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one story concrete block addition abuts the brick structure. The concrete block building was used as the printing shop when it was constructed in 1924. At the rear of the concrete structure is a metal overhead door for delivery and loading. The first floor street facade exhibits a brick pilaster at either end of the modern shop'front windows. This one story enframed window wall store front consists of large plate glass windows with a recessed entry. The area directly under the terra-cotta stringcourse is occupied by three large horizontal windows. The second story openings on the front facade are large single pane plate glass windows with metal casing. The extant south side windows indicate these openings were probably at one time fitted with paired 2/2 double hung windows. HISTORIC CONTEXT This building is located in an section of South Michigan Street that was developed from 1911-1930 predominantly as a commercial area. Many of the structures were investment properties leased to a variety of businesses. The businesses changed frequently. This area is significant as one of South Bend's only remaining commercial districts of the period, reflecting the use of terra cotta and brick in a variety of styles from Sullivanesque to Neoclassical.[2] Lot 9 of Martin's Addition (516-518 South Michigan) was purchased by Jacob Kerner in 1916 as an investment property, but he did not build on the site until 1921.[3] Mr. Kerner was born October 5, 1860 in Erie, Pennsylvania. At the age of fifteen he became a volunteer firefighter in the city of South Bend. A few years later, he was in charge of the fire brigade at the Studebaker Corporation, a job that he held for two years. When South Bend formed its first paid fire department in 1886, Jacob Kerner was hired as the Second Assistant Chief. In 1891 he was promoted to First Assistant Chief. In 1894 he retired from the fire department and went to work for American Express Company until he was appointed South Bend Fire Chief:in 1898. He served in this position until 1901. [4] Mr. Kerner's construction at 516-518 South Michigan was complete by 1925 at which time it housed Paul Anderson's Electric Shop, the Monarch Printing Company, and Don E. Williams, and autoworker who lived in the 2nd floor apartment. As with most commercial buildings in the area, the businesses changed rapidly, although Monarch Printing Company remained at this location until 1935. [5] The building appears to have been transferred from Kerner's wife Maggie Kerner to Isadore & Jacob Mooren in 1926, but Mooren became delinquent and defaulted on what is assumed to be a land contract. The Moorens surrendered their interest in the property in 1932 to Emma Staples. Staples died in 1936 and her heir Rita M. Littleton received the property. The property changed hands several more times until 1963 when it was purchased by Joe Gendel.[6] It housed Gendel's International Sales Warehouse and Gendel's Surplus Sales business from 1965 until 1977.[7] The property suffered a fire sometime in the 1.980's. The interior of the structure was gutted.[8] The building was purchased from Mr. Gendel and rehabilitated as the Pro Sound Musical Instruments shop in 1987. This business lasted only a short time. The building has recently been purchased again by Mr. Gendel and is currently used for