Lafayette Square Parlor Tour 2024

10 | Lafayette Square Parlor Tour | 2024 2 2150 Lafayette Jon Ritter & Hannah Krigman 2150 Lafayette is aVictorian Italianate home built in the late 1870’s by James Eads for one of his daughters. Eads was considered one of the pre-eminent 19th century American engineers. Eads had two homes built for each of his daughters in 1880, adjacent to each other but very different in styles.This home was built for Eliza and her husband James F. How. How was the son of former mayor John How andVP and Secretary of theWabash Railroad.Their son James grew up here and later became known for living among the homeless and championed himself as a leader.The elder How died in 1896, and Eliza moved in 1897 after the great tornado. The home was extensively damaged in the tornado of 1896, destroying much of the second and third floors.The home fell into the inevitable decline and became a boarding house, where it is said that as many as 18 people once lived at the same time. When the owner died in 1970, the house was almost sold to Shell Oil for demolition but it was instead purchased by a local resident who saved it.There were several partial renovations of varying success over the next 25 years.The house was abandoned and was sold by the city for $1 to prior owners in 1992. The current owners bought the home in 1996 and began restoration planning in 1999. Construction began in June 2002 and was completed in 2005.A garage was added in 2011. They lived in their home until 2011 when they moved to Minnesota, but they did not sell the house and they are thrilled to have moved back in 2014. This house is one of the largest examples of an Italianate home that survives in the city. Only about 20-25 Italianate homes with three stories exist today, with about a dozen in Lafayette Square. Notable exterior features include decorative cornices which have been rebuilt to exacting detail, as have both porches which were duplicated from photos of the home and salvaged pieces. Inside the home, a large walnut staircase dominates the foyer. It has been renovated and extended up to the third floor.The complete renovation of the home, down to the studs in many rooms, occurred from 2000 to 2005.All new windows, mechanical systems, floors and more were installed.A two story addition was added which included a new back stair, bath and breakfast room. Eight of the thirteen fireplaces were brought up to standard. Decorative plasterwork in the front hall is original.All of the fireplace mantels with the exception of the library mantel were somewhere in the house when it was purchased, and have been expertly refinished. Oak flooring on the top two floors was salvaged from a roller rink. Solar panels added to the flat roofs in 2023 now offset more than 100% of the electric use.