The Herman Leive House
19th Century Charm, 21st Century Comfort.

About The Herman Leive House

The Herman Leive House is a prime example of 19th Century Greek Revival charm
located just over a block west of the Ohio River in Aurora, Indiana.

The one hundred and fifty year old home has a history rich in local industry.
In its early years the two-story poplar framed dwelling was the home of Samuel Langtree,
the master brewer for the Crescent Brewery, a local interest owned by the Gaffs of Hillforest.

Around the turn of the 19th to the 20th century and for approximately the next eighty-five years,
three generations of the Herman Leive family owned the property.
Mr. Leive was one of the three original founders of the Cochran Chair Company to the west of Aurora.
Today, some twenty-five Cochran chairs and sofas help furnish the inn.

Since 1998 the home has undergone major renovation.  In the 1990's the dwelling changed hands
several times and followed a short, declining road as rental property.
By 1996 the building was scheduled for demolition but was later gutted in an attempt
to rehabilitate it as investment property.  At the time of purchase, in 1998,
the home was little more than a frame under a sound roof and on a firm foundation.
The mortise and tenon style home was built around 1850 of native poplar,
important factors in its longevity.