Lauramoore House
Lauramoore Guest House & Retreat Center is a beautifully preserved 14-room Italiante-style home built in 1860. Located less than a mile from the ESR campus–about a 15 minute walk–it offers convenient accommodations for visiting students, Board members and other guests of ESR, Bethany and Earlham College. Its address is 504 N.W. Fifth Street, Richmond, Indiana. Originally a private residence, then for many years a nonprofit retirement home, in 2010 Lauramoore Friends Home, Inc. gave the property to Earlham School of Religion.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Each room in Lauramoore House has individual heat and air conditioning controls, as well as a closet or wardrobe, a dresser or shelving, a reading light, alarm clock and desk. Bed and bath linens are provided.
Common areas include a parlor with an Apple computer, printer and a piano; living room with cable TV; dining room with a table for 12; fully stocked kitchen, and laundry/pantry. WiFi is available throughout the house.
The two-acre property includes a large parking lot, gardens and large shady lawns.
For reservations, please complete a reservation form. If you have questions about reserving a room at Lauramoore, please contact (765) 983-1423.
Reservation and nightly rental rates
There is a 50% additional fee for a second person in one room.
| Active students | $40-45 |
| Alumni/ae | $50 |
| Other guests | $75 |
| Earlham College students | $30 |
Contact ESR for rates for meetings, retreats and other group events.
ROOMS AND FURNISHINGS
First Floor
- Room #1: Resident host.
- Room #2: Twin bed, sink in room.
- Room #3: Twin bed, ½ bath in room.
Second floor
- Room #4: Two twin beds, shares full bath with #6
- Room #5: Queen bed, shares full bath with #7
- Room #6: Two twin beds, shares full bath with #4
- Bedroom #7: Twin bed, shares full bath with #5
- Bedroom #8: Double bed, access to full bath in hallway right outside room
- Bedroom #9: Full bed, access to full bath in hallway right outside room
- Bedroom #10: Twin Bed, shares full bath with #
Guidelines
Lauramoore House is available for purposes that further the mission of ESR, the Religious Society of Friends, the wider church in general, and appropriate Earlham College activities or events. This includes, but is not limited to, ESR and Bethany prospective students, guest speakers at the seminaries and the College, students taking Intensive and week-end classes, ESR Board of Advisors and Earlham/Bethany Board of Trustees. It may also be used for meetings, retreats, and other gatherings of groups that meet the above criteria. The ESR administration will determine the appropriateness of all requests.
In keeping with ESR’s commitment to Quaker values of respect for all persons, equality, and peace and social justice, harassment or assault is grounds for being asked to leave.
Usage policies are posted in each bedroom, and in various common areas. Guests are expected to read and observe all policies, and cooperate with other guests by sharing bathrooms and common areas.
The house is not handicap-accessible and pets are not allowed in the house at any time. It does not have cribs, highchairs or other child-related furnishings.
Lauramoore is a non-smoking, alcohol- and drug-free facility.
A Resident Host is available to assist guests during their stay.
Keys may be picked up or returned at either ESR or Lauramoore House, depending on time of arrival or departure.
History of Lauramoore House
Formerly known as the Mary Birdsall house, Lauramoore House is significant in the areas of social history, politics and government as the home of Mary Thistlewaite Birdsall, a premier suffragist and advocate of women’s rights in Indiana during the mid-nineteenth century.