Levi-Joy Baker House - 1838

Originally built as a log cabin by the Levi-Joy family, this two story white frame colonial home has a wrought iron balcony and four massive Ionic columns at the entrance. Later the house was deeded to General Rufus Polk Neely, a railroad builder and Confederate General who served in all of the wars in his lifetime in which his country was engaged.

During the Civil War, the home served temporarily as the headquarters of Union General Lew Wallace, who would later become the author of Ben Hur. Whenever Wallace was away, Kate Neely, a local firebrand, would stand on the second floor balcony and hurl insults at passing Union troops. She was subsequently placed under house arrest at The Columns.*

The home was used as a hospital during the Civil War and bloodstains were never completely removed from the upstairs floors and balcony. Later the home was sold to Samuel B. Baker and was in the Baker family for a number of years.