8567-95 Establishig Historic Landmark Building 1601 Kemble Ave

Home Browse Search

No historic structures remain in this district of the city which lay between the Studebaker and Oliver industrial complexes. The building under present consideration was constructed in 1924.[10] It was designed by W. W. Schneider, a prolific architect who practiced in South Bend between 1896 and 1957.[11] Nearly 80 extant structures in South Bend are credited to Schneider either individually or in partnership including; the Natatorium, River Park Theater, Knights of Pythias Building, and residences for many noteworthy South Bend citizens including the Studebaker, Birdsell, and Cutter families. Works by Schneider are also known in Mishawaka and Paw Paw Michigan.[12][13] In addition to the Toth Bank on Kemble Avenue, this building also had space for commercial tenants with the address 1006 Indiana Avenue. This space was occupied by the South Side Electric Company from 1926 until 1928 when it was occupied by Joseph Kohajda, a barber and John Schamski of unidentified occupation. In 1929 this address is vacant, however six various occupants are listed at 1006 1/2 Indiana including a dentist and beauty shop.[14] The bank apparently did well as by 1929, George Toth is found residing at 1130 West Washington, a prestigious address at the time. Gergacz had also improved his circumstances considerably having moved from his previous address in his Prairie Avenue Gergacz Hotel to a very stately home at 739 West Washington. [15] The New York Stock Market crash and ensuing bank panic in October of this year, spelled disaster for the Toth State Bank and its depositors if not for the officers personally. In March of 1930 the bank was declared insolvent and closed with the management of liquidation being placed in the hands of the Citizens Trust and Savings Bank.[16] During the next ten years, the Toth State depositors would receive six dividend payments on their deposits amounting to 41% of their original deposits.[17] In December of 1936, a stockholders protective committee was formed with Joseph Vaghy, chairman; Walter Eckler, assistant chairman; Sam Berman, secretary; and Peter Nemeth, treasurer.[18] George Toth seems to have weathered the crash of '29 without the total destruction of his personal resources as in 1930 he and his wife purchased a new home designed by H.R. Stapp at 1322 East Wayne Street North in the fashionable new Sunnymede subdivision developed by Whitcomb & Keller.[19] In 1931 he was operating a real estate business out of the 1006 Indiana Avenue address. By 1935, Toth had relocated his residence to a more modest home in the Sunnymede subdivision at 1436 Sunnymede. By that time his business was as an agent for the William Penn Insurance Association operating out of his home. [20] This name may be related to the William Penn Club which was located on Indiana Avenue in the same block as the Toth State Bank and counted several Toth State Bank associates among its membership.[21] By this year, only three banks and two loan companies survived in the city of South Bend.[22] At the time of his death in 1967 at the age of 84 George Toth was the district manager for the William Penn Insurance Association and had moved to 60140 South St. Joseph Street at the south edge of South Bend. Most of the other officers and directors of the Toth State Bank survived into the 50's and 60's as well.[23] After the failure of the bank, its portion of the building remained vacant until 1947 when the F&S Transit Company was listed at this address. This occupancy was followed in 1949 by the South Bend Tool & Die Co. Inc. Engineering Department which appears to have shared the building in some way with Stream-Eze Inc. , a manufacturer of fishing tackle from 1950 through 1952.[24] David B. Duvall November, 1994