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Property Details: John A. Bowman House
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John A. Bowman House
Eastern School Road
Salem vicinity,
IN
Find it with Google™ Maps!
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| Price:
$59,999 |
| Bedrooms:
2 |
| Bathrooms:
1 |
| Square Feet:
2,787 |
Lot Description/Acreage:
10 acres, 30 additional available at $5000/acre |
Year Built:
c.1840 |
Architect/Builder:
unknown |
Architectural Style:
Romantic Houses
(1820-1880) |
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| Name:
Greg Sekula, Director |
| Agency:
Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana - southern region |
| Phone:
812-284-4534 |
| Fax:
812-285-9923 |
| Email:
Send an email... |
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| The house was built around 1840 and was home to John A. Bowman, a leading farmer and businessman. He served eight years in the Indiana legislature during the Reconstruction Era and was a leading farmer in the county, cultivating some 924 acres in the farm’s heyday. Bowman was a stock dealer and engaged in trade between Washington County and New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a stockholder of banking institutions in both Salem and New Albany, Indiana. John Bowman died on September 22, 1886, and is buried within view of his once-elegant home, his grave marked by a granite obelisk surrounded by an iron fence. |
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| Located in scenic Washington County approximately 5 miles south of Salem, the John Bowman house is one of Washington County’s most significant rural historic properties. The Bowman house is a 1-1/2 story red brick structure that originally had full width porches contained within its massive side-gabled roof on both its west (front) and east elevations. The east porch, now partially enclosed and screened, remains partially standing. The west porch roof with its original plaster ceiling remains cantilevered, but has lost its column supports and floor system. (One column was found on site and is presently stored in the house.) The house retains many of its original six-over-six, divided light window sashes. Both front and rear entry doors retain sidelight and transom openings. Standing seam metal covers most of the roof, but has been replaced with some “5-v” metal panels on the southern half of the roof. Several panels are loose, damaged, or missing. Some temporary roof patches have been made. A 6’ portion of the upper gable end on the south side of the house has collapsed and will require relaying of brick and replacement of some ceiling rafters. Three of four chimney stacks positioned on the north and south elevations will require rebuilding from the roofline up. The interior of the Bowman house originally contained eight rooms, including a large central hall divided into two hall “rooms”. Double-leaf paneled doors with a transom above define the opening between these two hall rooms. (A partition wall was subsequently removed between the hall and the rear north room during a more recent remodeling of that space in the 1970s. The upper portion of the original partition wall is still visible above the drop ceiling in this area of the house.) Most interior rooms on the first floor have 12 foot ceilings and retain their original woodwork, including chair rail. Ghost marks in the front hall and front parlors reveal the presence of elaborate ceiling medallions and gas piping which once adorned these spaces. Mantelpieces in each of these rooms have been removed and lost, but the chimney flues remain. Wide board poplar flooring is found in each room, some damaged due to roof leaks. Built-in cupboards are found next to the chimneys in the rear first floor rooms. Some interior structural work will be needed, including a new floor joist system in the rear hall and other floor joist repairs on the first floor. A partially enclosed stair leads to the second floor which contains 1133 square feet of living space in two large rooms. These rooms are of sufficient size to accommodate a second floor bath and two bedrooms if desired. Storage space is afforded in two large linear attic/closet spaces that run the width of the house on this level. A floor plan of the house with a single story rear addition containing approximately 469 square feet has been prepared showing how additional living space could be accommodated in the house to add a first floor master bedroom and bath. With the addition, the house would contain approximately 3256 square feet. The house contains a one room cellar. The Bowman house has been vacant for over a decade and will require all new systems, including a septic system. Public water through the East Washington Rural Water Corporation is available nearby on Eastern School Road. Electric service is available through Jackson County REMC. |
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| The Bowman house will require extensive rehabilitation, but offers the potential for a unique country estate within an hour’s commute of downtown Louisville, Kentucky. The house is being offered for restoration with approximately 41.33 acres at a price of $209,999. The owner is willing to consider sale of the home with a minimum 10 acre tract. Price of house with 10-acre tract is $59,999 with additional acreage available at a price of $5,000 per acre. Site includes an early 20th century frame garage and clay tile block storage building. An eight-lot residential subdivision known as Bowman Estates, originally a part of the Bowman Farm, has been approved by Washington County and these lots are being offered for sale by the property owner concurrently with the sale of the Bowman house and its acreage. These lots abut the road frontage of the farm. The approved plat includes an out-parcel for access to the 41-acre tract where the Bowman house is situated. House will be sold with preservation covenants which require all exterior work to be reviewed and approved by Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. The successful buyer also must demonstrate financial capacity to undertake the necessary rehabilitation and make substantial progress within a two year period. |
| Last Updated: November 11, 2009 |
| All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. |
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