Dowling House

Description:	Drawing of the Dowling House by Juliet A. Peddle, Terre Haute Artist and Architect. The Dowling House, Now Occupied by the Rose Old Ladies Home. Drawing by Juliet A. Peddle, Terre Haute Artist and Architect.The DOWLING HOUSE, somewhat altered from its original lines, is still standing on North Sixth street at First avenue. It is now the Home for Aged Women managed by the Rose Ladies Aid Society.Thomas Dowling was born in Ireland in 1806 and came to this country in 1814. After some years in Washington D. C., where he was engaged in printing and newspaper work, he came west and settled in Terre Haute in 1832. This same year he started publishing a newspaper, the Wabash Courier. This was a continuation of the Western Express. He later sold this paper and started the Wabash Express. He retired from the field of journalism in 1845 and in 1850 was appointed trustee of the Wabash & Erie Canal. In later years he served in the state legislature and held a number of local offices. He was active in improving the community in any way he could, and in making it grow. In 1864 he built Dowling Hall, a public hall for lectures, concerts and amusements. Toward the latter part of his life he was also interested in banking.I have been unable to get as much of the early history of the above house as I should like. The first mention I find of Mr. Dowling in connection with this property in the deed records is in 1845. I do not know when the house was built, nor am I positive whether it was built by him or by a previous owner, though it seems always to have been known as the Dowling Home since anyone can remember. It does not look like an extremely early house, but its style suggests the forties at least.Family History.Mr. Dowling married the first time in 1842, and his wife died in 1852. The map of 1854 shows the house as the Dowling House so that we know it was built and he was living there then, and it is that Mr. Dowling built the house shortly after he acquired the property in 1845. Mr. Dowling married a second time in 1856 and Im sure that he lived here after that time. He occupied this house until his death in 1876.In the course of time following Mr. Dowlings death Mrs. Dowling married Wm. R. McKeen and left this house to live downtown. The Perdues lived here during part of the period which followed, until about 1887. After the adjustments of settling the estate, the property was by 1889 in the hands of Mr. McKeen who gave it to the Rose Ladies Aid Society to manage as a home for aged women. This has no connection with the Rose endowment funds, the connection being entirely one of management. The home was first opened and run on donations collected from year to year, but this was found to be unsatisfactory and it was until such a time as an adequate endowment could be accumulated to operate it properly. Generous donations of our citizens made this possible by 1921, and the house has continued open ever since.Years bring Changes.The above illustration is a restoration based on the illustration given in the Atlas of 1874. Since that time a third story and mansard roof have been added and a different front porch and changes have been made inside in mantels and trim. The mantel and trim in the north room downstairs seem not to have been changed when the other changes were made and I believe is as built originally. These changes must have been made after 1874. I am told the mirror in the living room is where the Perdues had it, so I believe that the changes may have been made in the early eighties when they lived in the house.This house has the good fortune that many of our early houses do not have of keeping its setting. Some of the original property I believe has been converted into lots but the house still has its ample lawn and old trees, which give it atmosphere and character.
Origin:	01/01/2005
Contributor(s):	Peddle, Juliet, 1899-1979
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/rose/id/836
Collection:	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Logan Library
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	Architectural drawings Architecture Houses Nursing homes Dowling, Thomas, 1806-1876 Architecture Domestic Life

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