The Harry Cooler Conference Center, known locally as the Mills House, is a prime example of mid-century modern architecture and design. One Mission Society, a global missions organization headquartered across the street from the house on Fry Road in Greenwood, has purchased the property. SUBMITTED PHOTO
The Harry Cooler Conference Center, known locally as the Mills House, is a prime example of mid-century modern architecture and design. One Mission Society, a global missions organization headquartered across the street from the house on Fry Road in Greenwood, has purchased the property. SUBMITTED PHOTO
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From its perch along Fry Road, the historic Mills House is a Greenwood icon.

The stunning structure is a perfect example of mid-century modern architecture and design. Brown County flagstone gives the structure a natural aesthetic, with wooden accents blending in perfectly with the surrounding landscape.

Inside, shades of coral, turquoise and other bright colors, illuminated by statement lighting common in the 1950s, hanging from the ceiling, are ubiquitous.

The Mills House, once in danger of falling into complete disrepair, has been brought back to life.

Now, another longtime Greenwood institution is stepping forward to purchase it.

One Mission Society, a global missions organization whose headquarters has been across the street from the Mills House since 1966, has purchased the property currently known as the Harry Cooler Conference Center. Though One Mission Society leaders aren’t certain what they will do with the house and surrounding grounds, they are dedicated to maintaining one of Greenwood’s most unique structures.

“We take great responsibility to steward it into this next chapter,” said Tom Overton, One Mission Society USA’s chief operating officer. “What we plan to do with the property is undetermined, but the house will be cared for well and stewarded well. There’s not plans at all to get rid of the house or anything like that.

"We take our position as Greenwood residents and a Greenwood organization seriously, and we want to see all of the great things Greenwood has preserved.”

Originally built around 1955, the Mills House was designed by Harry Cooler, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and is one of a kind in the region. Glass aquarium corners give the sense of stepping into the outdoors and looking out over the wooded land around it, even while staying indoors.

Ingeniously designed window placements and skylights allow for ample natural light but never overwhelming direct sunlight. Closets and doors are hidden in plain sight, without handles or hinges. Well-placed skylights allow for indoor gardens filled with live plants.

But in 2014, the grandiose structure was in bad shape. Multiple owners had come and gone until the house stood empty. The roof collapsed, and mold had ruined wood paneling and walls. Animals and insects had made their homes in the structure. Water damage had taken a toll on the terrazzo floor and most other surfaces.

The situation was so dire that Indiana Landmarks included the house on its “10 Most Endangered” list.

But in 2018, the structure was given new life. Todd Anthony, a longtime Greenwood resident and owner of DiscountFilters, purchased the home and started renovations.

Over the course of a year, he replaced the multi-tiered, cantilevered roofs, repaired terrazzo flooring, installed new interior heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing systems and completely redid the kitchen and baths.

The renovations were completed in early 2020, and afterwards, the Cooler Conference Center opened to the public for events.

But in 2025, the decision came to sell the property. A nearby neighbor was instantly interested in buying.

One Mission Society is a Christian mission organization that equips individuals to evangelize in countries around the world. Currently, the organization works in about 85 countries, focusing on a variety of projects and missions to improve lives and spread Christianity.

“As Christians, we believe there still a number of people — millions, billions around the world — who have not heard the Gospel message of Jesus. It’s our call within the kingdom work to send missionaries to the ends of the earth to tell about Jesus,” Overton said.

Founded in 1901, One Mission Society was created when two telegraph operators, Charles Cowman and Ernest Kilbourne, moved from Chicago to Tokyo, Japan, to work alongside Japanese evangelist Juji Nakada. For the first half of its existence, the organization was headquartered in Los Angeles, situating their base on Rodeo Drive in the heart of Hollywood.

But in the mid-1960s, leaders realized a majority of the churches, constituents and donors they worked with were in the Midwest, and searched for a new center of operations in the area.

Greenwood was chosen to be that location.

“From what I understood, a search party came and secured this piece of property,” Overton said. “We began building in 1965, and this building and some of the houses here on our campus were dedicated in 1966. This has been our international headquarters ever since then, and we completely appreciate and take very seriously our part in the history of Greenwood.”

One Mission Society’s headquarters is hard to miss driving down Fry Road, with its row of flying international flags set against its brick-and-stone building. A 34-acre campus is spread around it, with residences and offices for its various programs.

But as Greenwood has grown around the campus, expansion opportunities have been limited, Overton said. That made the availability of the Cooler Conference Center property enticing.

“Adding acreage to our campus is always a good thing. You can never have too much room. It’s directly across Fry Road from us, so it made sense to investigate the opportunity at our existing campus,” Overton said. “Being a longtime Greenwood organization, and the Mills House being a longtime Greenwood institution, it just made sense.”

This wasn’t the first time the property had caught the organization’s attention.

“I didn’t know this when we initially made the purchase, but 10 or 12 years ago, before it was remodeled, (One Mission Society) tried to purchase the house when it was quite in disarray. Again, it was right across from our campus and we wanted to see it lived into the glory it had,” Overton said. “For whatever reason, that didn’t happen.”

The sale was announced in January. One Mission Society is still determining how it will use the property, but with seven acres of land and a unique mid-century modern design, the possibilities to fully take advantage of it.

“We have some ideas, but nothing is set in stone. That will be determined over the course of time,” Overton said. “We want to steward it well. There’s a little bit of work that needs to be done to it, so once the weather breaks, we’ll have the opportunity to do some of the care.”

As One Mission Society celebrates its 125th anniversary this year with a large celebration at the University of Indianapolis, the addition of the Mills House is a special opportunity for the organization.

“It’s quite an interesting property. It’s more than just the house; there’s seven acres and a vineyard and all kinds of interesting gazebos. It’s a clean slate for us, what we use it for,” Overton said.
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