This year’s Red Power Roundup at the LaPorte County Fairgrounds was a chance to see a lot of International Harvester tractors. Although many visitors were there for only the Farmall red, some ventured a ways to Michigan City, Ind., to see the beautiful Barker Mansion.

The Barker mansion has its agricultural roots in two ways. The first is the connection to John Barker Sr., grandfather to the man who built the house. Barker Sr. arrived in Michigan City in 1836 from Andover, Mass. As a young man and general merchant, he worked with the many boats that traveled the Great Lakes.

While he made his money in grain and the shipping industry, it would be his son who would expand the fortune when he became involved in the railcar industry.

Barker Sr.’s son, John H. Barker, built the Barker mansion and bought an interest in a small car manufacturing plant in 1855. The company became known as the Haskell & Barker Car Co. Its website explains: “Due to government contracts, business prospered even during the Civil War years and came to be an important factor in the city’s growth.

“In 1869, (Barker Sr.) retired and his son, abandoning a successful business in Chicago, became general manager of the company. Thus a favorable economic environment and an inherited keen sense of business opportunity helped make possible the phenomenal success which John H. Barker enjoyed after becoming president of his father’s company in 1883.

“In the ensuing years, the factory grew to have a possible annual output of 15,000 cars, and the accumulated estate grew to an estimated $50 million to $60 million by 1910. In 1922 Haskell & Barker merged with the Pullman Co., and is now known as Pullman-Standard, a division of Pullman, Inc.”

John’s first wife and three infant children passed away and after marrying a second time, he had one daughter, Catherine, in 1896. Deciding to enlarge his existing house located at 631 Washington Street, he expanded the home to create what looks like the English manor house he used as a guide.

Completed in 1904, the turn-of-the-century style is filled with furniture and art objects purchased by Mrs. Barker from New York collectors. The home consists of 38 rooms, seven fireplaces and 10 bathrooms. The house also sports a beautiful sunken garden.
Sadly, the Barker family only lived together in the home for five years. Mrs. Barker died on May 24, 1910, and in December of that same year John died of pneumonia, leaving Catherine an orphan at the age of 14. After marrying Charles V. Hickox but not residing at the house, she shared the home with Purdue University for a study center; then, eventually presented it to the city.

Through her generous contributions a foundation maintains the house and it is open to the public. Call 219-873-1520 or log onto www.michigancity.com/BarkerMansion/BarkerMansion for details.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.