Batesville, IN — Every day, all year long, Indiana Landmarks works to revitalize historic structures that give our communities visible connections to their past and lend irreplaceable visual character to the streetscape. Once a year, Indiana Landmarks announces the 10 Most Endangered, a list of historic places on the brink of extinction and too important to lose. The 2020 entries include two schools that provided unprecedented learning opportunities to African Americans, a train depot, a Carnegie library, an artfully designed jail and sheriff’s residence, two churches, and Romweber House in Batesville, among others.
Located in Batesville’s Rosemont neighborhood near downtown, the Romweber House commands attention, even in decay. The home is a mix of architectural styles, the house combines a Dutch Colonial roof, Tudor Revival-style half-timbered walls, Arts and Crafts porch, and Shingle-style shake siding.
Anthony W. Romweber, founder of the Romweber Furniture Company, built the house in 1911. Last used as offices for a law firm, the Romweber House has been for sale since it was foreclosed in 2012, but given the house’s mounting maintenance needs, the price is too high to attract most preservation-minded buyers. The out-of-state bank that owns the property has made minor repairs, but the vacant house needs substantial investment and, with a leaky tile roof, attention soon.
