NEWS
A Restoration Fit for a Queen
Campbellsburg’s Wilkins House is available for sale following extensive rehabilitation
Royal Introduction
After a year of sawing, nailing, sanding and painting, work crews have transformed the once-blighted John T. C. Wilkins House in Campbellsburg, Indiana, into the Queen Anne confection first envisioned in the pattern books of architect George F. Barber. Indiana Landmarks took possession of the endangered house in fall 2023 and shepherded a complete restoration. Located at the entrance to this small Washington County town nine miles northwest of Salem, the historic home is now ready to hit the market.
In 1858, grist mill owner John T.C. Wilkins built a modest two-story farmhouse on Sycamore Street at the entrance to town, along with a barn, corner shoe repair store, and several outbuildings. His son, William, later occupied the house and in the late 1890s undertook a major renovation, expanding its footprint and adding embellishments, including horseshoe-shaped stained-glass windows, elaborate spindled porch work, and an ornate oak staircase—all adapted from pattern books published by George Barber, a Tennessee architect whose designs filled mail-order catalogs sent across the county in the 1890s-1910s.
The house landed on Indiana landmarks’ radar in recent years as it fell into disrepair and demolition seemed imminent. Recognizing the property’s provenance and potential, Indiana Landmarks purchased the home, repairing the exterior trim and siding, installing a new roof, rebuilding the chimney, and repainting the house in a new paint scheme that would have made Barber proud. Inside, workers installed a new kitchen and first floor bath with tiled shower, as well as a new water heater and heating and cooling systems, refinished floors, restored stained glass windows, and upgraded electrical and plumbing. Today, the newly rehabilitated John T.C. Wilkins house features 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths with nearly 3,000 square feet of living space.
Wilkins’ other sons—James, John and Tom—also employed Barber’s services to construct their own elaborate Queen Anne houses in the town. Today, this group of four surviving houses constitutes a rare concentration of Barber homes in a small-town setting, attracting the attention of Barber enthusiasts around the country. Today, three of the four Wilkins houses are for sale. In addition to the John T.C. Wilkins House for sale by Indiana Landmarks, the Thomas Wilkins House at 326 N. Sycamore and the James Wilkins house at 225 W. Oak Street, a former Bed & Breakfast, are also presently on the market. Both properties will require some level of rehabilitation.
“Remarkably, for perhaps the first time in history, three of Campbellsburg’s most remarkable historic properties are for sale at the same time,” stated Greg Sekula, Indiana Landmarks’ Southern Regional Director. “We are hopeful that restoration-minded buyers will take advantage of this unique opportunity and safeguard these landmark properties for the future.”
Indiana Landmarks offers the John T.C. Wilkins House, which includes a corner store, and three additional outbuildings, for sale at $325,000 through Cambron Realty. It will be sold with preservation covenants to make sure its fantastic architectural features are preserved for the next generation. To arrange a tour or for more information, contact realtor Missie Cambron at 812-896-3990, mcambron@live.com.
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