‘Endangered’ Batesville Home Set for Restoration

A historic home in Batesville that is included on this year’s 10 Most Endangered list from Indiana Landmarks may be the organization’s first rescue of 2020. The Romweber House is named after what was once one of the most prominent furniture makers in America. The home, built in 1911 by company founder Anthony Romweber, is a treasured piece of Batesville’s past that unfortunately has fallen into disrepair.

Around INdiana Reporter Mary-Rachel Redman visited the home in the latest edition of our Endangered Indiana series.

Romweber furniture has graced the homes of former presidents, various Saudi royal families and even notorious mafia dons.

“The Romweber furniture, just because it was all handmade, solid wood construction (was) very well known within the United States,” said Mary Ellen Rippe with Romweber Furniture. “The company was very flourishing. They had a salesmen that went out and just brought a lot of work back to our little carvers here in Batesville.”

Jarrad Holbrook with Indiana Landmarks says Romweber put Batesville on the map and made the southeast Indiana city a destination. He says the Romweber home is part of the city’s history.

“It’s a little bit of several different early 20th Century styles all wrapped into one and that’s why it was so important to be on our list, not only because of its importance to Batesville history, but as an architectural piece here, it’s so unique,” said Holbrook.

By all accounts, Anthony Romweber set out to make his Batesville home a major statement, which it did. More than 100 years later, it caught the eye in September of a buyer in Indianapolis, who plans to use the original blueprints to completely refurbish the home to its original glory.

“It’s unbelievable that it happened so quickly, but again…putting the opportunity out there is what made it happen,” said Holbrook. “I’m so thankful for the new owner who wants to come in and turn the clock back and bring back all the character that it has.”