History of The Mansion

In the year 1814, John Barker was born in Andover, Massachusetts, destined to leave an indelible mark on the landscape of Michigan City. Before John moved to Michigan City, the land that would become Michigan City was purchased by Major Isaac C. Elston in 1830. Six years later, the town was officially incorporated. At the age of 22, John arrived in Michigan City, ready to forge his path as a general merchant and later expand into grain brokerage.

In 1841, John Barker married Cordelia E. Collamer, a woman from Sandy Hill, New York. Their union blossomed at Trinity Church on Franklin Street, where they began a family that would grow to include their son, John Henry Barker, born in 1844.

In 1855, John made a significant investment in a small freight car manufacturing company, which soon transformed into the Haskell & Barker Car Company. This venture would play a crucial role in shaping the American railroad industry. As a result of his success, John Barker built The Barker Mansion in 1857.

As the Civil War raged from 1861 to 1865, Haskell & Barker Car Company thrived under government contracts, producing essential freight cars for Union troops. In 1869, John Barker retired, passing the reins to his son John H. Barker, who took over as general manager of the company. Under his leadership, the factory produced two train cars per day, marking a period of prosperity.

In 1873, tragedy struck the Barker family. John H. and his wife Eugenia Brooks welcomed three children, all of whom sadly passed away in childhood. To commemorate their memory, Barker Hall was built in 1886.

The year 1878 marked the passing of John Barker, leaving behind a legacy that his family would continue to nurture. By 1883, John H. assumed the presidency of Haskell & Barker Car Company, overseeing its growth to an annual output of 1,000 freight cars.

Circa 1890, the first renovation of The Barker Mansion began, completing in 1899 with significant expansions, including a larger dining room. However, personal loss continued to shadow the family; Eugenia passed away in 1891, leaving John H. to navigate life as a widower.

In 1893, John H. found love again with Katherine Fitzgerald, a teacher from Manchester, New Hampshire. They had a daughter named Catherine in 1896. The family continued to thrive; by 1905, they commissioned prominent architect Frederick Wainwright Perkins to further renovate the mansion. The project expanded the house to an impressive 35,000 square feet with numerous rooms and amenities.

By 1907, Haskell & Barker Car Company had grown into one of Indiana’s largest factories and employers. However, this success was not without heartache; Katherine passed away in 1910 at just 43 years old. Later that year, John H. himself passed away at age 66, leaving their daughter Catherine an orphan and one of the wealthiest young heiresses in the world.

In 1915, Catherine married Howard Henry Spaulding Jr., but their marriage ended in divorce by 1928. She sold Haskell & Barker Car Company to a group of investors and later established the Barker Annuity Fund in 1924 to support workers affected by the company’s changes—an innovative move that created one of the first pension funds funded by a private individual in the United States.

Catherine married Charles V. Hickox in 1930 and together they had four children. Tragedy struck again with the loss of twin boys in infancy. Despite these hardships, Catherine’s philanthropic spirit thrived; she founded the Barker Welfare Foundation in 1934 to support non-profit organizations and uphold her family’s legacy.

In 1949, Catherine Barker donated The Barker Mansion to Purdue University for their satellite campus until it returned to the Barker family in 1968. Catherine extended its use as a museum and civic center, and oversaw its restoration to reflect its early 20th-century grandeur.

Catherine passed away in 1970 at age 74 from emphysema. Her contributions and vision for The Barker Mansion ensured its place in history; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In 2014, the surrounding area became known as the Haskell & Barker National Historic District.

Today, The Barker Mansion stands as a testament to the Barker family’s rich history and enduring legacy within Michigan City and beyond. With over 90% of its interior remaining original, it continues to tell the story of ambition, resilience, and community impact through generations.