Historic House Damaged by Heavy Rains: Boone County Historical Society Acts Swiftly
Lebanon, IN - On May 14th and 15th, the historic Cragun House, managed by the Boone County Historical Society, sustained significant water damage
due to heavy rainfall.Flooding caused water to seep into the structure and carpets, threatening the integrity of this important site.
The Historical Society responded promptly,contacting a professional remediation company.
Industrial-grade fans and dehumidifiers were brought in,and several gallons of water were vacuumed from the carpets
Despite these efforts, extensive repairs are needed. As a result, tours and rentals of the house are suspended until the
work is completed to ensure preservation and visitor safety.
"This is a heartbreaking situation for all of us," said Jane Hammock, President of the Historical Society.
"We are committed to restoring this historic treasure as quickly as possible."
Built in 1893, the Cragun House is a key piece of Boone County's heritage, frequently visited by tourists and rented for special events.
Press Release submitted May 2024 by President Jane Hammock
Lebanon, IN - On May 14th and 15th, the historic Cragun House, managed by the Boone County Historical Society, sustained significant water damage
due to heavy rainfall.Flooding caused water to seep into the structure and carpets, threatening the integrity of this important site.
The Historical Society responded promptly,contacting a professional remediation company.
Industrial-grade fans and dehumidifiers were brought in,and several gallons of water were vacuumed from the carpets
Despite these efforts, extensive repairs are needed. As a result, tours and rentals of the house are suspended until the
work is completed to ensure preservation and visitor safety.
"This is a heartbreaking situation for all of us," said Jane Hammock, President of the Historical Society.
"We are committed to restoring this historic treasure as quickly as possible."
Built in 1893, the Cragun House is a key piece of Boone County's heritage, frequently visited by tourists and rented for special events.
Press Release submitted May 2024 by President Jane Hammock
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BCHS Quilt wins another Blue Ribbon at the
2024 Boone County 4-H fair! For another year running, one of the society's historic quilts was entered in the antique quilt division at the Boone County Extension Homemakers’ Open Show, 2024 and brought home a blue Championship ribbon. Jane Hammock, President of the Boone County Historical Society entered the historic quilt. This one like many of the society's collection was made by the Booher sisters in the late 1880s. It is a Pinwheel design, green and red with 2" and 1/2" borders. This magnificent quilt was found in the Cragun house along with others when the house was transferred to the historical society in 1983 by the Cragun family. The quilt is in pristine condition and is registered with Indiana Quilt Registry. |
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The Indiana Quilters Trail Shop Hop 2024 was a success! Thank you to everyone that stopped by our beloved Cragun House to see the 30+ Cragun Quilt Collection that were all hand pieced, many quilted by the Booher sisters - Adelaide (Cragun), Emma, Margaret, Minnie and Martha - in the upstairs turret room. We love showing off our quilts! |
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Drunkard's Path
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BCHS Quilt wins a Blue Ribbon at the 2023 Boone County 4-H fair!
The Boone County Historical Society is the proud owner of the Cragun Quilt Collection. This collection of 30+ quilts was all hand pieced and quilted by the Booher sisters. When Adelaide Booher Cragun moved into the current Cragun house (1893) at 404 West Main Street in Lebanon, the upstairs turret room became the sewing room. Her sisters, Emma, Margaret, Minnie and Martha, often came to this room and quilted. There were still newspaper pattern pieces and cotton fabric pieces in the room, ready for quilting, when BCHS received the home. This particular quilt, Drunkard’s Path, is a difficult pattern to piece and quilt due to the curved path. This quilt was done in the colors of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, blue and white. These quilts were completed by women to show support for the cause and were often auctioned to raise funds. In the words of the 4-H judge, “ Quilt is in remarkable condition, although there is a lot of fading. The circular stitching is well done. Quilting stitches are even and very well done. The scalloped edge is complementary and well exacted. I wish the teal fabric had not faded, but this quilt has been well maintained.” The quilt features the path in blue and grey. The three borders are white and blue with the outer border being white with a scalloped edge. The outer binding is blue. Even with fading, the exquisiteness of this hand pieced quilt, over a hundred years old, is evident. Amazingly it lives in the exact location where it was made, and stitched by the owner of the home. It is special indeed, well deserving of the champion ribbon in the antique quilt division at the Boone County Extension Homemakers’ Open Show, 2023 Make an appointment today to view the incredible collection of antique quilts housed at the Cragun House. Call the message line at 765-483-9414 or email: [email protected] |
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The Cragun House was absolutely beautiful all decked out in it's holiday finery! We were so proud to show off at the 2023 Cragun House Christmas |
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Ghost Hunts and Tours?
Have you been to any of the Cragun House Ghost Hunts and Tours? We are proud to have partnered with unseenpress.com, Inc. Watch for upcoming dates! Unseenpress.com, Inc. is dedicated to bringing information about ghosts to the public. Their tours educate and entertain about Indiana's history and folklore. This developed from their deep appreciation of our Hoosier home and the history and stories told by it's residents and others from today and days past. It is their goal to promote ghost research as a source of folklore and also as a viable scientific area of study. They invite you to have a look at their ever growing site. Unseenpress.com, Inc. was created with paranormal enthusiasts in mind and strives to make the paranormal market more mainstream. These approximately quarterly events are fun and interesting with lots of Cragun House history thrown in. Visit us on Facebook or frequent unseenpress.com for upcoming events. |
Photo by unseenpress.com. View into parlor.
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Be a part of "So what's happening?"
Have your next small event - bridal shower, small wedding, baby shower, birthday party, or business meeting at the Cragun House! Or take a tour! Most recently tours were a part of our very successful Christmas at the Cragun House event. In mid January we hosted a wonderful group of home schooled children. |