The Mission Revival Main Street building, unique in its architecture, at least for Vincennes, was located at 513 Main between 5th and 6th avenues and is now the Hart Bell, It houses an LLC law firm. .
It was built in 1883 as a private residence. Local architect John Gaddis first designed the Italianate house. It wasn’t until 1920 that the Knights of Columbus converted the building into their home, giving it its later appearance.
Vincennes Council No. 712, Knights of Columbus, is a Catholic fraternal service order, founded on January 25, 1903, by 48 charter members. The new council’s first task was to find a permanent meeting place. At the time, it was common for organizations of all types to cluster together in the upper echelons of existing companies. C’s first meeting with K was on the third floor of the Bayard Building on the corner of Third and Main Streets. The location was sufficient for many years until January 1911 when the Knights organized the Columbus Society, which was formed for the purpose of building housing. The shares were sold to C member K and a construction fund was established. A winter carnival was held in February to raise money for the foundation.
At the end of 1911, K. of C. moved to a new location. Arrangements were made with Hermann Welker for the Knights to use the third floor of the Welker Building at 418 Main Street as a meeting place. Their first meeting was held there on January 2, 1912. Still, the search for a more permanent home continued.
On July 2, 1915, the Knights of Columbus selected a 20-day option for Major William Penn Gould’s property on Main Street. The two-story brick house was later owned by the Vincennes YMCA. Gould was a great supporter of the YMCA and bequeathed his fortune to the organization. On July 24, the Knights paid $15,000 to sign a contract for the property, but the group had no immediate plans to move in and was considering the purchase primarily as an investment. At the time, there was no money to renovate the building.
After World War I, a building committee began considering many other residential sites in the city and ultimately decided to renovate the Main Street house they already owned. At this time, the house was renovated in the then-current Mission Revival style at a cost of $18,000 by local architect John B. Bayard and contractor John Keller.
When the renovation was completed, the house had a mansard roof and the exterior was stucco with green terra cotta trim.
Once inside, there was a reading room, a billiards room on the left, and a card room on the right. At the center rear of the first floor was a mock shop, lunch room, and counter. To the right was the coat room and toilet, and to the left was the hallway, toilet, and stairs to the basement and second floor.
The lodge’s rooms were on the second floor and featured hardwood maple floors, 15-foot ceilings, and 10 giant windows. At the back of the lodge room was the kitchen, and to the right of it was the women’s cloakroom, toilet, and hall. To the rear left was a storage room and a staircase landing. There would be space for outdoor activities at the back of the building, and flowers would be planted at the front. In 1920, the Knights of Columbus had 532 members.
Grand opening activities took place in May and early June of 1920. The building opened to the public on May 14th, followed by a members-only unveiling ceremony on Sunday, May 16th. The home was dedicated by the Rev. John Boettcher of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A formal opening for members only was held on May 18th, accompanied by a social gathering. Finally, on June 2, a lawn festival was held on the grounds for members and their families.
The Main Street building remained the home of the Knights of Columbus for the next 60 years. In 1980, the organization moved to a new $175,000 home on Felt King Road. In late 1984, after extensive renovations, the law firm of Hart, Bell, Deem, Ewing & Stuckey moved into the former K. of C. building. The firm, now known as Hart Bell Lawyers, remains at that location.
— Brian Spangle can be reached at brianrspangle60@outlook.com. His most recent book, “Lost Vincennes,” is published by The History Press and is available at the Knox County Public Library and Amazon.
