James Whitcomb Riley, born 1849 in Greenfield, Indiana, made his living writing poetry (Little Orphan Annie being one of his most well known) and stories. He even toured nationwide with Mark Twain, performing at Madison Square Gardens in NYC.
In 1911 Riley donated land for the new Public Library in downtown Indianapolis.
Mr. Riley is buried at the highest point of Crown Hill Cemetary, dying in 1916 after suffering a massive stroke.
The Riley Home is open for tours, at a cost of $4 per adult. Points of interest in the house include:
*Weighted gas lights throughout the house, many with "smoke bells"
*A rose glass window at floor level on the 2nd floor stair landing, allowing the housekeeper to see who was at the side door (the door reserved for non-family or friends, such as salesmen)
*Beautiful Butternut woodwork and doors in the front of the home
*Wainscoting in the formal dining room that looks like carved wood, or tooled leather, or really anything other than the pressed parchment paper it actually is (called Lincrustia)
*Little porcelain 'cups' embedded in the walls that were blown into - emitting a whistle - to alert household staff when they were needed. The air blown in moved tags which indicated where in the house / to whom they should go to offer assistance
The Lockerbie neighborhood is worth a drive by, and the home is on a lovely cobbled street. Very enjoyable outing.
phone: 317.631.5885
528 Lockerbie Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
