2021 unveiling of Hazelden Estate’s George Ade statue
Many who find themselves passing by the Brook, Indiana estate of prominent author and humorist George Ade likely don’t realize that the sprawling property began as little more than a quiet daydream of a humble country home.
In the earliest years of the 20th century, after walking away from a successful career at a Chicago newspaper and amassing a fortune in book royalties and Broadway playwriting credits, Ade returned to his home region of Newton County—where he had recently begun investing in local farmland. With help from his money-savvy brother, George soon owned a staggering 2,400 acres of rural Indiana land. One 417-acre section near the Iroquois River—where the Hazelden Estate now sits—immediately captured his imagination. The following plans for the property were made, revised, and reimagined as such:
“As the architect went to work on the project, he started suggesting improvements on the original idea; knowing George as well as he did, he thought there ought to be a few guest rooms. Ade agreed to [Billie] Mann’s suggestions, and by the time the planning was done, the cozy bungalow in Ade’s mind had become an Elizabethan mansion on the architect’s drawingboard, and the cost was about ten times the original figure. What George ended up with was an estate: There was a combination garage and stable, with sleeping rooms above for the coachman and gardener; a greenhouse; an English-style cow barn; a swimming pool, with an adjacent building providing dressing rooms and shower; a store-house for fuel; and a caretaker’s cottage that was only twice as large as the bungalow that George had had in mind for himself.”
– They’re Still Having Parties at George’s Place, Sheldon A. Mix
George Ade, as his architect and longtime friend from Purdue University well knew, was a host at heart. Whether through the humor in his writing or the comfort of his bountiful gatherings, George had a way of making the people in his world feel at home.
Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Calvin Coolidge walked the grounds of the Hazelden Estate. Children from surrounding counties delighted in Ade’s famous picnics—complete with magicians, monkeys, fireworks, and ascending balloons. The property was a place where artists, leaders, and everyday Hoosiers came together in celebration of creativity, civic life, and shared joy.
Now, nearing the centennial of George Ade’s passing, that legacy is coming back to life.
Thanks to a $100,000 Driving Home grant from the Jasper Newton Foundation, the Hazelden Estate Revitalization Project is entering its next chapter: the design and development of a new Visitor Welcome Center. The proposed space will include interactive displays, museum exhibits, and a research center—all aimed at opening Hazelden’s gates to a new generation of learners, families, and lovers of history. It’s the fourth phase of a multi-stage restoration effort rooted in community pride and forward-thinking preservation.
The new Welcome Center will bring Hazelden’s history to life. Visitors will be able to explore archival artifacts, learn about Ade’s literary works and philanthropic efforts, and connect with stories of perseverance, leadership, and regional culture. Rotating exhibits and guided experiences will highlight Indiana’s Golden Age of Literature, famous Hoosier figures like James Whitcomb Riley and Gene Stratton-Porter, the vibrant literary and political circles that once converged at Hazelden, and landmark moments from the region’s civic past.
But this isn’t just about preserving the past; it’s about shaping the future.
Hazelden’s revitalization will create dozens of opportunities for local students and families. With expanded educational programming, internships, and museum-based learning experiences, Hazelden will serve as a hands-on classroom for our region. Local schools will once again take field trips to the estate, and students will engage directly with history, literature, horticulture, and the arts. The project will even foster vocational training and technology integration—blending the past and present for lasting educational impact.
The revitalization is projected to support the creation of 28 new jobs, attract increased tourism, and deepen partnerships with nearby schools, organizations, and businesses. From event staff to caterers and research interns, Hazelden will provide new avenues for civic engagement and economic development in both Jasper and Newton Counties.
In every way, this project embodies what the Driving Home grant was built to support: a deep investment in place, legacy, and the everyday people who make our communities thrive. The Hazelden Estate is not merely a bridge to our region’s past but one that extends confidently into the future.
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