commemorate Elkhart’s young men lost in The Great War -- World War I. Crossing Elkhart’s rivers has always been important for commerce, with or without bridges. The Fort Wayne Road, originally an Indian trail, forded the river (as in: no bridge -- you had to wade across with all your supplies) at about the eastern end of Island Park and came out just down Beardsley Avenue at the Village of Pulaski. One of the first things Havilah Beardsley did when he arrived was to construct a rope ferry across the river a little bit west of the current bridge. Later, he constructed another one almost opposite the point where Ruthmere stands. The rope ferries not only made life easier for settlers and travelers, they made money for Doctor Beardsley. For example, a horse and rider paid twelve and a half cents to cross -- and a wagon with six horses or oxen was seventy-five cents. And that wasn’t small change in the 1830s. The first wooden bridge was built in 1837. When it came time for a new bridge in the 1840s, there was an argument between the Main Street and Second Street Merchants. Each wanted their street to be the new main drag, and therefore wanted the bridge to connect to them. The compromise was to connect to an alley between Main and Second. If the river’s low you might be able to see the original pilings of this bridge, which was replaced in 1871 by an iron bridge on Main. This was followed in 1891 by a steel truss bridge, and finally, in 1927, by the bridge we have today. Next time you go over the Main Street Bridge, remember: you’re not just crossing a river - you’re experiencing Elkhart History.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Havilah Beardsley House
View VideoThis video link shows a brief insight to the work required for the reproduction of the base-board moulding in the Havilah Beardsley House.This video link shows before and after clips of one of the floors in the Havilah Beardsley House during its reproduction.John Kistner grew up in the Havilah Beardsley House during the 1940s. This video link is to our 2012 interview with him on YouTube where he gives his recollections of the home, particularly its in-floor heating system in the east wing living room (presently the East Gallery).You’re looking at the Havilah Beardsley House, home of the father of Elkhart, Doctor Havilah Beardsley. He was a physician who came to this area because of the business potential of the local water power. He arrived here in 1831, and by 1832, he’d purchased land from a local native Indian chief, Pierre Moran, and had launched the little town of Elkhart. This house, built in 1848, is the oldest house in Elkhart, and was the first brick home built here. Originally, the house looked a little different. The central portion was the entire house, and it was built in a classic Georgian Colonial style with smaller windows “six over six pane windows” and a simple front step. Some of these original windows can still be seen on the kitchen building on the northwest side of the house. Like many older homes, the Havilah Beardsley House changed over time. The west wing was added in the 1850s, as living quarters for a grandmother. In 1874, the house underwent a larger transformation to update it from a Georgian Colonial style to an Italianate villa style. The roof on the west wing was flattened, windows were lengthened and given rounded tops, and the large porch was added. Inside, the house was made more ornate with a stunning new grand staircase and new woodwork throughout. In the 1890s, the east wing was added. By this time, it was referred to as the Beardsley Mansion. Havilah Beardsley died in 1856, and his wife Rachel continued to live in the house through all of its changes until her death in 1890. It remained a private home until 2006 when the Ruthmere Foundation purchased it and began restoration. As one of the most important pieces of Elkhart’s history, the Havilah Beardsley House and the story of its original owner will inspire generations to come. This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Creek House Center
Creek House Center is located at 920 Grove Street. Originally part of the Beardsley Estate, Creek House was the stable and carriage house for Ruthmere mansion. The building housed the carriages and horses for two generations of Beardsley owners. The property was sold from the Beardsley family holdings to the Thompson family who by 1942 converted and expanded the original stables into a lovely five bedroom home overlooking the Christiana Creek. Since the 1970s, this location has been a part of Ruthmere Museum's campus property. Creek House Center is used today as the Ruthmere Executive Director's residence.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Beardsley Avenue Historic District
You’re standing in the heart of the Beardsley Avenue Historic District, so it’s fitting this triangle of land formed by the avenue and Riverside Drive is the site for a monument to Elkhart’s Founder, Doctor Havilah Beardsley. A lot of history and growth happened in this area, from the building of mills to supply needed products to settlers and local native Indians, to the transformation of the settlement of Pulaski north of the river to a full-fledged town of Elkhart south of the river.This was Beardsley’s neighborhood, so to speak. Imagine yourself in the 1840s. Right here, you’d be standing in the shadow of one his mills. You might even see Doctor Beardsley walk by on his way to check on business. And you might stop him to ask about purchasing land in the new town. Or, you might be waiting to board his rope ferry to take you across the river. In this area, you couldn’t avoid Beardsley’s influence.His nephew, A. R. Beardsley, who guided Miles Laboratories to worldwide success years later, had this statue made in about 1913, and the entire setting was designed by E. Hill Turnock, the architect who designed Ruthmere and many other notable buildings around Elkhart. Even though Elkhart has changed around it -- the mills are gone, and so are the rope ferries -- the statue of Havilah Beardsley still watches over the city he started.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Beardsley Mills & Businesses
Havilah Beardsley was trained as a physician, but his real passion was business. He first came to Elkhart because he saw the business potential in the abundance of water power here. His first ventures were mills. He started by building a corn mill at the mouth of Christiana Creek. This was followed by a sawmill close by. Also on the creek, north and east of here, Beardsley built a linseed oil mill, a woolen factory and public carding machines that prepared wool and other fiber for spinning. Beardsley was the right man in the right place at the right time. These mills made much needed lumber and other products more readily available, and they were important in attracting new settlers to the area. In the 1840s, Havilah dug a canal, or race from Christiana Creek to the Saint Joseph River bluffs and in 1845 built the Beardsley flour mill (about where you will see the green house on the riverside just a few yards from the monument.) Then a few years later, a bit downstream, he built Indiana’s second paper mill. In addition to the Mills, Beardsley ran rope ferries across the river, and later helped bring the railroad to town. He was a tireless, innovative entrepreneur. Within a few short years, Havilah Beardsley had put in place important incentives for the growth of the town that was to rise on the south side of the river. He truly was the father of Elkhart.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Revealing the Truth: Secrets of the Havilah Beardsley House
