Thorn Hill

 house, cemetery, ancestral, interesting place, historical layer / disappeared object

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At the close of the Civil War, William H. Thorn sought to move his family North to avoid the reconstruction and leave his war-torn home in Virginia (now WV). It is said from a train he spotted a large majestic hill, overlooking the White River in Gibson Co., Indiana. It is there he bought 300 acres of land in White River Township and spared no expense in erecting a 2 story frame house on that large hill. The 92 stairs that lead from the front porch to the street were flanked by huge concrete letters spelling out the new name of his site: "THORN HILL"

After William's death, Thorn Hill was occupied by his daughter Mattie until her death in 1943 at which time Harry & Gertrude Coe moved into the house. Upon their deaths in 1961 Vet & Audie Thorn moved into the house.

In 1976, having been abandoned for almost a decade, the house mysteriously was destroyed. It was said by neighbors that "it just came crashing down the hill in the middle of the night." Antique furniture, artwork, even kitchenware that were left in the house now lie in the street for passer-bys to take. To this day there is no information as to who destroyed the house and by whose order.

The Thorn cemetery is located on this property both William H. Thorn, his wife Jemima and their descendants now rest here.