NEWS
Rescued House Could Be the One for You
Indiana Landmarks and our affiliate Huntington Alert rescued a house destined for the wrecking ball and placed it on the road to revitalization.
Joint Effort Saves Huntington House
The c.1879 home of original owners George and Martha Humbert occupies a prominent corner in the National Register-listed Old Plat Historic District.
Humbert, a businessman and city commissioner, constructed the home at 337 East Market Street northeast of downtown. The stately brick Italianate retains high-style architectural details, including scroll-sawn corbels at the roofline, tall double-hung windows, carved limestone window headers, a two-story bay window, and a hipped-roof with cupola. The Humbert family called the place home until 1899.
A century later, the Humbert home had fallen into foreclosure, and its deteriorated condition forced the city to place the house on its demolition list. At the same time, city officials engaged the local preservation nonprofit, Huntington Alert, in hopes of saving the landmark. The group secured possession of the house through receivership and Indiana Landmarks assisted with a $75,000 loan from our Efromson Family Endangered Places program.
Huntington Alert embarked on the renovation, starting with a monumental clean-out of debris accumulated over decades. The group added a new roof, a new heating system, and made electrical and plumbing repairs.
In the next phase, the group will focus on rehabbing the home’s interior, including carved fireplace mantels, milled casing at the windows and doors, sliding pocket doors, hardwood floors, and other classic old-house features.
Huntington Alert expects to put the house on the market next spring. If living downtown in a one-of-a-kind historic property is on your wish list, this just might be the house for you! For more information contact Huntington Alert, huntingtonalert@gmail.com.
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