Homegrown Solution

In the 1830s, Quaker abolitionist Jesse Baker settled the area that became known as Baker’s Corner—reportedly aiding local Underground Railroad efforts by using his farm to hide slaves seeking freedom. When plans to reconfigure U.S. 31 at 236th Street in Hamilton County threatened the historic BakerJohnson-Pickett Farmstead in 2020, Indiana Landmarks joined local and state leaders to save the site’s turn-of-the-century barn and c.1850 farmhouse. We partnered with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) in finding a solution to preserve the buildings as part of Fieldgate Farm, a boutique farm in Sheridan.

INDOT engaged Indiana Landmarks as project manager and provided a $2.2 million grant, while Fieldgate Farm offered a site for rebuilding the landmarks and contributed $200,000. ARCHitecture Trio documented, photographed, and laser-scanned the house and barn to identify original materials and guide Brandt Construction’s reconstruction. In November, we joined a crowd celebrating completion of the project at Fieldgate Farm, now open to visitors for special events and by appointment. Read about the property at fieldgatefarm.com.

This article first appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Indiana Preservation, Indiana Landmarks’ member magazine.