For those looking for a little different angle in their agricultural collecting hobby, head to Wabash, Ind., to stay at the bed-and-breakfast Herrold on Hill and tour the Dr. James Ford Historical Home.

 

Herrold on Hill is a beautiful B&B with an agricultural past. At one time, one of the largest grapevines that had a huge 54- inch diameter almost covered the house, built by Clarkson and Anna Weesner in 1895. Starting out as a country teacher and farmer, in 1863 Clarkson was appointed deputy treasurer

of Wabash County. In 1870, he was admitted to the bar. Six years later he was chosen mayor, then in 1878 he was elected clerk of the Circuit Court, where he served until 1887.

Clarkson and another early founder of Wabash have parallel histories in many ways. While Weesner built the home that later became Herrold on Hill B&B, William Talbert built another house just a few blocks away, which is now the B&B The Red House.

What is interesting is that the two later traded homes. After the Weesners moved out of Herrold on Hill, William and Mary Talbert moved in. William also had agricultural ties; he was involved in the international horse-trading business.

Later, he served as president for Citizens Savings and Trust Co. in Wabash. Today, Herrold on Hill is owned by Mike and Allison Herrold and is run by Allison’s parents, Alan and Sandy Jachinski. The name Herrold on Hill has three meanings: Herrold for Mike’s name, and the inn is both located on Hill Street and sits on a hill. When staying at the house, visitors can view pictures of its restoration and history. Mike has been acquainted with the house for a long time. The Jachinskis explained his family lived here and had a B&B. Mike and his mom had the house until 1999, when they sold it to a doctor.

When the doctor learned he was outside of the hospital jurisdiction, he had to sell. Then, when the property came up for sale again four or five years ago, Sandy said the kids wanted to buy it and have her and Alan run it as a B&B.

After retiring from a small aerospace company, the timing was good for the Jachinskis, who enjoy entertaining and sharing the agricultural history of the area. Sandy said, “We brought our art  and antiques, a few pieces of furniture came with the house.”

They have a wonderful combination with their cool mix of antiques and art, then the house tops it off with the lovely Neo-Jacobean style. The mansion was finished in 1885.

The town of Wabash has several interesting things to draw visitors, from the Honeywell Center, where big names perform, to the James Ford house, home of a Civil War surgeon with his own agricultural link.

Railroads and canals put the town on the map, but it is most famous as the first city in the world to be electrically lighted.

Visitors can view the lamp that lighted the courthouse in 1880 inside the county courthouse today.

The Ford house is part of Honeywell Foundation, a public charity whose mission is to provide artistic, cultural, social and recreational opportunities for all. The Honeywell Center is the home of the foundation and features a 1,500-seat theater, art gallery, banquet facilities and restaurant.

 

Michele Hughes, manager of the Ford Historic Home, said James and his wife, America Holton Ford, were among the first 24 families to arrive in Wabash. “Dr. Ford visited in 1838 and he liked the area and moved here in 1841,” she explained. “They bought three plots of land and started a one-room brick house.” As their family expanded, they added to their home over the next 35 years.

Besides being a doctor and surgeon, James was also an amateur architect, pharmacist, writer, agronomist and inventor. He also invented a grain drill. He was a large-scale farmer, working 300 acres in Wabash County and 540 acres in Blackford County.

In 1854 the grain drill he invented was patented; however, while he was serving in the Civil War, his invention was copied, so he never gained any income from this agricultural endeavor.

During his second tour of duty in the Civil War, James contracted malaria. While at home recuperating, he served as the unpaid editor of the Wabash Plain Dealer. “He opened a nursery here and also did land surveying. He helped Northwestern Christian University (Butler University today) get started and served as the architect for the Wabash Christian Church,” Michele added.

There is a nice collection of tools in the carriage house, along with a replica of the doctor’s faithful traveling companion, his horse Barney. Log onto www.drfordhome.org for more information. And, for more information about Herrold on Hill, visit www.herroldonhill.com

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication. Learn more of Cindy’s finds and travel in her blog, “Traveling Adventures of a Farm Girl,” at http://travelingadventuresofafarmgirl.com