Early American

In 1848, 29-year-old Phillip Alber – a skilled stone and brick mason from Lichtenstein – made the perilous voyage across the Atlantic to seek a better life in the United States. He settled in the small town of Wabash to be near his brother Jacob. He married Barbara Hilty and, with his brother’s help, in just ten days built a two-and-a-half-story brick and stone house for his bride that today is one of the oldest surviving homes in Wabash. When demolition loomed last year, Indiana Landmarks stepped in to save the house.

The Alber House, 45 East Sinclair Street, exhibits Federal-style features: a front façade with centered door between symmetrical windows, and two side gables finished with matching chimneys. However, its raised stone foundation is not typical – at least not in Indiana. It’s a feature found more commonly in southern states, where it allows cross ventilation to cool upper living spaces. For the Alber house, however, the raised foundation served a very different purpose.

Phillip took advantage of the tall foundation to turn the lower level of his home into a public house. Outside the rear door, the family created a Bavarian-style beer garden where they served Phillip’s home brew in steins, along with sausage, smoked ham, knockwurst and sauerkraut, while musicians played German music. When a new depot was constructed directly behind their home, the Alber’s business grew. As his brewing skills became more refined, Phillip and a business partner founded Rettig & Alber, a full-scale brewery on the north side of town.

The home’s heyday was long in the past when it was targeted for demolition last year, a vacant and dilapidated eyesore. To avert the loss, Indiana Landmarks negotiated with the owner who donated the property to us, and the city supplied funds previously marked for demolition to pay for a new roof. We’ll clean out the interior, complete the restoration of the windows, repoint the brick, paint, and rebuild the distinctive dual stair to the elevated front door. This fall, we’ll be ready to find a buyer who’ll rehab the interior.

If the thought of living in a stylish historic place with such a unique story sounds appealing, be sure to contact Paul Hayden, director of our Northeast Field Office in Wabash, 260-563-7094, phayden@indianalandmarks.org.