By Starr Miller MADISON, Ind. — The holiday season is upon us, and with the typical trimmings comes also a showcase of historical fortitude in Madison. Situated on what some call the “princess of the rivers,” Madison is known by many as a notable place in Indiana’s preservation network. The community boasts some of the most incredible historical homes, including the Shrewsbury-Windle House – a place that is much more than a historic building, it is a cornerstone of sorts, and is part of the annual Nights Before Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes. The event, which boasts tours of 12 homes, is overseen by Visit Madison. According to John Staicer, President and Executive Director of Historic Madison, Inc., the tour is something of a showcase of the community’s very best homes. “The Candlelight Tour has been a fixture in Madison for over 30 years,” Staicer said. “It begins the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving and the following Friday and Saturday as well. A number of private property owners (usually five or six) offer their houses to be on the tour each year. In addition, a number of organizations, including Historic Madison, Inc., the Lanier Mansion State Historic Site, the Jefferson County Historical Society and the Masonic Heritage Foundation offer their museum properties for the tour weekends as well.” The Tour brings people from far and wide to Madison and thus, helps stimulate the local economy. About 2,000 people buy tickets and go on the tour each year. If a Christmas tree’s main attraction is its star on top, so is the Shrewsbury-Windle House to the community of Madison. The historic centerpiece was built in 1849 by Charles and Ellen Shrewsbury and has had only three private owners between then and 2011. The last owners were John and Ann Windle who founded Historic Madison, Inc. there in 1960. Historic Madison, Inc. is a non-profit historic preservation organization. It was their home as well as their antique shop for 61 years. It is now owned by Historic Madison, Inc. The Shrewsbury-Windle House is special for its incredible architectural design and how little it was altered since it was first built. It was designated a National Historic Landmark by the US Secretary of the Interior in 1994. “This year’s Candlelight Tour is a rare opportunity to see one of America’s best historic rehabilitation projects in progress. We are near the end of a four-year, $2 million museum-quality project, inside and out, to recreate the home’s 1850s feel, though there is still much work to complete before reopening the home in 2018,” Staicer said. The centerpiece of the hall is the restored 53 step spiral staircase winding its way from the first floor to the third floor attic. It is art you can walk on. Also featured is a reproduction floor cloth, restored paint colors and original gas chandeliers which are now electrified. The entry doors at either end of the hall are 12 feet tall and are believed to be the tallest entry doors to any home in the United States. The ceilings in the home are 16 feet high. “The drawing rooms on the east side are among the most accurately conserved and restored Greek Revival interiors in the nation, complete with elaborate plaster ceiling moldings and two pairs of Corinthian columns,” Stacier said. “The paint and varnish finishes are original and have never been repainted. They were carefully conserved using many of the same techniques used to preserve the Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes.” Other features in the room include matching original chandeliers, matching Egyptian marble fireplaces, a large original mirror and original portraits in oil paint of Mr. and Mrs. Shrewsbury and their six children. “A recently installed custom woven reproduction wool carpet was made in England and is based on early interior photos. Some of the furnishings in the room are original Shrewsbury family antiques once used in the house and donated by descendants,” Stacier said. Stacier notes that this sneak peek will be a unique opportunity for the public to see the renovations as they happen – something that has never happened before. In 2018, the home will be opened for tours, events and special programs. For more information about HMI visit www.historicmadisoninc.com. For general information on the Tour go to: http://nightsbeforechristmas.com/ |