The house sits on a wooded Greenwood hillside, a shining testament to the power of preservation.
What had become known locally as the Mills House is a stunning example of mid-century modern architecture and design. Brown County flagstone gives the structure a natural aesthetic, with wooden accents blending in perfectly with its setting on Fry Road.
Inside, mid-century contemporary lounge furniture is set up in the spacious living room. Shades of coral, turquoise and other bright colors, illuminated by statement lighting common in the 1950s hanging from the ceiling, are ubiquitous.
The entire building is a labor of love.
“By restoring and preserving such a unique piece of Greenwood architecture, our goal is that it will be kept available for many years to come,” said Todd Anthony, owner of the home. “We hope that by showcasing the Mills and Cooler family’s vision, the home might inspire future generations to take the risk and build something equally as inspiring and unconventional.”
The historic Mills House — now known as the Harry Cooler Conference Center — is one of the jewels of this year’s Back to the Future home tour. Organized by statewide architectural preservation group Indiana Landmarks, the tour features five homes from the southside of Indianapolis and Greenwood that exemplify the mid-century modern aesthetic.
“(The Mills House) is like our star attraction. We think people are going to enjoy it there on the northside of Greenwood. But we also have several other really interesting properties included,” said Mark Dollase, vice president of preservation services for Indiana Landmarks.
The Back to the Future tour is a program of Indiana Modern, a subset of Indiana Landmarks preservation efforts. The goal of the group is to preserve and promote the best of mid-20th century architecture, design and landscapes across the state.
Mid-century modern design was the dominant look in the middle years of the popular from the World War II era until the end of the ’60s. Emphasis was placed on clean, simple lines, with ample windows and open floor plans.
Though many of the buildings from that period have been remodeled or lost, a significant number have been preserved, Dollase said.
Annual Back to the Future tours are held in locations around Indiana — mostly in central Indiana, but also in locations such as Muncie, Columbus, West Lafayette and Bloomington.
“We decided a fun, educational and entertaining way to raise money for the organization would be to offer these tours. And we’ve been doing it ever since,” Dollase said.
To make the tours more accessible, organizers try to enlist homes in a similar area. This year, the focus is on the southside and Greenwood.
The Mills House is a key part of those plans. For Indiana Landmarks, including the house has special significance, Dollase said.
Originally built around 1955, the house has a Frank Lloyd Wright-approved design that is one-of-a-kind in the region. Glass aquarium corners give the sense of stepping into the outdoors and looking out over the wooded land around it, even while staying indoors.
Ingeniously designed window placements and skylights allow for ample natural light but never overwhelming direct sunlight. Closets and doors are hidden in plain sight, without handles or hinges. Well-placed skylights allow for indoor gardens filled with live plants.
But in 2014, the grandiose structure was in bad shape. Multiple owners had come and gone until the house stood empty. The roof collapsed, and mold had ruined wood paneling and walls. Animals and insects had made their homes in the structure. Water damage had taken a toll on the terrazzo floor and most other surfaces.
The situation was so dire that Indiana Landmarks included the house on its “10 Most Endangered” list.
“It is one of the most significant mid-century houses in central Indiana, so we felt like it was deserving of that unfortunate status,” Dollase said.
But in 2018, the structure was given new life. Anthony, a longtime Greenwood resident and owner of DiscountFilters, purchased the home and started renovations.
Over the course of a year, he replaced the multi-tiered, cantilevered roofs, repaired terrazzo flooring, installed new interior heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing systems and completely redid the kitchen and baths.
“Greenwood is so architecturally bland. There are a few Victorians here and there, but nothing like this,” Anthony said when the house renovation was completed in early 2020. “It’s an important part of Greenwood, and I wanted to save it.”
From the start, Anthony had worked closely with Indiana Landmarks on the project, and as it was nearing completion, Dollase wanted to get it on the Back to the Future tour. The COVID pandemic canceled the first attempt to do so, but this year, it’s finally on the schedule.
“We are excited and honored to be a part of the tour. After 70-plus years of near anonymity the home can be shared up close and near its original condition, with mid-century modern enthusiasts from all over central Indiana,” Anthony said.
While the Cooler Center is the only Johnson County structure included on the tour, the other featured homes are all around the southside. Two of the homes are part of the Glennwood Homes subdivision, a community developed in 1949 by chemists from Eli Lilly and Co.
The neighborhood became known as “Pill Hill” due to its connection to the pharmaceutical giant, Dollase said.
Another house, belonging to Garry Chilluffo and his partner Craig Ware in the Homecroft Historic District. The final house was built by Charles and Patricia Laughner — part of the family central to the well-known Indianapolis institution Laughner’s Cafeterias.
“They were a prominent business family in central Indiana, dating back four generations to the 1880s,” Dollase said. “This home is very different than the other houses, because it’s more traditional in its appearance. But it does have the connections that I think people will really enjoy it.”
Tour participants will start at the check-in location, Friedens United Church of Christ. People can exchange their Eventbrite receipt for a program and map of the tour stops.
The event, which takes place rain or shine, lasts approximately two hours, depending on how much time people spend at each site. No shuttle service will be offered. On-street parking is available at each stop, but carpooling is encouraged, Dollase said.
“We think people will have fun. It will be a pretty big event for that area — you’ll see a lot of people around that day,” he said.
IF YOU GO
Back to the Future: A Mid-Century Modern Home Tour
What: A public tour of five examples of mid-century modern architecture on the southside of Indianapolis and Greenwood, including the Harry Cooler Conference Center in Greenwood.
When: Noon-5 p.m. July 8
Where: Check-in at Friedens United Church of Christ, 8300 South Meridian St., Indianapolis. People can exchange their Eventbrite tickets bought online for a program with map.
Cost: $20 per person in advance, $25 day of. Day-of tickets can only be purchased at Friedens United Church of Christ.
Where to buy and more information: indianalandmarks.org/tours-events or midcenturytour23.eventbrite.com.
