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Madison also exhibits -,features reminiscent of medieval castle or fortress <br />building traditions as opposed to cathedral architecture. Thick lower walls <br />between the foundation and window sill -line string -course resemble the <br />battered walls of a medieval fortress. Architectural elements such as the <br />castellated parapet, tower -like corner projections and heavy batten doors <br />further reiterate the fortress -inspired building form of this fine example <br />of the popular Collegiate Gothic style. <br />Historic Development <br />The origins of the James Madison school may be traced to 1863 when the <br />"Goose Pasture School" was built. Significant numbers of German immigrants <br />began settling South Bend in the 1850s; in subsequent decades they <br />congregated in the northern section of town. Many raised flocks of geese <br />for food, feathers and "goose grease." The territory consequently became <br />known as "Goose Pasture." The first school constructed in this area to <br />accommodate the children of these immigrants derived its name from this <br />fact. <br />This original school was built in 1864 and was located at the intersection <br />of Lafayette and Madison Streets. Between 1864 and 1892 it functioned much <br />like a rural, four -room school house. It was built of yellow brick and was <br />two stories high with two school rooms on each floor. The locally prominent <br />citizen and historian, Otto Knoblock, attended this original school. Later <br />in life he maintained a "black memorandum book" in which he recorded the <br />names of individuals who attended the Goose Pasture School from 1864-1880. <br />The list reveals that many children of early pioneer, north -side families <br />attended the school. <br />With the expanding settlement around the area, and growing demands for the <br />education of young people, the "old Madison School" building was replaced <br />by a larger building in 1893. This building was constructed of red brick <br />with stone trimmings and slate roof. The cost involved was approximately <br />$25,000.00. It was abandoned as a school in 1929 and for some years served <br />as a food distribution center for the Portage Township Trustee before being <br />razed. <br />At the end of 1925 the Board of Education saw the necessity of a new school <br />to supplant the "second Madison School" building. After months of intensive <br />study the Board decided that the old site and structure had become <br />inadequate and was obsolete for the growing needs of the north side. <br />The Board of Education hired planning expert, E. D. Cline, to provide <br />recommendations. Following an exhaustive survey, he endorsed the following <br />site: "three quarters of a block bounded by North Lafayette Boulevard on <br />the west, West Foote street on the north, Main Street on the east and West <br />Bartlett street on the south. Leeper Park is opposite to the site on the <br />north and the west." On this site the Board agreed to build the new Madison <br />School. <br />Madison School was constructed of brick with stone trim and was completed <br />late in 1929 at a cost of approximately $275,000.00. Initially the <br />structure was to be used as a combination elementary and junior high <br />school, designed to accommodate 840 students. It was intended to replace <br />the old Madison and Foster schools and to relieve congestion at the Muessel <br />School. The Board of Education decided that sufficient funds -were not <br />available for such a large structure and only the elementary portion of the <br />3 <br />