8609-95 Establishing Historic Landmark 511 W Colfax Ave

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511 West Colfax RECOMMENDATION Based on the HPC Local Landmark Criteria [1] , the building at 511 West has been recommended by the Landmarks Committee of the Historic Preservation Commission as a Local Historic Landmark. The building meets the criteria in at least five areas. 1.) Its character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage or culture of the City of South Bend or St. Joseph County, the State of Indiana, or the United States; 2.) Its embodiment of elements of architectural design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship which represents an architectural characteristic or innovation; 3.) Its educational value; 4.) Its suitability for preservation; 5.) its identification with the life of a person or persons of historical significance; The building fulfills criteria #1 as material evidence of one of South Bend's important industrial families - the Birdsells. The house was built in 1898 for J.B. Birdsell, President and Treasurer of the Birdsell Manufacturing Co. The building fulfills criteria #2 as an excellent example of a turn of the century Tudor Revival style residence rated 0/13 in the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Survey featuring half timbering Tudor detailing and a stone porch and first story facade. The structure was designed by architect Wilson B. Parker. [2] The building fulfills criteria #3 as an excellent example of the past culture of one of the important industrial families of South Bend. This structure represents an intact example of historic architecture that expresses a quality of workmanship and aesthetic that is rare elsewhere in South Bend. The building meets criteria #4 by the integrity of its original construction with only minor alterations. The building meets criteria #5 for serving for 30 years as the offices of attorney F. Jay Nimtz who was a congressman and civic leader. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION The building is located one house west of the northwest corner of West Colfax Avenue and Williams Street in the West Washington Local Historic District. The property retains a grass front yard area and the rear is a paved parking area. The front facade is oriented on Colfax Avenue The first story is built of field stone with tooled mortar joints . The second story is of unusually thin brick, and the attic story is frame with stucco and half-timbering in the gables. The foundation is concrete and stone and the plan is a simple rectangle with irregularities. The asphalt shingle roof is essentially a steeply pitched side gable with a hipped roof extension in the rear. The roofline exhibits two gable front dormers, one quite large over the