One of Indiana's most historically significant private estates, an impeccably preserved Edwardian residence masterfully re-envisioned in 1910 by noted Massachusetts architect Henry A. Philips. Occupying an expansive collection of platted lots in the heart of Columbus, this rare offering includes the main residence, the original 1913 gardener's cottage, a three-car garage, and internationally inspired formal gardens unmatched in the region.

The Residence A grand single-family estate of extraordinary scale, the home features 8 bedrooms, 7 full baths, 1 half bath, and 18 finished rooms, all served by central warm-air heating and anchored by five hand-carved Italian marble fireplaces.The interiors-remarkably unchanged for more than a century-retain original bespoke fixtures, period furnishings, and early 20th-century craftsmanship. During the 1910 transformation, the opulent Victorian décor was replaced with a refined Edwardian aesthetic:

- Imported English oak millwork

-Exquisite French and Welsh tilework

- Italian marble accents throughout

A showcase of early technological innovation, the residence still contains its fully operational hydraulic elevator, original telephone and intercom systems, central vacuum, and an ingenious wood-heated laundry dryer. Gas lighting was replaced with electricity at the time-an advanced feature for its era. The exterior façade was unified in custom "tapestry brick" with stone trim, Vermont graduated-slate roof, complemented by multiple architectural chimneys that define the home's distinguished silhouette. This property has also enjoyed a moment on the silver screen as a filming location for the acclaimed 2017 film Columbus, directed by Kogonada and starring John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson.

 

 

The Historic Italianate Gardens

Conceived in 1913 and inspired by excavations at Pompeii, the estate's gardens are a private world of classical beauty and artistic sophistication.

A raised terrace connects the home to a sequence of outdoor spaces, including:

-Upper lawn with twin turtle-pond fountains

- Wisteria-draped pergolas (vines dating to the 1920s) sheltering marble busts of Socrates, Diogenes, Plato, and Aristotle

- Sunken garden anchored by a bronze elephant from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair

- A medieval Italian wishing well at the Fifth Street entry

- A private formal herb garden

- A hilltop Roman-Pompeian tea house protecting the grand descending fountain's marble fountainhead

Landscape influences through the years include renowned designers Dan Kiley, Terry Schnadelbach, and Jack Curtis, each contributing to the estate's horticultural legacy. The original 8,000-sq-ft greenhouses, notable as the birthplace of the first Cummins engine, remains an extraordinary historical amenity. A three-car garage offers a generous storage wing, functional half bath, and attic.

 

 

The Gardener's Cottage (1913)

Built for the estate's first gardener with a Scandinavian inspired design and recently updated.  The guest cottage offers approximately 1,800 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, and 2 full bathrooms.

Finished with modern colors, updated flooring, new appliances, fresh linens, and a charming brick patio, it provides ideal accommodations for guests, staff, or multigenerational living.

 

Properties of this provenance and preservation are exceedingly rare. This estate, originally built in 1864, is not merely a residence-it is a living museum of architecture, design, and landscape artistry, offering unmatched preservation, history, and elegance in one of the Midwest's most culturally rich communities. Currently used as a Bed & Breakfast and venue. This is the opportunity to own a one of a kind antique that covers hard asset investment strategies; art, real estate, and collectible.