Charles and Mathilda Nelson House

Nelson - Reed House

NPS / Joseph Gruzalski

Quick Facts

Location:

Porter, Indiana

The Nelsons

Welcome to the home of Charles and Mathilda Nelson, whose history ties into the local Swedish immigrant farming community known as Baillytown. In the last two decades of the nineteenth century, Porter County housed the largest concentration of Swedish-born immigrants in the state. Charles emigrated from Sweden in 1869, the same year as the Chellberg family. He and Mathilda purchased the 80 acre site in 1887.

In 1891, they adopted two children from a local Swedish woman who could no longer care for them after her husband had died. That same year they contracted a local Swede to construct their brick home, the same builder that the Chellbergs used for their home across the street. After Charles died in 1912, he left the farm to his son Carl William, known as “Bill.” Bill, like his father, was very interested in local history.

Oral tradition indicates that Indigenous peoples, likely Pottawatomi, use to tap maple trees that grew on the property. By 1921, Bill was calling the farm “Sugar Bush,” and using the maple trees to make maple syrup. Much of the Nelson land couldn’t be used to grow crops because of the steep ravines on the property. The farm was reduced in size in the 1930s when US 20 cut through its southern half.

In the late 1940s, Bill held preliminary meetings in this home that led to the formation of the Duneland Historical Society, where he became first president upon its founding in 1948. The Treasurer was fellow Swede Margaret Larson of the nearby yellow Sears House on Oak Hill Road. In 1949 Bill wrote a historical report on the Bailly Cemetery, and he gave a history presentation at the site when the Bailly state historic marker was dedicated the following year.

The Reeds

Bill Nelson’s farm was down to 15 acres when he sold to Chicago architect Earl Reed Jr. in 1952. Earl had a wife Marion and two children. Bill continued living on the site, teaching the Reeds how to make maple syrup from the maple trees. He eventually moved into a nursing home and died in 1958. Earl was an avid historian and the son renowned artist and author Earl Howell Reed.

Earl senior wrote numerous books and produced countless etchings of scenes from Indiana Dunes in the early 20^th century. As an artist from Art Institute, Earl senior’s works introduced the Chicago literary and art world to Indiana Dunes. He was also involved in the efforts to establish a Sand Dunes National Park here in 1916. His son, Earl junior, who purchased this home, was a skilled architect who was also committed to historic preservation. He was an active member of the Duneland Historical Society and also served on the advisory board on national parks, historic sites, buildings, and monuments from 1957-1963.

Marion Reed was an artist and sculptor who was involved in the Chesterton Art scene, working early Chesterton Arts Fairs with Vin and Hazell Hannell. For the Chicago Century of Progress World’s fair in 1933, Marion helped create a sculpture for the garden area outside the Chrysler building. Earl junior and Marion were also a members of the Save the Dunes council. In 1953 Earl gave a lecture slide at the nearby Dune Acres Club House titled “What We Save When We Save the Dunes.”

In 1954, he decorated the dining hall of the nearby Goodfellow Lodge with his father’s duneland etchings for a special Save the Dunes luncheon. Guests at the luncheon included Indiana Dunes State Park conservation champion Bess Sheehan, who was instrumental in getting State Park established. Also there, was the daughter of influential local scientist Henry Cowles. Throughout the 1950s, Earl wrote U.S. senators to urge the National Park Service to acquire the Bailly Homestead property. He also helped with the historical survey of the Bailly property that helped get the site listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1962.

According to Save the Dunes founder Dorothy Buell, Earl was influential in including the areas that became Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore; in 1963 he toured sites with Senator Paul Douglas that would later be included the compromise bill that led to the park in 1966.

Today

Listing on the National Register of Historic Places is being pursued for this property, in conjunction with the proposed Swedes of Baillytown National Historical District. The structure currently houses the park's Volunteer program.