Look to the left side of Laurel Avenue for a large, light blue-grey house with steep pointed gables, bright white trim, a three-bay window, and a welcoming open porch surrounded by leafy trees.
Step closer to the mysterious C. S. Soule House-if these walls could talk, I bet they’d quote sermons! Shrouded in a little bit of mystery, no one quite knows who built it or the exact year it rose up, but folks agree the house has stood here since around 1880. Just imagine the bustle back then: the clip-clop of horses in the lane, the chatter of Highland Hall students drifting from the nearby women’s school, and the laughter from picnics out on the grassy lawn. Its very first known resident was C. S. Soule himself-a man of many hats, serving both as the local Presbyterian Church pastor and as a professor. Picture him, maybe pacing that very porch, preparing a fiery sermon or wrangling with a difficult lesson plan. This isn’t just any house, though; it’s a fine example of Gothic Revival, with its dramatic gables, beautiful three-bay window, and porch perfect for people-watching or, if you’re Soule, maybe baking pies for students! Back in the day, there was even a barn out behind-though, sadly, that’s gone now and a garage has taken its place. Since 1982, it has officially been a national treasure, making every creak and shadow part of Highland Park’s living history. Now, who says houses can’t have a little intrigue in their beams and boards?