At the southwest corner of the house, there is an unusual rectangular second floor window, different from the other windows of the house. But why is it different? Architect Greg Kil offers three possible scenarios. First, since it is a secondary elevation and side window, it might have been considered unnecessary for it to match the front windows. Second, it could be a result of the interior design of the room. The room below the one the window is associated with has a fireplace in it whose stack continues up to the second floor. This created an alcove or niche which the window spans. Third and last, the window could have been added at a later date as a way to access the roof of the lower first story addition, although the roof there never seems to have been utilized as a deck. What do you think?Play Audio If you would like to book this traveling exhibit for your organization please call 574-264-0330 ext. 104This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Eye of the Beholder
Opinions differ as to the trim color on the exterior of the Havilah Beardsley House. Some people see dark red while others see brown. What do you see?This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Beardsley Flour Mill
From 1831-1856, Havilah Beardsley played an important role in Elkhart’s early expansion and development. Havilah built several mills, including a paper mill, a linseed oil mill, and a woolen mill. He constructed mill races from Christiana Creek to the Saint Joseph River and used the power of Elkhart’s waterways so that his mills could grind corn and wheat, as well as cut lumber. His mills promoted early growth by making valuable resources available locally, such as lumber, flour, and cloth materials. They also provided valuable services to other local businessmen looking to deal, or sell their own products.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Benjamin and Sarah Davenport House
Across Main Street from the Havilah Beardsley House, on the opposite corner of Beardsley and Main at 116 East Beardsley Avenue, was the home of Benjamin and Sarah Davenport, built circa 1873. Sarah was the daughter of Havilah Beardsley. Sarah and her husband, Benjamin, moved into the home in 1874. Three different mansions have all stood in this exact spot from 1873 to the present time. The Davenport Mansion was replaced by William Pratt’s mansion “Lynnmaur” in 1900 and then in 1941 it was replaced by the Floyd Best home.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Pulaski Village
A lot of folks, even some longtime Elkhart residents, don’t realize that there was actually a village, of sorts, here before the town of Elkhart was even thought of. When Doctor Havilah Beardsley arrived on horseback on his way to Chicago from Ohio, he found the village of Pulaski, here on the north bank of the Saint Joseph River. The settlement had been established only a couple of years before Beardsley’s arrival, and it consisted of a post office and trading post situated along the Fort Wayne Road. The road was originally an indian trail that forded the river here where it’s shallow, and continued on to near Niles, Michigan.In addition to the post office, Pulaski had a few settlers -- essentially squatters who had come here -- along with a grist mill on Christiana Creek, but not much more. Beardsley recognized the business potential of the water power from the creek and the two rivers, the Elkhart and Saint Joseph that all came together here. When he returned later, he immediately began developing his own ventures, establishing the Village of Elkhart on the south side of the river in 1832. Even so, the post office was still designated for Pulaski until 1839 when it was finally renamed for Elkhart. Pulaski Park and a marker for the original village stand at the site today -- small reminders of the settlement that came first in this area.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Beardsley Elementary School
Schools were an important part of Elkhart’s growth as well. Above, you can see a picture of Beardsley Elementary School as it was in 1879. The lot at the intersection of Erwin and Dearborn has served as the location for Beardsley Elementary school since the original structure was built in 1879.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
The Bucklen Opera House
The Bucklen Opera House was opened in 1884 on the Northwest corner of Main and Harrison streets. The Bucklen Opera House seated twelve hundred people, who were once entertained by stars such as Houdini, a famous magician and escape artist, and Jenny Lind, a well-known Swedish opera singer. Elkhart’s first motion picture was shown here in 1896 and was used as the Bucklen theatre until 1956. The building was used as a ballet school, rehearsal hall for the Elkhart Symphony Orchestra, and as a home for a variety of stores. It was a center of social activity until its demolition in 1986.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
Beardsley Avenue Historic District
You’re standing in the heart of the Beardsley Avenue Historic District, so it’s fitting this triangle of land formed by the avenue and Riverside Drive is the site for a monument to Elkhart’s Founder, Doctor Havilah Beardsley. A lot of history and growth happened in this area, from the building of mills to supply needed products to settlers and local native Indians, to the transformation of the settlement of Pulaski north of the river to a full-fledged town of Elkhart south of the river.This was Beardsley’s neighborhood, so to speak. Imagine yourself in the 1840s. Right here, you’d be standing in the shadow of one his mills. You might even see Doctor Beardsley walk by on his way to check on business. And you might stop him to ask about purchasing land in the new town. Or, you might be waiting to board his rope ferry to take you across the river. In this area, you couldn’t avoid Beardsley’s influence.His nephew, A. R. Beardsley, who guided Miles Laboratories to worldwide success years later, had this statue made in about 1913, and the entire setting was designed by E. Hill Turnock, the architect who designed Ruthmere and many other notable buildings around Elkhart. Even though Elkhart has changed around it -- the mills are gone, and so are the rope ferries -- the statue of Havilah Beardsley still watches over the city he started.This Tour has been sponsored by Wellfield Botanic Gardens, located at 1011 North Main Street, Elkhart, IN. Visit Wellfield on Facebook or view their website at www.wellfieldgardens.org
