Grant County Indiana has 19 places on the National Register of Historic Places including 1 place of National significance and 2 places of Statewide significance. Significant places include Webster, George, Jr. and Marie Daugherty, House, Cumberland Covered Bridge and Woodside, Baldwin Addition Historic District and Fairmount Commercial Historic District.
Several famous people are associated with these Grant County historic places including Marie Daugherty Webster, J. W. Patterson, John L. Thompson and J. Woodrow Wilson.
Some of the country's most noteable architects helped create the Grant County places including Frank Lloyd Wright, Smith Bridge Company, Alan Davidson, John H. Waldron, Samuel M. Plato, Philip Patton, Richards,McCarty,Bulford, Richards, McCarty, and Bulford, Peters & Burns and Elijiah Myers. Prominent architectural styles found in Grant Country are Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Greek Revival.
Historic Significance:
Person, Event
Historic Person:
Webster,Marie Daugherty,et al.
Significant Year:
1915, 1921, 1911
Area of Significance:
Social History, Art
Period of Significance:
1925-1949, 1900-1924
Historic Function:
Commerce/Trade, Domestic
Historic Sub-function:
Business, Single Dwelling
Current Function:
Vacant/Not In Use
The George Webster, Jr. and Marie Daugherty House, located at 926 South Washington Street in Marion, Indiana, is a stately two-and-a-half-story Classical Revival-style residence constructed between 1911 and 1912. Designed by the pioneering African American architect and builder Samuel L. Plato, the house stands as one of the finest examples of classical residential architecture in Grant County. Its commanding facade is defined by a monumental, two-story portico supported by massive fluted Corinthian columns, a detailed pediment, and a grand entry flanked by elegant leaded-glass sidelights. Built with high-quality yellow brick and limestone trim, the home's symmetrical composition and refined craftsmanship reflect both the prosperity of Marion during the Indiana gas boom era and Plato's exceptional design skills at a time when Black architects faced immense professional barriers.
Beyond its architectural merit, the property holds immense national significance for its association with Marie Daugherty Webster, a brilliant entrepreneur, designer, and author who revolutionized the American quilting revival of the early 20th century. While living in this home, Marie Webster designed highly influential, modern floral quilt patterns that departed from traditional Victorian designs, characterized instead by pastel colors and clean, applique-driven layouts. In 1915, she authored Quilts: Their Story and How to Make Them, the first comprehensive history of quilting ever published. She also ran her highly successful mail-order business, the Practical Patchwork Company, directly from this residence. Consequently, the house stands as a dual monument to the trailblazing architectural legacy of Samuel Plato and the pioneering artistic and business achievements of Marie Webster.