Legacy

One of Princeton's oldest brick residences, the stately Maxam House was built by Sanford Howe for his newly wed daughter in 1884. Jane Howe married Dr. Franklin Maxam in 1883.

Sandford Howe, a quite prosperous farmer, owned several acres of productive farm land around Archer Cemetery, near and around Princeton's present High School. He built two fine homes for his daughters, the MAXAM House at 426 North Main in 1884 and another house two blocks west at 505 North West Street in 1885. Legend has it that these homes were built from bricks left over after the demolition of the second Gibson County Court House in 1883.

After Jane Howe Maxam's death in 1913, Dr. Maxam remarried around 1920. Dr. Franklin Maxam passed away in 1926 leaving the house to his second wife, Marion and his two daughters, Ruth and Charlotte. Charlotte who had three children moved out West. From 1926 until her death in 1970, Marion and her daughter Ruth lived in the massive house and supported themselves. Ruth Maxam, who never married, was one of Princeton's first business women and was very respected throughout the community. From 1884 until Ruth's death in 1974, the Maxam house remained in the family. 

The house had four different owners from 1974 until 2000 when it was purchased by Jason McConnell and Greg Wright. It has been totally restored and converted into Gibson County's only Bed and Breakfast.

For more Maxam family history, visit our Hall of History located in the foyer.