A house built on property once owned by Danville namesake Dan Beckwith opens again for the season this Sunday in Lincoln Park. As Vermilion County Museum Director Sue Richter reminds us, the Pennsylvania native that Danville is named after was never actually in this home. Dan Beckwith, who became one of the Danville area’s first settlers, died at age 40 in 1835.
The Lamon House was built in 1847 by Dan Beckwith’s daughter and her husband. And as Richter points out, it was eventually moved to Lincoln Park, where it remains intact for visitors to see.
AUDIO: The house was built by Melissa Bethwith Lamon and her husband Joseph. And Melissa was Dan Beckwith’s daughter. The house was originally over here on North Street, and it was built on the last lot that was owned by Dan, and that’s where they built the home. Wendell Wright, the attorney’s office, donated the building to the museum, and we moved it to Lincoln Park to save it (in 1984). The city donated the property it sits on. It’s just more less that because it’s a house from a namesake, and it’s the oldest frame structure still left in town.
The Lamon House will be open the first Sunday of each month, 1:30 to 4:30, from May until October. Becky and Alan Woodrum will once again be portraying Melissa Beckwith Lamon and Hiram Beckwith. Richter looks for the home to be open during Arts in the Park in June as well. To check on any schedule changes or for more information, go to vermilioncountymuseum.org.
