Indiana Landmarks is seeking a new owner to be a responsible steward of a unique property in Attica (Fountain County), the historic homes of Cottrell Village.

Situated next to The Old Church at Cottrell Village, the property features three unique dwellings: the 1850s Norman and Maria Brown House, the c.1855 William and Emeline Brown House, and a 1990s stable barn guesthouse crafted to feature vintage character with modern amenities. The site also includes a non-functioning privy and smokehouse, also built in the ’90s.

The group is the legacy of Attica native John Cottrell, who restored the properties in the late 1980s and ’90s as a gift to his hometown. Now known as Cottrell Village, the scenic landmarks have become one of the community’s favorite gathering places for weddings, architectural and garden tours, music recitals, and other events.

After graduating from Attica High School in 1956, Cottrell moved to Los Angeles, where he gained national acclaim as an interior decorator, ranked by Architectural Digest as one of the country’s top designers. In 1987, he began renovating the church he attended in his youth, returning the exterior of the c.1850 Attica Presbyterian Church to its original appearance—even using a historic photo to guide recreation of the long-lost steeple—while designing a simple but graceful period-appropriate interior.

He went on to acquire the neighboring 1850s house built for merchant Norman Brown and his wife Maria, and the c.1855 Greek Revival house they built as a wedding gift for their son William and daughter-in-law Emeline, which had been moved to the site decades earlier. After working with local contractors to repair damage and remove later additions to return the houses to their original footprint, Cottrell furnished the properties with Americana furniture and other mid-nineteenth-century décor. He completed the village with the addition of a modern but historically appropriate privy, smokehouse, and stable barn.

The village’s rehabilitation spurred the formation of local preservation group Fountain County Landmarks, which worked with Cottrell to manage the properties while he split his time between Indiana and California. Prior to his death in 2021, Cottrell arranged to donate the village to Indiana Landmarks.

After his passing, Indiana Landmarks began working with Fountain County Landmarks to chart a plan for the property’s future. Indiana Landmarks invested more than $100,000 in rehabilitation and repairs to the houses and barn, while Fountain County Landmarks continues to manage the church as an event space.

The houses, barn, and two outbuildings are now on the market for $279,000 and will be sold with protective covenants safeguarding their architectural character. In addition to the buildings, the picturesque site includes vegetable and flower gardens.

A new owner will need to invest in additional repairs and updates. Indiana Landmarks is prepared to offer ongoing advice and technical assistance throughout the renovation process.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Tommy Kleckner, Director, Indiana Landmarks’ Western Regional Office, 812-232-4534, tkleckner@indianalandmarks.org

Mindi Woolman, Director of Marketing and Communications, Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, mwoolman@indianalandmarks.org

Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, strengthens connections to our diverse heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.