Hazelden Estate Revitalization

Certain ideas have a way of starting small and then, over time and with a little help, growing into something more interesting and vibrant than anyone could have imagined. Surely legendary Hoosier writer George Ade would agree. Ade himself had the idea to try his hand at newspaper reporting in Lafayette after finishing college at Purdue in 1887. Soon he would get a better job in Chicago, but when Ade was growing up in Kentland, he probably did not predict that he would become a syndicated newspaper columnist, Broadway playwright, and celebrated American author whose talent and popular appeal would be regarded with the likes of Mark Twain.

There’s a similar theme at play in the story about the modest home Ade wanted to build. By the turn of the 20th century, Ade had amassed great success and wealth from his published works and plays, and after many years away, he wanted to have a place to live and entertain friends near his hometown in Newton County. Ade told his architect, Billy Mann, who was also his Sigma Chi fraternity brother, that he wanted a “summer cottage.” But thanks to the vision of Mann and Ade’s brother, William, who purchased 417 acres of land along the Iroquois River near Brook on George’s behalf, the summer cottage turned into a 14-room country manor built in the Tudor Revival style. “Hazelden,” Ade named it, after his grandparents’ home in England.

But that was just the beginning of Hazelden’s rich story. Now, more than 120 years after its construction, Hazelden is getting another exciting chapter, thanks to the imagination and hard work of the Newton County community. And the effort is not just about preserving a place because of its past; it’s about making Hazelden a catalyst for a prosperous future.

The Hazelden Estate has served a variety of functions throughout its history. In addition to the house, the property encompassed landscaped grounds, a swimming pool, and other outbuildings, including a greenhouse, barn, and caretaker’s cottage. Ade also added a golf course and country club to Hazelden during his lifetime.

After Ade’s death in 1944, the estate would go on to have several iterations of owners, both private and public. Though Hazelden was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and its upkeep was important to many groups and individuals, sustaining the house and its grounds would prove to be an ongoing challenge.

In 2017, a group of Newton County leaders began to re-form an organization to oversee Hazelden and its historical legacy. Over the next several years, the George Ade Historic Preservation Commission (established in December 2018) brought together expertise and funding from a variety of sources to launch a major initiative to restore—and reimagine—this beloved Newton County landmark. With a successful crowdfunding campaign that earned a matching grant from the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA) in summer 2022, the Hazelden Estate Revitalization project took off.

When the project is completed, the Estate will be home to four main attractions: The George Ade Museum, which will provide access to historical artifacts and hands-on learning activities; The Gardens, a greenspace for gatherings, education, and events; The Carriage House, a flexible venue and community space for meetings and seasonal activities; and The Newton County Visitors Center, which will connect residents and tourists with activities and destinations throughout the county. These entities will provide a wealth of services, experiences, and opportunities for Newton County residents, as well as add to the appeal of Newton County as a destination for travelers.

The Hazelden Estate Revitalization project has three main goals, as outlined by the George Ade Historic Preservation Commission: To preserve the history and legacy of George Ade; to promote community involvement and education; and ultimately, to achieve estate sustainability.

These goals speak directly to a great many Driving Home objectives, including those focused on services and amenities for kids and families and the ongoing creation of a healthy, vibrant, and prosperous community for all:

Life – Vibrant Community

Family – Kids & Families

Work – Prosperous Community

Health – Quality Life

A deep investment in place like the Hazelden Estate Revitalization project is not possible without partners who are committed for the long haul. In addition to the private funds raised within the Newton County community and the matching grant from IHCDA, project funding has also come from Newton County, Washington and Iroquois Townships, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Indiana Landmarks, Purdue University, and the Indiana Society of Chicago, an organization George Ade co-founded in 1905. Jasper Newton Foundation was proud to award the project a Driving Home Grant of $100,000 in 2025.

The success of a project of this scale and depth depends heavily on the work of local individuals and organizations. Newton County Historical Society, Newton County Commissioners, and Newton County Libraries have worked alongside the George Ade Historic Preservation Commission to make the shared vision of the Hazelden Estate come to life—with more possibilities and more impact than any one person could have imagined.