Audio
Nelson House - The Reeds Family
Transcript
Bill Nelson’s farm was down to 15 acres when he sold to Chicago architect Earl Reed Jr. in 1952. Earl had a wife Marion and two children. Bill continued living on the site, teaching the Reeds how to make maple syrup from the maple trees. He eventually moved into a nursing home and died in 1958. Earl was an avid historian and the son renowned artist and author Earl Howell Reed.
Earl senior wrote numerous books and produced countless etchings of scenes from Indiana Dunes in the early 20th century. As an artist from Art Institute, Earl senior’s works introduced the Chicago literary and art world to Indiana Dunes. He was also involved in the efforts to establish a Sand Dunes National Park here in 1916. His son, Earl junior, who purchased this home, was a skilled architect who was also committed to historic preservation. He was an active member of the Duneland Historical Society and also served on the advisory board on national parks, historic sites, buildings, and monuments from 1957-1963.
Marion Reed was an artist and sculptor who was involved in the Chesterton Art scene, working early Chesterton Arts Fairs with Vin and Hazell Hannell. For the Chicago Century of Progress World’s fair in 1933, Marion helped create a sculpture for the garden area outside the Chyrsler building. Earl junior and Marion were also a members of the Save the Dunes council. In 1953 Earl gave a lecture slide at the nearby Dune Acres Club House titled “What We Save When We Save the Dunes.”
In 1954, he decorated the dining hall of the nearby Goodfellow Lodge with his father’s duneland etchings for a special Save the Dunes luncheon. Guests at the luncheon included Indiana Dunes State Park conservation champion Bess Sheehan, who was instrumental in getting State Park established. Also there, was the daughter of influential local scientist Henry Cowles. Throughout the 1950s, Earl wrote U.S. senators to urge the National Park Service to acquire the Bailly Homestead property. He also helped with the historical survey of the Bailly property that helped get the site listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1962.
According to Save the Dunes founder Dorothy Buell, Earl was influential in including the areas that became Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore; in 1963 he toured sites with Senator Paul Douglas that would later be included the compromise bill that led to the park in 1966.
Description
Interpretive audio recording describing the Reeds Family.
Credit
NPS/Ranger Joe Gruzalski
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