In 2016, an Indiana family bought a former bishop’s residence with its own private chapel; after nine years restoring it, the century-old home is listed for $1.28 million
An Indiana family spent nine years restoring a historic home that once served as a Catholic bishop’s residence and contains an elaborate private chapel. The story was detailed in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, in which Maggie Patterson shared how her parents bought the property at auction in 2016 and gradually brought back many of its historic features. Built in 1910, the home later became the residence of two bishops before taking on several other uses. Its unusual chapel was added in 1935 and features rose marble pillars, ornate plaster ceilings, German-imported stained glass and hand-painted Italian murals. According to Zillow, after years of restoration, the family is now preparing to sell the property for $1.284 million as they move into a new chapter.A home with a remarkable pastWhen Patterson’s parents purchased the Indiana property in 2016, they knew they were taking on a home with an unusual history. Patterson was 17 at the time, and her parents, who are devout Catholics, were drawn to the historic property.The house was originally built in 1910, according to PEOPLE. More than a decade later, the Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne acquired it and converted it into a residence for the bishop. Two bishops eventually lived in the house. Its most striking feature, however, was not part of the original 1910 structure.After Reverend John Francis Noll moved into the residence in 1925, the diocese added a new wing in 1935. The addition included a private chapel created as a tribute to Noll and his work.Nearly a century later, many of the chapel’s original details remain intact. Its interior includes rose marble pillars, decorative plaster ceilings, stained-glass windows imported from Germany and hand-painted Italian murals.The stained glass once contained portraits of bishops who had served the diocese, although those portraits were later moved to a museum downtown.From bishop’s residence to family homeThe property’s history did not end when it stopped being a bishop’s residence. According to Patterson, the house later served as a home for monks and was subsequently used as a centre for people recovering from drug addiction. It eventually entered private ownership before Patterson’s parents purchased it at auction. For the family, restoring the property meant taking on a house that had accumulated more than a century of history and several different uses.Over the nine years that followed, they worked to restore the home while preserving its historic character. Rather than simply modernising the interiors, the family sought to uncover and protect the original details that made the property distinctive. Each renovation revealed more of the home’s past, helping restore features that had survived from earlier periods.The private chapel became one of the most memorable parts of the property, particularly after Patterson shared a tour of the house. The unusual room attracted considerable attention, with viewers also fascinated by features including the home’s library, built-in details and unusually large laundry room.Why the family is sellingAfter nearly a decade of restoration, Patterson’s parents are now preparing to hand the historic property to new owners. The home is listed for $1,284,000, according to Zillow. The decision to sell is not primarily about needing a smaller house. Instead, the family is moving into a different stage of life.Patterson’s parents recently built a home in Fort Myers after rebuilding following a hurricane, and they want to spend more time travelling. Of their seven children, only one still lives at the Indiana property, and he is also recently engaged. With seven grandchildren now spread across the family, the move represents more of a new beginning than a simple downsizing. For Patterson, however, the nine-year restoration has left the family with a lasting connection to the property.The house has changed considerably since they first moved in, but the goal throughout the restoration was to preserve the character that made it special. Its chapel, historic craftsmanship and unusual past have survived generations of changing ownership and uses.Now, after nearly a century of serving different purposes, from a bishop’s residence to a family home, the property is ready for another chapter.(Source: This article is based on an exclusive interview with PEOPLE and details shared by Maggie Patterson about her family’s historic Indiana home, with the property’s listing details sourced from Zillow.)
