Raub House
| Dates: | 1861 |
| Location: | 800 S., west of S. Raub, Wea Twp., Tippecanoe County, Indiana |
This imposing Italianate house sits just west of the village of South Raub (also called Raub Station), on Tippecanoe County Road 800 S., just off U.S. 231. The house was built for the Raub family in 1861 and was for many years a prominent residence in this part of the county. Its exterior features a patterned slate roof (still in place) and fine carpentry work in the cornice and porches. The huge limestone front steps remain in place, split down the center. The house was occupied until around the 1940s-1950s. In the 1950s the farm was acquired by new owners who occupied part of the house briefly before building a new ranch house next door. The house was closed and maintained for several years before it was allowed to deteriorate.
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| Front (south) facade | Drawing based on a 1947 photograph of the house |
The first floor contains a large parlor or drawing room which is said to have been known as the "Gold Room" due to its gilded plaster ceiling medallion. The ceiling has an unusual cloudy effect to its surface which may be the result of many years of burning kerosene lamps. This room is located to the east of the front hall, with what appear to have been a sitting room and a dining room to the west of the hall. Behind these rooms was the kitchen and service area.
The present owner allowed me to photograph the house but does not let visitors go into the building. All interior views were taken through broken windows. The front porch has almost completely disappeared and the back porch is gone as well. The house is engulfed in a net of massive poison ivy vines, some several inches in diameter. Two rooms on the west side of the house are used for hay bale storage, accessed by the broken-out windows on that side. I was informed that the owners have no intention of selling the house.
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| October, 2001, Raub house in context from near South Raub | A closer view of the Raub house from the southeast |
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| View from the northeast | West side of house, note grade has been lowered for driveway between this house and the newer ranch house |
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| View of front porch, note large poison ivy vines | View in front hall from door |
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| Another view of the main hall, door to "Gold Room" at right, door to back porch at center | View of the "Gold Room" facing north |
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| Ceiling of the "Gold Room," note ceiling medallion and plaster mouldings | Detail of plaster mouldings on ceiling of "Gold Room" |
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| Window of the "Gold Room" with poison ivy |