CHARLES EDWARD BALLARD
by
Shaunacee Sloan
Charles Edward Ballard was born June 28, 1874. Reportedly he left school in the fourth grade to become a pinsetter at the West Baden Springs Hotel bowling alley for Lee W. Sinclair.
In 1895 Sinclair gave Ballard a job operating the casino on the grounds of the West Baden Springs Hotel. By 1915, Ballard owned the Brown, the largest of the gambling establishments in the valley, located just across from the French Lick Springs Hotel. By this time Ballard basically controlled the gambling in the valley.
Beechwood, the 2 1/2-story brick showplace house, was built in 1915 by Ballard on the Boulevard (State Road 56) in French Lick. Ballard began the 21-room Georgian mansion with its Gothic elements shortly before his marriage to Dolly. Beechwood was named for the 67 beech trees located on the property.
In 1917 Ballard acquired the Hagenback-Wallace Circus. In addition to this circus, he purchased every major circus in the United States, except Ringling Brothers--who would eventually purchase his circus holdings.
During this same time period, Ballard offered to loan money to Charles Rexford for the renovation of the West Baden Springs Hotel. Rumor is that Lillian had no idea of the magnitude of the money being loaned for the renovation. The amount was reported to be about $500,000. When Lillian discovered the indebtedness to Ballard, her marriage to Charles was virtually finished.
After the divorce, Lillian sold the hotel to Ballard in 1923 for $500,000 for the debt and an additional amount in the sum of $500,000.
After the stock market crash of 1929, the hotel was forced to close in 1932. Ballard sold the resort for one dollar to the Jesuits for a college in 1934. Ballard was shot to death on November 6, 1936, by his ex-business partner Robert Alexander, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He lay in state under the dome at what had become West Baden College and was buried in nearby Ames Chapel Cemetery.
by
Shaunacee Sloan
Charles Edward Ballard was born June 28, 1874. Reportedly he left school in the fourth grade to become a pinsetter at the West Baden Springs Hotel bowling alley for Lee W. Sinclair.
In 1895 Sinclair gave Ballard a job operating the casino on the grounds of the West Baden Springs Hotel. By 1915, Ballard owned the Brown, the largest of the gambling establishments in the valley, located just across from the French Lick Springs Hotel. By this time Ballard basically controlled the gambling in the valley.
Beechwood, the 2 1/2-story brick showplace house, was built in 1915 by Ballard on the Boulevard (State Road 56) in French Lick. Ballard began the 21-room Georgian mansion with its Gothic elements shortly before his marriage to Dolly. Beechwood was named for the 67 beech trees located on the property.
In 1917 Ballard acquired the Hagenback-Wallace Circus. In addition to this circus, he purchased every major circus in the United States, except Ringling Brothers--who would eventually purchase his circus holdings.
During this same time period, Ballard offered to loan money to Charles Rexford for the renovation of the West Baden Springs Hotel. Rumor is that Lillian had no idea of the magnitude of the money being loaned for the renovation. The amount was reported to be about $500,000. When Lillian discovered the indebtedness to Ballard, her marriage to Charles was virtually finished.
After the divorce, Lillian sold the hotel to Ballard in 1923 for $500,000 for the debt and an additional amount in the sum of $500,000.
After the stock market crash of 1929, the hotel was forced to close in 1932. Ballard sold the resort for one dollar to the Jesuits for a college in 1934. Ballard was shot to death on November 6, 1936, by his ex-business partner Robert Alexander, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He lay in state under the dome at what had become West Baden College and was buried in nearby Ames Chapel Cemetery.
CHARLES EDWARD BALLARD
by
Shaunacee Sloan
Charles Edward Ballard was born June 28, 1874. Reportedly he left school in the fourth grade to become a pinsetter at the West Baden Springs Hotel bowling alley for Lee W. Sinclair.
In 1895 Sinclair gave Ballard a job operating the casino on the grounds of the West Baden Springs Hotel. By 1915, Ballard owned the Brown, the largest of the gambling establishments in the valley, located just across from the French Lick Springs Hotel. By this time Ballard basically controlled the gambling in the valley.
Beechwood, the 2 1/2-story brick showplace house, was built in 1915 by Ballard on the Boulevard (State Road 56) in French Lick. Ballard began the 21-room Georgian mansion with its Gothic elements shortly before his marriage to Dolly. Beechwood was named for the 67 beech trees located on the property.
In 1917 Ballard acquired the Hagenback-Wallace Circus. In addition to this circus, he purchased every major circus in the United States, except Ringling Brothers--who would eventually purchase his circus holdings.
During this same time period, Ballard offered to loan money to Charles Rexford for the renovation of the West Baden Springs Hotel. Rumor is that Lillian had no idea of the magnitude of the money being loaned for the renovation. The amount was reported to be about $500,000. When Lillian discovered the indebtedness to Ballard, her marriage to Charles was virtually finished.
After the divorce, Lillian sold the hotel to Ballard in 1923 for $500,000 for the debt and an additional amount in the sum of $500,000.
After the stock market crash of 1929, the hotel was forced to close in 1932. Ballard sold the resort for one dollar to the Jesuits for a college in 1934. Ballard was shot to death on November 6, 1936, by his ex-business partner Robert Alexander, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He lay in state under the dome at what had become West Baden College and was buried in nearby Ames Chapel Cemetery.
by
Shaunacee Sloan
Charles Edward Ballard was born June 28, 1874. Reportedly he left school in the fourth grade to become a pinsetter at the West Baden Springs Hotel bowling alley for Lee W. Sinclair.
In 1895 Sinclair gave Ballard a job operating the casino on the grounds of the West Baden Springs Hotel. By 1915, Ballard owned the Brown, the largest of the gambling establishments in the valley, located just across from the French Lick Springs Hotel. By this time Ballard basically controlled the gambling in the valley.
Beechwood, the 2 1/2-story brick showplace house, was built in 1915 by Ballard on the Boulevard (State Road 56) in French Lick. Ballard began the 21-room Georgian mansion with its Gothic elements shortly before his marriage to Dolly. Beechwood was named for the 67 beech trees located on the property.
In 1917 Ballard acquired the Hagenback-Wallace Circus. In addition to this circus, he purchased every major circus in the United States, except Ringling Brothers--who would eventually purchase his circus holdings.
During this same time period, Ballard offered to loan money to Charles Rexford for the renovation of the West Baden Springs Hotel. Rumor is that Lillian had no idea of the magnitude of the money being loaned for the renovation. The amount was reported to be about $500,000. When Lillian discovered the indebtedness to Ballard, her marriage to Charles was virtually finished.
After the divorce, Lillian sold the hotel to Ballard in 1923 for $500,000 for the debt and an additional amount in the sum of $500,000.
After the stock market crash of 1929, the hotel was forced to close in 1932. Ballard sold the resort for one dollar to the Jesuits for a college in 1934. Ballard was shot to death on November 6, 1936, by his ex-business partner Robert Alexander, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He lay in state under the dome at what had become West Baden College and was buried in nearby Ames Chapel Cemetery.
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