Dr. Nelson Wilson House
Encyclopedia
The Dr. Nelson Wilson House is a place on the National Register of Historic Places
in Washington, Indiana
. It was placed on the Register on June 26, 2008, due to its unique architecture (a mix of Queen Anne
and Eastlake
), and for being the work of prominent local architect John W. Gaddis
. The Daviess County
Interim Report gave the house its highest rating: "Outstanding".
Nelson H. Wilson, born in Jefferson County, Indiana
on November 12, 1844, married Matilda M. Campbell in 1889. From 1890 to 1895 he practiced dentistry is Washington, Indiana. In 1893 they had the house built. In 1895, Nelson Wilson died. Sometime between Wilson's death and 1900 the house went to William Beck, whose family would own the house until 2001. Matilda Wilson died on August 11, 1914.
The Dr. Nelson Wilson House is a two-story Queen Anne-style house, with a brick foundation, brick and limestone
walls, and asphalt
roof, built in 1893 by a John W. Gaddis, an architect from nearby Vincennes, Indiana
who would later become known for building courthouses, such as those for Clay County
, Huntington County
, and Putnam County
. Gaddis included elements of the Eastlake style in the house as well, as demonstrated by its "stickwork"; it is highly unusual, however, that the stickwork was not done with wood, as typical in Eastlake, but instead with brick.
Of particular note are the pattern on the side porches, which is Masonic Cross pattern. This Masonic Cross pattern could be seen as a Maltese Cross
motif, save that both Nelson Wilson and John Gaddis were active Freemasons, and the thought of deviating from the Eastlake style to the Masonic Cross style in constructing the side porches is easily explained in one of the two deciding on the style.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in Washington, Indiana
Washington, Indiana
Washington is a city in Daviess County, Indiana, United States. The population was 11,509 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Daviess County.-History:...
. It was placed on the Register on June 26, 2008, due to its unique architecture (a mix of Queen Anne
Queen Anne Style architecture (United States)
In America, the Queen Anne style of architecture, furniture and decorative arts was popular in the United States from 1880 to 1910. In American usage "Queen Anne" is loosely used of a wide range of picturesque buildings with "free Renaissance" details rather than of a specific formulaic style in...
and Eastlake
Eastlake Movement
The Eastlake Movement was a nineteenth century architectural and household design reform movement started by architect and writer Charles Eastlake . The movement is generally considered part of the late Victorian period in terms of broad antique furniture designations...
), and for being the work of prominent local architect John W. Gaddis
John W. Gaddis
John W. Gaddis was a noted architect of Vincennes, Indiana. He designed numerous buildings that are preserved and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Works include:*Dr...
. The Daviess County
Daviess County, Indiana
Daviess County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 31,648. The county seat is Washington. Daviess County switched to the Central Time Zone on April 2, 2006. It has returned to the Eastern Time Zone as of November 4, 2007.- History :Daviess County was...
Interim Report gave the house its highest rating: "Outstanding".
Nelson H. Wilson, born in Jefferson County, Indiana
Jefferson County, Indiana
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 32,428. The county seat is Madison.-History:Jefferson County was formed in 1811...
on November 12, 1844, married Matilda M. Campbell in 1889. From 1890 to 1895 he practiced dentistry is Washington, Indiana. In 1893 they had the house built. In 1895, Nelson Wilson died. Sometime between Wilson's death and 1900 the house went to William Beck, whose family would own the house until 2001. Matilda Wilson died on August 11, 1914.
The Dr. Nelson Wilson House is a two-story Queen Anne-style house, with a brick foundation, brick and limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
walls, and asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
roof, built in 1893 by a John W. Gaddis, an architect from nearby Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
who would later become known for building courthouses, such as those for Clay County
Clay County, Indiana
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 26,890. The county seat is Brazil. Clay County is included in the Terre Haute, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :Clay County was formed in 1825...
, Huntington County
Huntington County, Indiana
Huntington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. The county seat and lone city is Huntington. According to Census 2010, the population was 37,124.-Geography:...
, and Putnam County
Putnam County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,019 people, 12,374 households, and 9,119 families residing in the county. The population density was 75 people per square mile . There were 13,505 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
. Gaddis included elements of the Eastlake style in the house as well, as demonstrated by its "stickwork"; it is highly unusual, however, that the stickwork was not done with wood, as typical in Eastlake, but instead with brick.
Of particular note are the pattern on the side porches, which is Masonic Cross pattern. This Masonic Cross pattern could be seen as a Maltese Cross
Maltese cross
The Maltese cross, also known as the Amalfi cross, is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta and through them came to be identified with the Mediterranean island of Malta and is one of the National symbols of Malta...
motif, save that both Nelson Wilson and John Gaddis were active Freemasons, and the thought of deviating from the Eastlake style to the Masonic Cross style in constructing the side porches is easily explained in one of the two deciding on the style.