December 1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION STAFF REPORT PROPERTY -- 322 East Colfax Avenue South Bend, Indiana OWNER -- Stephenson Mill Associates Limited Partnership C/O The Alexander Company 660 West Washington Madison Wisconsin STANDARDS The nomination proposes placement of this building on the National Register of Historic Places based on Criterion A: Event and Criterion C: Design Construction. National Register Bulletin 15 - How to APPly the National Register Criteria for Evaluation provides that "Properties can be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places if they are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history." It goes on to state "Criterion A recognizes properties associated with...a pattern of events, repeated activities or historical trends .... The events or trends ... must clearly be important within the associated context...." With regard to Criterion C, Bulletin 15 states that "Properties may be eligible for the National Register if they embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction...." These characteristics are further described as "The pattern of features common to a particular category of resources." RECOMMENDATION The Staff of the HPC recommends in favor of the nomination of Building #6 of the Stephenson Underwear Mill located at 322 East Colfax Avenue, South Bend, Indiana to the National Register of Historic Places. The building meets Criterion A as representative of the development of industrial production in South Bend during the period around the First World War and Criterion C as exemplary of industrial architecture in South Bend during that period. As described in the Statement of Significance section of the nomination, the building is among the only two remaining structures in South Bend representative of the garment industry which was especially significant for its employment of women in the industrial workforce. It is also significant as the only remaining structure associated with industrial production from this era located on the island by the East Race. The building is considered architecturally significant for its excellently preserved representation of. characteristics associated with functional - industrial architecture of this era, including concrete frame construction with masonry curtain walls and metal industrial sash windows. It is the opinion of HPC Staff that this building meets the criteria for eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. Staff recommends that the commission send a favorable ruling to the Mayor of South Bend and to the State Historic Preservation Office. DBD Director 12/8/94