The Gennett Mansion is one of several historic pieces still standing in Richmond. The large, three-story home was built in 1898 for Henry and Alice Gennett. Now, over 100 years later, it is privately owned by another family, Tina and Ralph Conti, who have made it their home, restoration project, and connection to the community.

Henry Gennett was the founder of Gennett Records & president of Starr Piano Company. The Gennett’s moved to Richmond for the Starr Piano Company. Henry Gennett took over control of the company following the death of James Starr and he later passed the business on to his three sons, Harry, Clarence, and Fred. The Gennett’s also started the Gennett Recording Studio in Richmond, an independent recording studio.

The original Gennett family moved out of the house in 1938. From that time on, it had several different owners and was used for different purposes. That year, local businessman Leonidas Kennedy purchased the home and converted it into an apartment complex. Kennedy, who owned Kennedy’s Clothing Store on Main Street, between 5th and 10th Streets, offered the apartments to women entering the workforce during World War II.

“We were told it was mainly for women, young women, entering the workforce while the men were at war,” said Tina Conti, current owner of The Gennett Mansion. “This house, three stories, approximately 9500 square feet, was turned into efficiency apartments. There were like 20 apartments.”

The building remained an apartment complex until the 1970s, when it began to fall into disrepair. “It didn’t look so well. You know, walls, water damage, this and that,” Tina said.

Eventually, a man named Wayne Vincent and a group of partners bought the property, naming it the World Life Building. They maintained the house’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places and converted the space into offices. In the 1980s, the mansion was officially designated part of the East Main Street–Glen Miller Park Historic District and recognized as an Indiana Landmark.

The home continued to serve as office space up until the early 2000’s. In 2006, Bob and Donna Geddes purchased the mansion and began the process of restoring it as a residence, Airbnb, and event venue. They lived on the third floor while opening the first and second floors for public use. Before they moved out, they converted the second floor into an apartment with a two-bedroom suite, two additional bedrooms, and a shared kitchen.

Tina and Ralph Conti bought the mansion in 2015 from the Geddes family. Originally from Richmond, the Contis had lived in different areas of the country before moving back to Indiana officially in 2016.  

Tina described how they decided on purchasing the house when they returned for a visit in the fall of 2015.

“We saw the sign, and we looked and we’re like, for grins and giggles, let’s just call the realtor and see if we can take a look,” Tina said. This October marks ten years owning the mansion.

After purchasing the house, the Contis had two major utility projects to tackle. The first was converting the electric system in the house. In the basement, seven or eight separate electric meters were consolidated into one.

Tina described their initial projects as being less glamorous, focusing more on foundational work than on the “pretty stuff.”

Since moving in, the Contis have not done any restorative work on the first floor. However, they have worked on restoring the second floor to a layout similar to its original design.

Because the mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, there are strict guidelines about what changes can and can’t be made. Before making any modifications, they must submit their plans to Indiana Landmarks for approval. The house is also located in the city of Richmond’s Conservation District, meaning any proposed changes must also be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. Although Tina serves on the board, she would have to recuse herself from any decisions regarding her own home.

Indiana Landmarks conducts a walkthrough of the house every two years, during which they take photos and compare them to previous documentation.

“Whoever is the owner is the current steward or caretaker, and you do the best you can to keep it preserved and in good standing so it can be around for the next generation,” Tina said.

While several original elements remain—such as the wood floors, ceramic fireplaces, and bathroom tile—the home also features some thoughtful updates. Tina said she has spent time searching Marketplace and attending auctions to find furniture from the same era. One particularly unique feature is the piano, which has been in the home since it was built. Restored by the Geddes family, the piano was so integral to the home's character that Tina and Ralph made sure it was included in the purchase agreement. Today, it stands in the front foyer, just inside the door, a quiet reminder of the home's history.

Tina said the first floor is still used as a venue and event space. The second floor, while still partially under renovation, is used as an Airbnb rental. While the floor is available to rent, most bookings have come through word-of-mouth. The Contis also continue to rent out the carriage house as an Airbnb.

The third floor is where Tina and Ralph currently live. While this is their home, Tina said they open their doors to the community, allowing time in their days for tours. They are also connected with Richmond Friends School since COVID, doing virtual and in-person class tours of the home.

“I might have a pre-arranged tour, or somebody just calls out of the blue or sends us a message and says, ‘we’re passing through and we saw this as a landmark.’ They think it’s a museum,” Tina said. “I try to say yes as much as I can because I want to see people’s faces the way I imagine my face was when I walked in.”

Tina said the house served as her segue back into the community. Because of it, she became involved with the city of Richmond, serving as president of the Historic Preservation Commission. She is also connected with the Wayne County History Museum, where she currently serves on the board.

Tina became involved with local nonprofits as a way to give back to the community she had rejoined. Through her work, she has become acutely aware of some of the challenges facing Richmond and the surrounding area.

“I see that we have food insecurity and food deserts and homelessness problems. The opioid epidemic has hit us. So many members of our community are living at the poverty level or below. I feel fortunate that I was able to rise up out of that, so I want to give back.”

Beyond her volunteer work, Tina says the mansion itself has played a surprisingly powerful role in building community. Opening its doors for events, tours, and Airbnb guests has allowed Tina and Ralph to meet people from all walks of life, both locals and visitors, who come with stories, memories, and personal connections to the area.

“The friends I made here are just incredible. That I made such a connection on such a deep level that I never thought was possible and never thought about.”

For now, the Contis plan to stay in the mansion, but they’re also thinking ahead to future possibilities. Tina said they want to continue keeping the mansion’s doors open to the public and remain committed to preserving it for as long as they own it. That long-term vision also includes finding new ways to share the space with others, an idea shaped by Tina's early experiences.

“We were struggling to make our duplex rent of $250 a month, you know, so very humble beginnings,” Tina said. “And I’d like to think I can look at it from different perspectives. So, I come in and I’m like, how cool would it be for somebody to be able to rent this entire building?”

She added that one of their goals, something they joke about more seriously now, is to eventually get a tiny house. She envisions the mansion continuing to be a place for meaningful gatherings.

“Whether it’s a reunion, a wedding, a girls’ weekend, a small family reunion, people that have moved away and come back to visit, now you’ve got this huge kitchen and all this space, and you have seven bedrooms that you can host family members in and even the carriage. That would be so cool.”

If people want more information, they can go to The Gennett Mansion Facebook page. The carriage house is on Airbnb and Google Maps.

Image provided by Tina Conti.