Dr. Havilah Beardsley House

The Dr. Havilah Beardsley House is a brick building with classical Italianate features located in Elkhart. The facade is dominated by fluted columns supporting a full-width porch, and it displays characteristic rounded openings with decorative brackets throughout.

The house was built in 1848 by Dr. Havilah Beardsley, the founder of Elkhart who developed the city. In 2000, the building received National Register of Historic Places designation in recognition of its architectural importance.

The house reflects the building style and design choices that middle-class families in 19th century Indiana preferred. The architecture shows local tastes and construction techniques that were typical of the period.

The building is located on West Beardsley Avenue and is part of the Beardsley Avenue Historic District in Elkhart. The area offers good walkability and pedestrian access to the house and other historic structures in the neighborhood.

The house preserves its original roof with medium pitch and gables, displaying the building's initial form. Later, one-story flat-roofed wings were added on both sides, showing how the structure adapted to changing needs over time.