8630-95 Establishing Historic Landmark 518 South Michigan St

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Mr. Kerner's construction at 516-518 South Michigan was complete by 1925 at which time it housed Paul Anderson's Electric Shop, the Monarch Printing Company, and Don E. Williams, and autoworker who lived in the 2nd floor apartment. As with most commercial buildings in the area, the businesses changed rapidly, although Monarch Printing Company remained at this location until 1935. [5] The building appears to have been transferred from Kerner's wife Maggie Kerner to Isadore & Jacob Mooren in 1926, but Mooren became delinquent and defaulted on what is assumed to be a land contract. The Moorens surrendered their interest in the property in 1932 to Emma Staples. Staples died in 1936 and her heir Rita M. Littleton received the property. The property changed hands several more times until 1963 when it was purchased by Joe Gendel. [6] It housed Gendel's International Sales Warehouse and Gendel's Surplus Sales business from 1965 until 1977.[7] The property suffered a fire sometime in the 1980's. The interior of the structure was gutted.[8] The building was purchased from Mr. Gendel and rehabilitated as the Pro Sound Musical Instruments shop in 1987. This business lasted only a short time. The building has recently been purchased again by Mr. Gendel and is currently used for storage.[9] 1. Historic Preservation Commission Resolution No.3: Historic Landmarks Procedure (July 14, 1975) . 2. City of South Bend Summary Report- Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory (South Bend: 1993) . 3. Portage Township Tax Assessor's Records (1932) . 4. Anderson & Cooley, South Bend and the Men Who Made It, The Tribune Printing Co. (South Bend: 1901) . 5. South Bend City Directory, 1925. 6. Deed Records Bk.180, Pg.372; Bk.386, Pg.110; Bk.363, Pg.276,289,290. 7. South Bend City Directory, 1965-1977. 8. Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory, survey card, 518 South Michigan. 9. Portage Township Tax Assessor's Records. CAA 5/9/95 DBD 8/30/95