The Purdue Exponent

Home and Garden Tour to show history, restoration of homes

Jenny Jones/Summer Reporter

HOME SWEET HOME: DeAnn Harding stands outside her turn of the century home, which will be shown as part of the Wabash Valley Trust Home and Garden Tour.

By Jenny Jones
Summer Reporter

When DeAnn Harding moved into her 1923, two-story, craftsmen style home, her biggest dilemma was where she was going to put her refrigerator.

Back then, homes had small kitchens, Harding said. Considering the limited space, Harding's refrigerator is located under the counter and consists of three drawers including the freezer.

Harding's home will be one of eight turn of the century homes included in the Wabash Valley Trust Home and Garden Tour. The tour will be open from 1-5 p.m. Sunday and will begin at the Coffee Roaster at 920 Salisbury St. The cost of the tour is $5 per person.

During the tour, visitors will learn about the history and restoration of the homes.

Harding said her home, which has only had three owners, was first owned by the Parks family. At the time, Morris Parks was a prominent lawyer in Lafayette.

Since buying the home 18 months ago, Harding and her husband have restored many areas of the three bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom home.

One room that Harding said they have put a lot of work into is the kitchen. Besides traveling to Indianapolis to find a refrigerator to accommodate the small space, Harding said she and her husband have also put in a new sink, which mimics the style of the original. They also replaced all the cabinets, which are replicas of the time as well.

One reason Harding said she agreed to have her home included in the tour is because she would like to get other peoples' opinions on what she and her husband have done with their home.

The tour will encompass homes from 1895—1930, said Angela Bowen, director of Wabash Valley Trust.

Much like Harding's home, Bowen said many of the homes have a history. "Many of the homes belonged to early college professors," she said.

The Home and Garden Tour is an annual event, normally held in Lafayette. This year Wabash Valley decided to show off the Chauncey neighborhood because many people think that area only houses students, said Bowen.

"It's an interesting glimpse into the history and architecture of the city of West Lafayette," she said.


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