Eugene V. Debs House
Southwest view
Eugene V. Debs Home is located in Vigo County, Indiana
Eugene V. Debs Home
Eugene V. Debs Home is located in Indiana
Eugene V. Debs Home
Eugene V. Debs Home is located in the United States
Eugene V. Debs Home
Location451 N. 8th St., Terre Haute, Indiana
Coordinates39°28′18.7″N 87°24′19.7″W / 39.471861°N 87.405472°W / 39.471861; -87.405472
Built1890
NRHP reference No.66000008
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 13, 1966[1]
Designated NHLNovember 13, 1966[2]

The Eugene V. Debs House, on the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, was a home of union leader Eugene V. Debs. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966.[2][3] The museum is maintained by the Eugene V. Debs Foundation, a non-profit educational foundation.

Eugene V. Debs and his wife, Kate, built the two-story frame house in 1890, after their fifth wedding anniversary. Debs was criticized for the house not portraying working-class lifestyle; his wife was a beneficiary of her wealthy aunt's will and could furnish the house affluently. Visitors to Debs' house during his lifetime included friends James Whitcomb Riley and Carl Sandburg; one room in the house to this day is known as the Riley bedroom. When Debs died in 1926, a funeral sermon was given for him at the house, attended by 5000 people.[2][4]

Original features of the house include the cobalt blue porcelain tile fireplace imported from Italy, the mahogany dining and parlor furniture, and the entire set of Haviland china. The house is also a museum, with many memorabilia of Debs' life and some of his personal library, much of which is across the street at the library of Indiana State University. One room is covered by murals depicting Debs' life.[5]

After Debs' death, the house would see different owners. One was a professor at Indiana State University. It was used as the Theta Chi fraternity house from 1948 to 1961, and briefly was let as apartments. In 1962, the home was bought by the Eugene V. Debs Foundation, which continues to own the house. In 1965, it was made an official Indiana historic site by the Indiana General Assembly. In 1966, the home was made an official National Historic Landmark of the National Parks system of the Department of the Interior . In 2004, it was removed from threatened status after sufficient repairs to the structure occurred to ensure its permanence.[6][7] Today, the preservation of the property is monitored by the National Park Service.

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 "Eugene V. Debs House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  3. ↑ Joseph S. Mendinghall and Albert W. Banton, Jr. (May 13, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Eugene V. Debs House". National Park Service. and Accompanying four photos, exterior, from 1965 and 1975
  4. ↑ Conn, Earl L. (2006). My Indiana:101 Places to See. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press. pp. 114–15.
  5. ↑ Conn p.115
  6. ↑ Conn p.114
  7. ↑ Landmarks Removed From Threatened and Watch Status in 2004
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