To the Rescue

Perched high on a hill overlooking downtown Connersville, the Newkirk Mansion has commanded attention since its construction in 1880. In recent years, the view has been increasingly heartbreaking as the towered home slid into dilapidation – overgrown, vacant, and vandalized. But after a stint on Indiana Landmarks’ 10 Most Endangered list, the Newkirk Mansion finally has its heroes.

Built for William Newkirk, the well-to-do owner of a furniture manufacturing company, the mansion at 317-321 Western Avenue retains original mantels and woodwork.

Newkirk’s widow died in 1933. Several years later, a new owner converted the house to apartments, a 25-year stint that ended with its conversion to a nursing home in 1962. Long vacant, the house declined under a leaky roof that damaged the woodwork and plaster. Vandals destroyed some original features, and an arson fire destroyed the property’s historic two-story carriage house in late April 2017.

In order to save the house, Indiana Landmarks optioned the property while we hunted for a buyer. After marketing the property and fielding calls from throughout Indiana and overseas, we negotiated to buy the house for $65,000 and selected Mike and Jenny Sparks as buyers, selling it to the couple for $56,000.

“Shame on us if we couldn’t save a place like the Newkirk Mansion,” said Marsh Davis, president of Indiana Landmarks. “We took a $9,000 loss from our Efroymson Family Endangered Places Fund, and we consider it well worth the cost. Mike and Jenny Sparks understand what the property needs and they felt they couldn’t pay more, given the amount they will have to invest to restore it,” he adds.

The couple bought the Newkirk Mansion for the second time. “We owned the house from 1987 to the early ‘90s,” says Mike Sparks. “We sold it so our two boys could grow up on our farm in the country outside Connersville. We really loved the house. It was in great shape when we lived there. Clean, dry, no leaks,” he adds.

They sold the house to another family committed to maintaining its historic character, but after about 18 months, the man was killed in a car accident and in the ensuing years the house began a long, slow decline.

The Sparks live on a farm near Connersville, raising corn, soybeans and a few acres of sunflowers. Mike retired after 29 years teaching automotive repair at Whitewater Career Center, while Jenny worked at Visteon. Mike Sparks was a charter member of the Connersville Preservation Commission.

With help from their two adult sons, the Sparks have already cleared the overgrowth from around the house and pledge to stabilize the building before winter, making it watertight. Restoration will begin in the spring and is expected to take several years to complete. The couple plans to share the house with the community by opening it for tours and events. Ultimately, they may create a B&B.

“We hope the house becomes a catalyst for downtown revival in Connersville,” Mike declares. “We intend to do what we can to fuel that.”