HISTORY

National Register of Historic Places
We are proud of our home, here is a little piece of our history:

The Honeywell Studio, commissioned by Mark Honeywell for his personal use, was completed in 1936. It was designed to be a private studio where film could be developed and movies screened. The Honeywell Studio/Wabash Country Club is an outstanding representation of Tudor Revival style of architecture.  The style is based on a variety of English building traditions, not solely those from the Tudor period.  It is characterized by steeply pitched gable roofs, often with multiple gables.  Dormer windows and wall dormers are common as are leaded glass casement sashes.  Exteriors of Tudor Revival buildings are usually clad in brick stone or stucco.  Elaborate chimneys are also common features of the style.  The Honeywell studio also included a "tower" section of five stories and an attached, one-and-a-half story theater or screening room (the "Oak Room').  The building included a darkroom, cutting room and a sound proof projecting room.  On the upper two floors of the tower was an apartment.

Honeywell had become interested in movie making as a hobby in 1931.  Even though cameras, projectors, film and developing were expensive in the early days of movie making he had the resources to purchase what he needed and to hire people with the knowledge to assist him. Honeywell produced hundreds of films, many of which documented his own life or subjects that were of interest to him.  His equipment and films are stored at the Honeywell Center in Wabash.  The National Film Preservation Foundation has awarded grants to restore two of his films, "Friends of Mr. Honeywell," and "The Garden." 

In 1939, after the death of his first wife, Olive Lutz Honeywell, Honeywell devoted himself to the Honeywell Memorial Center and foundation.  In 1945, finding himself with less time to devote to his motion picture hobby, he transferred the studio and the grounds to the foundation which then leased it to the newly formed Wabash Country Club. The lease included the provision that the lessor would remodel the present building to the extent of $15,000, to provide dining and cooking facilities. Other unusual terms in the contract were charges to cooperate with the Boy and Girl Scouts in the use of the grounds, to allow use of the premises by service clubs and underprivileged children and to foster the planting of native trees, shrubs and plants. The lease also gave the club the authority to build a golf course.  The foundation later transferred ownership to the club. 

The remodeling of the building took place over several years.  The conversion of the lower level from darkroom to bar and dining area and the main level lobby remodeling were completed in 1946.  The porches on the west and north sides of the building were enclosed and the dining room finished by 1967.

Wabash Country Club's main building is one of the few remaining components of Honeywell's 80-acre estate.  Development of the property started in the 1930's with the "Honeywell Gardens," completed in 1941.  Here, 14 gardeners maintained thousands of plantings including dozens of Lombardy poplars and separate gardens dedicated to roses, annuals, evergreens and perennials.  The gardens were open to the public until 1975.

A private, nine-hole golf course was built in the late 1920's adjacent to Honeywell's country home, "The Lodge."  It was donated to the foundation in the 1950s and converted for use as the pro shop for the golf course.  It has since been moved and enlarged.  The golf course was expanded to 18 holes in the1970s.

As a successful businessman, Honeywell could afford expensive hobbies such as movie making.  He was also a person who cared about his community.  Though childless himself, he was particularly interested in children, especially underprivileged children and wanted to make sure there was a recreational and social resource available to them.  These concerns are reflected by his role in the establishment of the country club and the lease terms relating to social needs of the community.  The country Club to this day remains an important community gathering place.