Visit Kurt Vonnegut’s Boyhood Home
Writer / Stephanie Miller
“Anything can make me stop and look and wonder, and sometimes learn.”
Illustrating those words penned by Kurt Vonnegut, famous Indiana-born author, the team of designers and volunteers invite you to do just that when touring the St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild 56th Annual Show House, which runs now through May 14.
Vonnegut’s boyhood home has layers of lifestyles lived since his family moved into the home, built by his architect father, in 1923. Located at 4401 North Illinois Street in the Butler-Tarkington area, guild members worked diligently to unveil its newest layer.
“This opportunity to makeover this historic home to raise money for Eskenazi Health is a celebration of creativity, dedication, contribution and community as well as carrying on a tradition that has been serving the hospital since 1907,” says Carmel resident, Sandy Carlson.
Carlson says her heart felt the desire to be involved in order to help spread the word about the importance of patient care and helping people.
“Over the years, funds from the show house have paid for essential needs such as mobile mammography and the eight vans that have been purchased to pick up people that need rides to transport them to see their doctors,” Carlson says.
Throughout the decades, donations have provided equipment, programs, furnishings and supplies for the Children’s Ward, Occupational Therapy Unit, Pediatric Labor and Delivery Unit, Special Care Nursery, Newborn and Special Care Nurseries, Emergency Department, Midtown Community Mental Health, Pediatrics, Senior Care, OBGYN and various other departments.
“Preparing the show house is a year-long process,” says volunteer and past president, Julie Qualkinbush. “Many people think it takes just a few weeks, but there is a myriad of committees searching for the next house at the same time. The commitment is like a full-time job with no pay, but energy and camaraderie are priceless.”
According to Lisa Knipp, who was connected with the guild early in life, “Families enjoy the creative interior and landscape ideas and designs that can be incorporated to enhance their own homes. Our talented designers do a wonderful job showcasing ideas for first-time homeowners, flourishing, growing families and empty nesters.”
St. Margaret’s Guild members, designers and sponsors invite you to stop, look, wonder and learn at the former Vonnegut home and serve the community at the same time. For more information visit showhouseindy.org/Purchase-Tickets.
