Propylaeum means “before the gate.”
In this case, it’s the name of a grand home. Originally built as a private home in 1890, (begun 1890, finished in 1892 for $125,000) it housed several figures of importance before before becoming the property of May Wright Sewall, who founded The Propylaeum. The Propylaeum sought to cultivate and encourage educational and cultural opportunities among the civic-minded women of the day. It was the first civic club to be financed entirely by women stockholders.
The Propylaeum society continues enriching the lives of women today, and also serves as a private venue for events as well as offering mid-day dining in the tea room.
#ThursdayDoors is part of an inspired post series run by Norm Frampton. To view other interesting doors, click the link and see what others are posting today.
joeyfullystated 
Imagine what $120,000 bought otherwise back then, Joey, and I say it was well spent on this gorgeous building in Indy. I’m glad it’s still up and running to further the educational cause. And afternoon tea-serving, too, I suppose, through those stupendous doors. 🙂
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Me too, thanks, Mark 🙂
I couldn’t find anything to convert that money to today’s, but I think we all know it was a lot.
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Yeah. A whole lot. 🙂
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Benson says $3.3 mil! :O
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Good gravy, inflation has run amok!
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Indeed!
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That’s a beauty. ☺
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Glad you like it 🙂
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Beautiful doors. I have always admired that building every time I roll by. I bet High Tea there is a hoot. According to my inflation calculator 125 K converts into 3.33. million bucks today. Which really sounds like a bargain.
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NICE! Thank you for looking that up! I couldn’t find anything to do that. I guess the word I wanted was ‘inflation!’
They are pretty, that whole lot is!
I read some of the reviews for the restaurant inside and I must say, I’m not interested. The events though — murder mystery parties, weddings and whatnot, privately catered, people rave about those. Everyone goes on about the amazing beauty of the home.
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Yeah but doesn’t High Tea sound so fucking elegant?
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LOL, yes, but I’ve never been into elegance. I’d likely spill and break.
Although, I always liked the tea room above Ayres. Remember that? Gah. That was the downtown highlight of childhood Christmases. The window displays and the tea room and the cookie decorating. I miss that. Wish my kids could do that stuff.
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Oh I think you would blend into an elegant setting as seamlessly as silken dress. Yeah I remember Ayres very well. Took my kids there for a few Christmases. Also took them downtown to look at the displays in the store windows. They had a few then. Not nearly as neat as when I was a child. But what do they have now. The lighting of the “Worlds tallest Christmas tree” Bah
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Hey now, I love that Christmas tree, still go down to see it every year 🙂
But yeah, I miss Ayres. I can only imagine how grand it was when you were a kid.
I look like I belong in a tea room, until I speak or move. lol
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Oh I love the tree as well. I have gone down there by myself on a few occasions. I am just lamenting that the amazing window displays are no more. You should never under estimate the power of a neurotic to adapt to any situation. I bet if you set your mind to it you would be as graceful as Ginger Rogers.
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Oh I can dance. Am quite a good dancer. 🙂
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Then why do you say that you trip and spill stuff?
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Because I do! But I was taught to dance. It’s kind of a joke among dancers, that anyone can do something so graceful and make it look effortless and then trip over their own feet just getting from place to place. There’s one in every group!
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Yup, that $120,000 back then must be worth a few gajillion today. Such a beautiful building. I love that it’s still hosting event. I bet having afternoon tea there would be a real treat 🙂
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The reviews on the tea aren’t so great, but it might be worth it to check out the inside of the house 😉
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I LOVE the trees!!!
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Me too, Jewels, thanks 🙂
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Beautiful building, doors, columns, photograph! I love the glowing reflection you caught in the glass.
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Thanks! That setting sun was in my favor 🙂
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what a beautiful place. Joey 🙂
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🙂
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I’m currently working on something with the mayor’s office to get you a paid gig as a local historian!
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I dig it. Lemme know 😉
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Beautiful doors by how do you pronounce the word? Pro Pie Liam?
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Kinda, yeah, pro-puh-lee-um — that’s how they say it themselves, but there are other acceptable pronunciations.
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Beautiful doors and a magnificent entrance. It’s interesting that you and I both stumbled onto doors associated with powerful women around the same time period. Who knew there were so many women back then with so much money?
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I agree. Nice bit to have in common 🙂 This week, we both hit a point in history when women, even heiresses, decided not to marry, and instead to lead lives more like their male counterparts — hence all the feminism and whatnot.
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I really love the details on the columns.
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🙂
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Don’t you wish we could go back in time and meet May Wright Sewell? You gotta think she was a force to be reckoned with in her day! Such vision and purpose. And what a gorgeous door.
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I do! Especially given the company she kept! I imagine days filled with intense discussion and nights at the theatre and museums! 🙂
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How I would LOVE to have those doors on my house, yet if they were they would be seriously out of place. Wow!! What a set of doors for such a prestigious house! I love the idea this elegant house is the place to help women. NICE!!!! Great photos, Joey!!! ❤
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They’d sure look odd on my house, Amy!
I think my house is ideally suited toward a wooden door, but we just have a standard insulated one, which I keep saying I’ll paint…
Thanks for commenting, it’s nice to have YOU say the photos are great 🙂
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You are welcome, Joey!!! ❤
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I’d love to have doors like these, but they wouldn’t go with our rental home. Have to wait until we buy something. 🙂 I like the shot you got and enjoyed the background as well. I’d like to have the money at today’s rate!!
janet
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What beautiful doors! What history! I wonder at how many hoops and obstacles she had to jump to be able to buy property at that time? It’s lovely that it’s still in use. Too bad you say reviews on the High Tea aren’t so great. 😦
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I would like to see inside the beautiful and majestic doors, Joey. Great choice since not only pretty, has an amazing story affiliated with the choice of founding woman. I admire her coming to the aid of women. 🙂
I have been getting ready to go to bed now.
I have a beige dress which I think would be perfect to wear to this place for tea. It has embroidered roses and lace on a large squared colllar. I would not mind if food were only “adequate” since the view inside would surely make up for it! 🙂
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I love the shape of the arch around the door, those curves make it look almost Moroccan.
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What a grand entrance and interesting name! I visited a place recently near me called the Town & County Club, which was a private residence and now is a women’s club as well. I think it became a women’s club in the early 1900’s or so, but I need to research more for an upcoming post. A current member brought me to lunch there and gave me a tour.
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