Millionaire Indianapolis businessman whose grave monument has a unique sundial. His estate was located at 6700 Fall Creek Road in Indianapolis and was known as "The House of Blue Lights." According to Indianapolis legend, the somewhat eccentric Mr. Test kept his first wife's body in a glass casket surrounded by blue lights and visible through a large picture window. It was a rite of manhood for a few generations of Indianapolis youth to sneak into the estate to try to glance into the house. Blue was Mr. Test's favorite color and blue Christmas lights were hung around the house and the swimming pool year around. The Skiles estate included two complete power plants and a cat and dog cemetery with headstones. Mr. Test loved animals and refused to turn away strays. At one time he reportedly had 150 cats and 15 St. Bernard dogs on his estate. After his death, albums of photographs of dogs, cats, squirrels and other animals lying in state in small caskets were found among his possessions. In spite of his reputation for eccentricity, Mr. Test was a friendly and generous man who supported many charities. He donated a large tract of land to the Lawrence Township School District that is now the site of Skiles Test Elementary School and a nearby nature preserve. A large portrait of Mr. Test is displayed in the lobby of the school. He is the subject of a book, "Skiles Test and the House of Blue Lights."
Millionaire Indianapolis businessman whose grave monument has a unique sundial. His estate was located at 6700 Fall Creek Road in Indianapolis and was known as "The House of Blue Lights." According to Indianapolis legend, the somewhat eccentric Mr. Test kept his first wife's body in a glass casket surrounded by blue lights and visible through a large picture window. It was a rite of manhood for a few generations of Indianapolis youth to sneak into the estate to try to glance into the house. Blue was Mr. Test's favorite color and blue Christmas lights were hung around the house and the swimming pool year around. The Skiles estate included two complete power plants and a cat and dog cemetery with headstones. Mr. Test loved animals and refused to turn away strays. At one time he reportedly had 150 cats and 15 St. Bernard dogs on his estate. After his death, albums of photographs of dogs, cats, squirrels and other animals lying in state in small caskets were found among his possessions. In spite of his reputation for eccentricity, Mr. Test was a friendly and generous man who supported many charities. He donated a large tract of land to the Lawrence Township School District that is now the site of Skiles Test Elementary School and a nearby nature preserve. A large portrait of Mr. Test is displayed in the lobby of the school. He is the subject of a book, "Skiles Test and the House of Blue Lights."
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