The Gabriel Farnsley House is significant both for its architectural style and for its association with the Farnsley family, who were prominent citizens on both sides of the Ohio River. It is a unique structure in this area because of its two-tiered gallery façade and raised basement, features which are rare in Indiana. Its architectural form was likely influenced by Louisiana plantation house styles, reflecting the importance of trade routes down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
 
The style of the house closely resembles early plantation houses of the lower parishes in Louisiana. Gabriel Farnsley's brother, Joshua P. Farnsley (1821-1907), held responsible positions on the Louisville and New Orleans Steamboat Line, and made two annual trips to New Orleans for nine years. He built his own house - varioulsy referred to as Hillsdale or Hill Dale - in the plantation house style, a style emulated by other members of his family. Altogether, three houses in this style were built in the area by the Farnsleys, but the Gabriel Farnsley house is the only survivor. A rendering of Hill Dale is seen below, from an 1859 illustrated map of Floyd County. 


 
Gabriel Farnsley (1827-1894) was a grandson of James Farnsley, who emigrated from Pennsylvania around 1777 to settle in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Several of James Farnsley’s sons were among the early settlers of Harrison County, Indiana. Members of the Farnsley family have figured prominently in the history and politics of Floyd and Harrison Counties in Indiana, and Jefferson County, Kentucky.
 
Born in 1827 in Harrison County, Gabriel Farnsley married Jane Blunk in 1850. Gabriel was a farmer who purchased the house tract in 1856 from his brother, Joshua. The house was probably built soon after he purchased the land. The house remained in the Farnsley family until 1918, when it was sold to Walter Behrens, and it continued to be owned by the Behrens’ into the 1980s.
 
The property was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 due to its architectural significance and the role that the Farnsley family played in the development of the region. This listing does not place any restrictions on the property owner but does make him or her eligible to utilize tax credits to help recoup a portion of the cost of qualified rehab work on the house. More information is available at https://www.in.gov/dnr/historic-preservation/financial-assistance/residential-tax-credit.
 


Situated on 4.73 acres south of downtown New Albany, the Gabriel Farnsley House offers 2474 square feet of living space, including three bedrooms and 2½ bathrooms. The exterior of the house is defined by the raised basement and full-width double tier porches that evoke the style of a southern plantation.



The front entrance is beautifully detailed, with narrow pilasters flanking the door opening and extending upward to frame a narrow transom. Multi-lite sidelights help to illuminate the central stair hall.


 
Inside, the house has been updated with countless modern amenities. Included among these are a generous primary bedroom with en suite bathroom on the main level and three gas fireplaces throughout the house. Original hardwood flooring may remain beneath the carpet. The finished basement contains a large family or recreation room that highlights the massive stones used in the home’s foundation.  


 
The property itself is also noteworthy, a peaceful retreat just minutes from Interstate 64. Among the highlights are a one-acre stocked pond with a fountain, a chicken coop, a garden area, a playset and an above-ground pool. The detached three-car garage includes a furnace and air-conditioning, as well as a half bathroom.