DEMOTTE | In just a few short years, the Fairchild House has become this Jasper County community's cultural center, and it all began with one woman's dream.

The historic home at 212 9th St. SW was built in 1922 by Fred Wolff and his wife, Charity Mae Fairchild, the daughter of pioneers Daniel and Hannah Fairchild. The interior of the house is all original, with the exception of the bathroom and kitchen, and features a huge double-sided fireplace, unusual for that period.

It was the outside of the home, with its majestic colonial revival structure, that got Pat Kopanda dreaming in 2001 as she attended Chamber of Commerce luncheons at the library across the street. At the time, she thought the house would make the perfect showpiece for the town.

In 2004, she helped form Fairchild House Preservation, Inc. to purchase the building from then owner, Northwestern Indiana Telephone Co.

"This town embraced the idea like you would not believe," Kopanda said.

Through fundraisers and donations from civic organizations and local businesses, supporters of the project raised $140,000 in about a year, and the deal was finalized in February 2005.

Since then, Fairchild House has hosted lawn concerts, historical tours, library events and has been rented for weddings, showers and company Christmas dinners. The DeMotte Chamber of Commerce currently occupies an office on the second floor.

Kopanda leads children's tours, giving youngsters a taste of local history.

"The kids are so fascinated. They all think the house is haunted," she laughs. "I tell them there are no ghosts here."