Henry S. Lane House
Encyclopedia
The Henry S. Lane House was the home of Henry S. Lane and Joanna Lane. It is located at 212 South Water Street in Crawfordsville, Indiana
. In 1939, Helen Elston Smith, the Lanes' niece, died and willed the house and its contents to the Montgomery County Historical Society. The house has been a museum
since Helen's death.
cottage that dates back from the early 1830s. Henry Lane purchased this cottage and the 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) surrounding it from Isaac Elston in the fall of 1844. 85%-90% of all of the furnishings are either original to the house or belonged to the Elston Family. Susan Wallace
, sister of Joanna Lane, met her future husband Lew Wallace
in the house's formal parlor. Henry Lane was a delegate from Indiana at Lincoln's funeral.
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Crawfordsville is a city in Union Township, Montgomery County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,915. The city is the county seat of Montgomery County...
. In 1939, Helen Elston Smith, the Lanes' niece, died and willed the house and its contents to the Montgomery County Historical Society. The house has been a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
since Helen's death.
History
The house was originally built onto an existing three-room brick cottage, which is currently part of the dining room. The cottage was a Federal styleFederal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
cottage that dates back from the early 1830s. Henry Lane purchased this cottage and the 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) surrounding it from Isaac Elston in the fall of 1844. 85%-90% of all of the furnishings are either original to the house or belonged to the Elston Family. Susan Wallace
Susan Wallace
Susan Arnold Elston Wallace was an American author and poet.-Biography:Susan Wallace was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana to wealthy and influential parents, Isaac Compton and Maria Eveline Elston on December 25, 1830. She was educated in Crawfordsville and Poughkeepsie, New York...
, sister of Joanna Lane, met her future husband Lew Wallace
Lew Wallace
Lewis "Lew" Wallace was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, territorial governor and statesman, politician and author...
in the house's formal parlor. Henry Lane was a delegate from Indiana at Lincoln's funeral.