The Jane Ross Reeves Octagon House in Shirley will soon get some needed improvements after winning a $5,860 grant from the Indiana Historical Society.
SHIRLEY — The Jane Ross Reeves Octagon House in Shirley will soon get some needed improvements after winning a $5,860 grant from the Indiana Historical Society.
Longtime volunteer Paul Allen said the money will be used to renovate a handicap-accessible ramp and railing leading up the home. Any leftover funds will be used to pour a concrete pad for a new shed, which will be purchased with a separate grant.
Allen — whose great-great-grandmother Jane Ross Reeves once owned the historic home — secured the grant through the The Indiana Historical Society.
The award was part of the Society’s most recent round of Heritage Support Grants, which allocated $450,000 to 14 organizations throughout the state this month.
The grant program, which is supported by Lilly Endowment, is set to award a total of $2.5 million to historical organizations by 2024.
Allen was overjoyed that the Octagon House was chosen as a recipient.
Although he lives about an hour away, he has been an active volunteer at the iconic home since it was moved to its current location at 400 S. Railroad St. in 1997.
Reeves had the home built between Wilkinson and Willow Branch in 1879. She reportedly paid a Fortville construction company somewhere between $2,300 to $2,500 with a shoebox full of silver dollars she had saved.
“I hope she would be happy that her legacy is continuing through this house,” said Allen, 70, who remembers his grandmother talking about growing up in the home.
“She was always talking about how interesting the house is,” said Allen, who is happy that the public can continue to enjoy the unique octagon-shaped home.
According to the Shirley Indiana Octagon House page on Facebook, the two-story home is among only five octagon houses left standing in Indiana. It’s reportedly been deemed the most important since it has never been altered or changed, with the exception of the porch which was expanded to wrap around the house.
Allen said work on the home’s ramp and shed are yet to be scheduled, but that board members are currently scouting out prices and contractors.
Both the ramp and the shed will make great additions, he said, with the shed offering plenty of space to store grills, lawnmowers and other outdoor equipment.
Allen is happy to see a good chunk of the money going toward making the home more accessible.
“Unfortunately the nature of an old house is that the whole place is not handicap accessible, but at least the (renovated) ramp will get visitors onto the first floor,” he said.
“There’s really no way to put in an elevator or anything like that, but we’re looking for some other grant sources to do a video tour of the second floor to show to those who can’t make it up there,” said Allen, who thinks his great-great-grandmother would be happy with the progress.
Today — Saturday, Aug. 20 — is a big day for the Hancock County historic attraction, which is hosting a chicken and noodle fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“For $14 you get a full meal deal, with chicken and noodles, green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, a drink and dessert,” said Shirley resident Cheryl Wright, who has been giving tours at the historic home for the past 15 years.
Wright said the home hosts two chicken and noodle dinners and two fish fries each year to raise money for the historic home. The next fish fry will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10.
Wright encourages the public to spread the word about the fundraisers, so the Octagon House can raise as much money as possible.
“It takes money to maintain a beautiful historic home like this, so every bit helps,” she said.
For more information, visit the Shirley Indiana Octagon House page on Facebook.
