March 1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

RECOMMENDATION Based on HPC Local Landmark Criteria [8], it is the staff recommendation that the Historic Preservation Commission recommend the Woolman House at 710 North Cushing to the South Bend Common Council for designation by ordinance as a Local Historic Landmark. The property meets the criteria in at least two areas: 1. "its embodiment of elements of architectural design, details, materials, or craftsmanship which represents an architectural characteristic ...;" 2. "its suitability for preservation." The Woolman House meets the first criteria as example of the work of a significant local architect --Walter W. Schneider --that exemplifies the early twentieth-century vernacular Prairie form now called American Foursquare by architectural historians. Its materials and architectural details remain unaltered and the structure as a whole exhibits a level of craftsmanship and design uniquely characteristic of its period. The property is suitable for preservation as a significant contributing structure within an area that contains a notable concentration of unaltered domestic architecture. The attention and care paid to its maintenance and preservation by its owners should be recognized and bolstered by local recognition and protection by ordinance. F. Holycross March, 1993 Notes • 1. Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory: Survey Manual for Architectural and Historical Resources (Indianapolis: Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, 1988): G -3; -The Portage Township Assessor Card (1932) shows that this structure was built in 1882 (likely wrong, see below), and that it was "remodeled" in 1924. It also shows W.W. Schnieder as the architect; the Sanborn Insurance Map (1917) shows a two story house with a different "footprint" than the present structure, a one and two story barn -like structure and a "crib." 2. City of South Bend Summary Report (South Bend: 1982): 33; South Bend Sites and Structures Resurvey (computer data -base; 1993). 3. Plat Book 3:1, the Agricultural Society Addition is located on the site where the first county fairgrounds was located on the Niles Road (now Portage) running northwest out of the city; St. Joseph County Deed Record: 100:450; South Bend City Directories (1889-1906): no structure appears on Cushing until 1896 when Woolman is listed at 826. From 1898 to 1904 he is listed at 610 Cushing; in 1906 the address becomes 710. It seems likely that, due to the various address changes occurring during these years as the area developed, these are all the same structure. 4. Deed Records: 129:89; 145:129. South Bend Tribune (Gish obit.)12-21-34: 2:12. Gish was born. in Buchanan, Michigan; married to William D. Gish in 1876; two sons, Walter and John. 5. Tribune (obit; Louis Levy) 12-15-53:14; (obit.; Bessie Levy) 11-10-51:10. City Directories: 1912-1940. 6. City Directories: 1943-1950; Tribune: 6-13-46; (obit.; F. Turfler)5-20-84. •7. Tribune: (obit.; H. Garabadian) 2-5-80:34. City Directories: 1953-1970. 8. Historic Preservation Commission Resolution No. 3: Historic Landmarks Procedure (July 14, 1975). 3