Stevens House/Building - Martinsville, Indiana
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 39° 25.606 W 086° 25.692
16S E 549214 N 4364293
Commercial building in Martinsville, Indiana.
Waymark Code: WM7C88
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 10/04/2009
Views: 5
"Stevens House/Building, 21-29 East Washington Street, I House/Italianate, c.1847 and
Commercial Vernacular, c.1915.
This vernacular brick commercial building consists of two individual
commercial units separated by an enclosed staircase leading to the second story. The building's
second story features seven windows; each is one-over one double hung sash with limestone sills
and lintels. Each first floor unit has a recessed entrance flanked by plate glass display windows;
the overhead transoms have been filled and/or obscured. The west and south elevations reveal
that this commercial building originated as a dwelling. In fact, historic photographs reveal that
the building was a brick I-house with rear ell with later Italianate influences. The west wall, now
partially obscured by advertising signs, reveals several filled windows and decorative eave
brackets. The south wall provides additional early details: windows, a door and eave brackets.
Pioneers of Martinsville, Dr. Hannibal R. Stevens and his wife Sarah Ann built the original I
house about 1847. It replaced a log cabin--the original Stevens home--on the same site. The I
house was home to Dr. and Mrs. Stevens and later their son John and his family. Following the
death of John's wife, Lucinda Hite Stevens, in 1913, the structure was vacated as a residence.
Within a short time, the house was remodelled into the present commercial building.
From approximately 1920-1965, a filling station was located on the vacant lot directly west of
the Stevens House." - Historic District Nomination Form