2010 Conservator's Holiday

The Switzerland County Historical Society

        Organized in 1925, Switzerland County has one of the oldest of Indiana’s county historical societies. The historical society owns and operates two museums and is developing a third site. The Switzerland County Historical Museum has been located in the former Presbyterian Church since 1970. The “Life on the Ohio” River History Museum is located in an adjacent building, formerly the parsonage for the church, and opened in 2004. The society is now developing an Agriculture Museum Center, with a hay press barn as the focal attraction.

Jeffris Family Foundation - Capital Campaign Challenge

The Thiebaud house restoration has begun!

         If you have recently traveled along State Route 56 west of Vevay, you have probably noticed the major changes taking place at the developing Agriculture Museum Center. The successful capital campaign stimulated by the Jeffris Family Foundation challenge grant which was met by generous contributions from local foundations, organizations and individuals has moved the project forward.
The two-story frame Greek Revival house built by Justi and Mary Thiebaud for their family of 10 children was built in the late 1850s. The house will be restored to reflect life up to 1865.
The 20th century renovations have been removed from the house. The vinyl siding from the east and west sides of the house have been removed, as well as the wood siding on the front of the house. Before the new clapboard siding, custom cut to the same size as the original siding is nailed into place, polyurethane closed cell spray foam insulation will be applied. While contemporary improvements to heat and air-condition will be utilized to transform the house into a museum where conservation of the building and artifacts will be of major consideration, what meets the eye will represent the time when the Thiebaud family ran their family farm made successful by the income generated by their hay press barn.
Another major 20th century change to the house was the enclosure of the space between the detached stone constructed kitchen and the two-story frame house. This area is being returned to an open porch that will connect the two structures.
Guided by the Historic Structures Report prepared by the Center for Historic Preservation at Ball State University, Herschel Brichto and Erjo Construction will bring the house that has stood vacant for over twenty years back to life. Their careful attention to detail has revealed many clues that are guiding the restoration.
The most dramatic discovery is a below ground level walkway entrance into the cellar. What originally looked to be steps that had been filled in with dirt after constructing a wall to close the cellar entrance, has turned out to be a still intact, below grade entrance with a stone wall on both sides serving as retaining walls. The five foot deep walkway has been dugout about ten feet from the house so far.
Erjo Construction has removed the eight to ten inch thick concrete floor from the kitchen, revealing the hearth stones that show the placement where the fireplace once stood. This matches up to the ceiling opening previously revealed when the contemporary ceiling was removed by volunteers during a Conservator’s Holiday event.
The restoration project is being carefully documented through photographs and accompanying narratives. The Thiebaud farmstead is not open to visitors during construction. However, the October 3rd meeting of the historical society will be held at the site and will also be open to the many contributors to the project.

   
            The capital campaign for the farmstead is still on-going. While we met our goal for the restoration of the Thiebaud house, we are continuing to raise funds for the restoration of the hay press barn. Contributions can be mailed to the Switzerland County Historical Society, PO Box 201, Vevay, IN 47043 or dropped off at the museum at 208 East Market Street in Vevay, open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Visit our display that demonstrates how a hay press works and details the plans for the Agriculture Museum Center.