Major residences Gene Stratton-Porter

1 major residences

1.1 limberlost cabin (geneva, indiana)
1.2 cabin @ wildflower woods
1.3 california homes

major residences

in 1888 stratton-porter persuaded husband, charles, move family decatur geneva in adams county, indiana, closer businesses. purchased small home within walking distance of drugstore; however, when oil discovered on land, provided financial resources need build larger home. limberlost cabin @ geneva served stratton-porter s home 1895 1913. in 1912, profits made best-selling novels , successful writing career, stratton-porter purchased property along sylvan lake, near rome city in noble county, indiana, , built cabin @ wildflower woods estate, encompassed 120 acres (49 hectares). both of these properties preserved state historic sites.

stratton-porter moved southern california in 1919 , made year-round residence. purchased homes in hollywood , built vacation home named singing water on property on catalina island. floraves, lavish mountaintop estate in bel air, completed @ time of death in 1924, never lived in it.

limberlost cabin (geneva, indiana)


limberlost state historic site, western side

construction on two-story, 14-room, cedar-log queen anne-style rustic home in geneva began in 1894 , completed in 1895. porters named new home limberlost cabin in reference location near 13,000-acre (5,300-hectare) limberlost swamp, stratton-porter liked explore found inspiration writing. stratton-porter lived in cabin until 1913.

while residing in geneva, stratton-porter spent time exploring, observing nature, sketching, , making photographs @ limberlost swamp. began writing nature stories , books. nearby swamp setting 2 of popular novels, girl of limberlost (1909) , laddie (1913). in addition, swamp locale many of works of natural history. stratton-porter became known bird lady , lady of limberlost friends , readers.

between 1888 , 1910, area s wetlands around stratton-porter s home drained reclaim land agricultural development , limberlost swamp, along flora , fauna stratton-porter documented in books, destroyed. in 1912 purchased property new home @ sylvan lake in noble county, indiana. porters sold limberlost cabin in 1923. in 1947 limberlost conservation association of geneva donated state of indiana. designated limberlost state historic site, indiana state museum , historic sites operates site house museum. listed in national register of historic places in 1974.

cabin @ wildflower woods


gene s cabin @ wildflower woods present-day gene stratton-porter state historic site on sylvan lake in rome city, noble county, indiana.

after limberlost swamp drained , natural resources developed commercial purposes, stratton-porter sought alternate locations inspiration. purchased small home on north side of sylvan lake, near rome city, in noble county, indiana, summer home while looked property build new residence. in 1912 purchased lakeside property using own funds , designed , had new home built there in 1913. stratton-porter named new home cabin @ wildflower woods, called limberlost cabin because of similarity porters home in geneva. while sylvan lake home under construction, stratton-porter found time write laddie (1913), sixth novel. moved large, two-story, cedar-log cabin in february 1914; husband, charles, remained @ home in geneva, commuted lakeside property on weekends.

stratton-porter assisted in developing grounds of wildflower woods private wildlife sanctuary. natural setting provided privacy desired, @ least initially; however, fame attracted many unwanted visitors , trespassers. property s increasing lack of privacy 1 of reasons caused move california in 1919. stratton-porter offered sell property state of indiana in 1923 establish state nature preserve, representatives of state government did not respond. retained ownership of wildflower woods remainder of life. scenes movie based on stratton-porter s book, harvester, filmed there in 1927.

in 1940 gene stratton-porter association purchased wildflower woods stratton-porter s daughter, jeannette porter meehan; in 1946 association donated 13-acre (5.3-hectare) property state of indiana, including cabin, formal gardens, orchard, , pond. designated gene stratton-porter state historic site, present-day 125-acre (51-hectare) property, including 20 acres (8.1 hectares) part of original purchase, operated indiana state museum , historic sites , open public. property listed on national register of historic places in 1974. in addition cabin, guests can explore one-acre formal garden, wooded paths, , 99-acre (40-hectare) wetland , prairie undergoing restoration. gene stratton-porter state historic site supported gene stratton-porter memorial society, inc.

california homes

lack of privacy @ home on sylvan lake in indiana among reasons stratton-porter s move california. arrived in southern california in fall of 1919, intending spend winter months there, enjoyed decided make year-round home. stratton-porter enjoyed active social life in los angeles area, made new friends, began publish poetry, , continued write novels , magazine articles. in 1924 established own film production company.

stratton-porter purchased small home between second , third streets in hollywood, not far stratton relatives lived. (stratton-porter s sister, catherine, , 2 of stratton-porter s nieces living in southern california when moved there. brother, jerome, , wife later retired nearby.) in 1920, when stratton-porter s divorced daughter, jeannette, , stratton-porter s 2 granddaughters relocated california live her, purchased larger home @ corner of serrano , fourth street, while charles remained @ geneva, still active in town s bank. after porters sold limberlost cabin in 1923, stayed @ geneva boardinghouse when not traveling.

in 1924 stratton-porter purchased 2 lots on catalina island build 14-room vacation retreat. grounds of 5-acre (2.0-hectare) property included fountain constructed of local stone , seashells. stratton-porter moved wildlife haven in june 1924 , named singing water because of sounds emitting elaborate fountain. completed last novel, keeper of bees (1925) @ catalina island in 1924.

by march 1924 stratton-porter had selected site estate home in southern california in undeveloped area west of present-day beverly hills became bel air. stratton-porter first build residence there. 22-room, english tudor-style mansion included approximately 11,000 square feet (1,000 m) of living space , set on small mountaintop. property included 4-car garage servants quarters above it, greenhouse, outdoor ponds, , tennis court. stratton-porter named estate floraves flora (meaning flowers) , aves (meaning birds). died on december 6, 1924, few weeks before home completed. daughter, jeannette, sole heir of mother s estate.