Glenmerle

Glenmerle in the 1950s

In 2013 I published a biography on one of my favorite authors, Sheldon Vanauken. If you are interested, you can learn more and/or purchase a signed copy here: Signed Copy or an unsigned copy here: Amazon.

One of the things that got me writing the book was my search for the location of Glenmerle, Vanauken's childhood home, so lovingly described in his book, A Severe Mercy. A visit to Van's alma mater, Staunton Military Academy, alerted me to the fact that Van grew up in Carmel, Indiana. Then, with the help of a local historian, we identified the location of Glenmerle.

Because Van had suggested, in my first conversation with him, that Glenmerle was destroyed, I naturally assumed that the house no longer existed. However, another one of Van's fans recently contacted me to let me know that she believed she had found Glenmerle still in existence. I was able to look up the house on a real estate web site and compare current interior photos of the house with ones I had obtained from the family that bought the house from the Vanaukens. When compared, those photos did indeed indicate that they were the same house and that Glenmerle was still in existence.

So what did Van mean when he told me that Glenmerle was destroyed? It is possible he was referring to the fact that much of the land around his childhood home had been sold off and other houses built on the former grounds of Glenmerle, thus changing the entire feel of the property.

The house has also had some additions made to it. But here is what it looks like today:

If you happen to be in the area of Carmel, Indiana and want to drive by the house, the address is: 1804 Wood Valley Drive. But please know that the house is privately owned and so be respectful of the owner's privacy.

The same correspondent who alerted me to the existence of Glenmerle also shared with me Van and Davy's marriage license which she was able to locate. With that I was able to locate the church where Van and Davy were married, something that stumped me when I was writing my biography on Van. I hope to share that information in a future blog post...

Comments

Unknown said…

I am the current owner of this home, and I would love to share pics of what it is now (and receive old pics) of what it once was.

11:16 AM

Will Vaus said…

Thanks for leaving your comment! I would love to see whatever photos you would like to share. You may send digital photos to me at will@willvaus.com . I will not publish any of your photos without your permission.

11:31 AM

Unknown said…

I currently live in the Glenmerle house, and our family has been renovating it for nearly 10 years. I would very much enjoy seeing past pictures of the property.

3:26 PM

Will Vaus said…

I'd be happy to share old photos of Glenmerle. Just email me at will@willvaus.com . Thanks.

5:40 PM

Debra Carpenter said…

I lived in Lynchburg Va. from Jan. 1982 -1988
My husband,1 year old moved their from the Lebanon area of Pa. for him to attend Liberty University then known only as Liberty Baptist College.

I would take my little one on long walks to a park below Lynchburg College and then to a little store close by for a small treat. While at the park I noticed a little tiny cottage style home directly across from the park. Many times as I was swinging my son.....then daughter as well, I saw a small roadster style car (something you would see in England for sure) pull out of the small garage - a tall man almost too large for it speed off.....sometimes past our home on Greenwood Drive.
Later doing some research of my own found out it was Sheldon Vanauken....a bit of his past and the fact that he wrote a book 'A Severe Mercy' which I immediately ordered from a local book store. I still have that book......and have never forgotten its impact on my life.

10:44 AM

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