Putnamville offenders recreate history in rehabilitation of Townsend Inn

Townsend Inn summer kitchen

PUTNAMVILLE -- An opportunity to restore and preserve a piece of Putnamville history presented itself a year ago to the Indiana Department of Correction at the site of the historic Townsend Inn.

The 1828 brick building was constructed by James Townsend, an abolitionist, who traveled to Putnam County after freeing his inherited slaves. The building served as a home to freed slaves as well as a year-round summer kitchen for the inn.

Unfortunately, the inn has since been torn down but the summer kitchen still remains.

Area residents Lee and Susan Stewart, recognizing the historical value of the building, made the decision to refurbish the building across U.S. 40 on the former town green and to tell the story of these pioneer families and their way of life.

Over a year's time, the restoration process has been completed with the help of more than 50 people, including four teams of workers from the Putnam County Jail and the Putnamville Correctional Facility.

The offender teams were invaluable in salvaging, cleaning and moving the huge pile of bricks and stones. Additionally, they assisted in constructing brick walkways for the museums.

Each worker was given the opportunity to sign a letter directed to the future, telling of the project work and stored in a secure place on the premises.

The grand opening of the Townsend/Layman Museum is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20.

A group of Putnamville offenders, under the supervision of guard Tony Sparks (back), assisted Lee Stewart (right) in the rehabilitation project.The Putnamvile inmates are Darryl Johnson, Jesse Starnes, Rodney Thieke and Steven Prouse.

Opening remarks will be made at the 1834 Putnamville United Methodist Church at the southeast corner of U.S. 40 and State Road 243.