Old Silk Stocking Neighborhood

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Neighborhood Signs

The Old Silk Stocking Neighborhood is the historic district near downtown Kokomo, Indiana, and the Westside Business District. In 1886, natural gas was discovered in north central Indiana, and exploded with people and then developed the neighborhood. This historic area of town was the place where lawyers, doctors, industrialists and even a mayor would come to build their turn of the century residences.

The neighborhood is bounded by Washington Street to the east, Philips Street to the west, Wildcat Creek to the south and Taylor Street to the North. Major roadways traversing through the Old Silk Stocking Neighborhood include Sycamore Street (Indiana State Road 22) running east and west and Washington Street and Philips Street traveling north and south. Recently in 2005, Sycamore Street (SR 22) began a complete redesign resulting in an addition of a a center turn lane, as well as old-fashioned lighting and ornamental trees with construction ending in late 2006.

1 Architecture
2 Landmarks
- 2.1 Howard County Historical Society and Museum
3 Churches
4 Parks
- 4.1 Foster Park
- 4.2 Miller-Highland Park
5 Businesses
6 References

[edit] Architecture

The Old Silk Stocking Neighborhood is an eclectic mix of architectural styles including Victorian, Neo-Jacobean, Queen Anne, Bungalow, Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, and Romanesque Revival.

[edit] Landmarks

Seiberling Mansion

Elliott House

[edit] Howard County Historical Society and Museum

The Howard County Museum is located on West Sycamore Street and inhabits the Seiberling Mansion, the Elliott House, as well as two historic carriage houses owned by the two families which built the two massive residences. The Howard County Museum is open during the week and showcases local history including information about the founders of Kokomo, and the Seiberlings. Also available by the museum is a live reenactment of the marriage of Monroe Seiberling's Daughter, as well as a venue for local weddings.

[edit] Seiberling Mansion

Monroe Seiberling of Akron, Ohio traveled to Kokomo, IN in 1887 to open the Kokomo Strawboard Company, which would make shoeboxes out of straw and employ seventy-five people. Within six months, Seiberling sold the Kokomo Strawboard Company and opened the Diamond Plate Glass Company. He began construction on his mansion in October 1889 at a cost of $50,000, with construction ending within 2 years. The mansion is built in a mixture of Neo-Jacobean (Queen Anne) and Romanesque Revival styles.^[1]

In 1972, the U.S. Department of Interior listed the Seiberling Mansion on the National Register of Historic Places. ^[2]

[edit] Elliott House

The Elliott House is located next door to the Seiberling Mansion and is home to the Kokomo Symphonic Society, as well as a few professional offices. The Elliott Carriage house was recently renovated to house the Stan Mohr Local History Library. After the original residents of the Elliott House moved out, the house was purchased and was used for a location for Indiana University Kokomo, until it moved to its current location on South Washington Street.

[edit] Christmas at the Seiberling

During the holiday season, the Seiberling Mansion and the Elliott House hosts a plethora of events for all ages to endure. One of the most striking features of the holiday events would be the lighting of both the Seiberling Mansion, Elliott House and the grounds accommodating both buildings. Activities held at the Howard County Historical Society would include horse-drawn carriage rides, pictures with Santa Claus, a gingerbread competition, as well as touring the decorated mansion. Also available during this time are Choralier performances and refreshments. ^[3]

[edit] Churches

Highland Park Church

Of the large variety of churches within the Old Silk Stocking Neighborhood area, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and Highland Park Church are two of the more prominent churches within the neighborhood.
A list of churches within the neighborhood include:

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
Highland Park Church
St. Thomas the Apostle Orthodox Christian Church
First Congregational UCC
Fresh Start Ministries
The Father's House Church

[edit] Parks

[edit] Foster Park

Named after David Foster, the founder of Kokomo, this park is home to the Senior Citizen's Center, tennis courts, basketball courts, and two softball diamonds. Another feature to this park is the Wildcat Walk of Excellence which runs through the park connecting Foster Park to Miller-Highland Park.