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• • • NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION STAFF REPORT PROPERTY -- 16581 Chandler Boulevard Mishawaka, Indiana OWNER -- Peter De Kever 16581 Chandler Boulevard Mishawaka, Indiana 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. Criteria Consideration B regarding moved properties must be considered in evaluation of this nomination. National Register Bulletin 15 - How to Apaly 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." Criteria Consideration B allows that historically significant location primarily for architectural value importantly associated with a histor i"a property removed from its original or can be eligible if it is significant or it is the surviving property most s person or event". RECOMMENDATION The Staff of the HPC recommends in favor of the nomination of the Mishawaka reservoir caretaker's residence located at 16581 Chandler Boulevard, Mishawaka, Indiana to the National Register of Historic Places. The building meets Criterion A as an rare example, unique in the State of Indiana, of a residence constructed by the WPA and Criterion C as a representation of a 1930s cottage that demonstrates the typical construction methods employed by the WPA. As described in the Statement of Significance section of the nomination, the City of Mishawaka applied for WPA funds in 1937 for the construction of a caretaker's residence for the cities recently built reservoir, which had also been funded by a New Deal program. The residence was to be "occupied by a responsible party" who would act as caretaker for the reservoir, but, whom would not be an employee of the water department. The cottage was to be a publicly owned private residence. In December of 1937 the WPA granted the funds its construction which began in March of 1938. Since the construction of the residence the Mishawaka reservoir caretaker's residence has stood alone as a remarkably intact example of WPA Workmanship applied to domestic architecture". The building is considered architecturally significant for its excellently preserved representation of the construction methods used by the WPA in the style of a 1930s cottage. It is a one and a half story cottage made of solid bridk with metal -framed casement windows and a gable roof line.