Frank and Rosemary Bracken standing on the second floor of the house in the spring of 1937. The view is to the northeast. (Photo courtesy of Frank Bracken)

Details finalized
With the land purchased, the Brackens spent months poring over architectural publications looking for ideas for the colonial-style home they envisioned. In February 1936, they met with Lafayette, Ind., architect Walter Scholer to discuss their ideas. Scholer had been the architect for buildings at Purdue University and later would help design several Ball State buildings.

The final plans called for a Georgian Revival design, a popular architectural style in the first half of the 20th century based on classical Greek and Roman models. Excavation began in September 1936. The family moved in during Christmas week 1937, just a few days before the Bracken's third of five children was born. The final cost was $136,514, equal to $1.5 million in 1998 dollars.