Tiny House Settling into Its New Home

Restoration begins at the historic Peters-Margedant House, now in its new location at the University of Evansville.

Honoring the Past

When William Wesley Peters designed and constructed the Peters-Margedant House in Evansville, he knew that it was an architectural novelty. However, Peters probably never imagined that one day he and the small house would be honored by his alma mater as architectural exemplars.

In August, the Peters-Margedant House was moved to its new location on the campus of the University of Evansville, where it will be opened to the public as an interpretive and learning center. Architectural Renovators, LLC has begun exterior restoration, including rebuilding the original chimney, entry stoop, and rear patios that had to be removed before the relocation. Crews have already installed a new roof and new box gutters, and are working on repairing the deteriorated siding and plaster soffit. Soon they’ll install a walkway using the original stones that student volunteers helped document, remove, and store last April.

The next step will be restoring the entry doors and windows and repainting the exterior the original dark brown color.

Fortunately, the house survived the move with no interior damage. With the exception of a few minor alterations, the interior of the home survives much as it was originally constructed. Inside, workers will refinish floors, clean woodwork, and repair and repaint the ceiling.

Contractors are letting details dictate the pace of work, taking care to respect the home’s unique provenance. Follow the progress on the Friends of the Peters-Margedant House Facebook page.