William Read Home in the late 1800's ? 

The William Read Home was built in approximately 1850.  The home owner had started his business just down the hill by the river and a small stream inlet. His stone cutting operation used a dam upstream to hold water and power his mill operation. The mill site has ruins of this operation built in conjunction with a newly constructed model of the original mill, the   Vinegar Mill  . 

Building materials for this pioneer home were harvested and manufactured primarily in the vicinity. Foundation stones and widow sills were quarried at the Vinegar Mill. Native trees of oak and tulip were used for structural framework and flooring. The bricks for the building were baked on the property as well. The brick pattern for this home is very unique. The gable-front house was built in the Greek Revival style.

Muscatatuck State Park in 1923

Shortly after the Vinegar Mills State Park was created in 1921, the state adopted the William Read Home as the state park inn. The state park inn was the focal point of this small state facility and many reports boast of the excellent home style cooked meals served in this facility. Although small, the building sold the air of elegance as a leisure lifestyle developed in our country.  Relaxing on the lawn at the inn or taking a short hike down to the Vinegar Mill and the Muscatatuck River was living the good life in the 1930's

The upstairs to the William Read Home had four rooms and a small bathroom used by all four rooms. Behind the Muscatatuck State Park Inn sat three cabins. The dining room would also cater to these occupants. The state dropped the inn services in 1954. Sometime during the Inn's life the public began referring to the building as the "Red Brick Inn".

William Read Home in the Early 1900's

Sometime in the early seventies the William Read Home began being used by the senior citizens of Jennings. The building was dubbed "the Red Brick Senior Center". The senior group was instrumental in the upkeep of this building. In the late 1980's North Vernon developed a new senior center as the elderly population began increasing considerably. The red brick still remained a senior center, yet its activities were decreased. Seniors still use the facility every Saturday evening for their weekly  card party.

William Read Home in 2000

In 1998 the Tourism Department and the Parks Department forged a example setting partnership in adopting the William Read Home as the Jennings County Visitor Center. There were many  economic and organizational benefits in this cooperative arrangement. The out of town visitor seeking information is also given a pleasant on site experience being on the grounds of the Muscatatuck Park.

Many upgrades have been made to the William Read Home in the last five years. Both the upstairs and down stairs have been totally redone. Last year the park did the painstaking upstairs renovation to the building. This portion of the facility had had minimal use over the last 30 years. The last evidence of use were receipts from 1972. The park removed 6 or 7 layers of paint over the flooring and restored the floor exposing the 1850 milled tulip popular original. 

The William Read Home is a Jennings County original and can be toured during regular business hours.

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