April 1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Horace was connected with pioneer merchant, J. G. Bartlett, and eventually became a traveling salesman for the Studebaker Wagon Company. In 1892 he became interested in the Miller- Knoblock Company, which manufactured wagons, eventually becoming the Companies vice - president. He remained with this company until 1898 when President McKinley appointed Mr. Miller South Bend's Postmaster. Horace continued as postmaster until his retirement in 1906 at which time he became very active in South Bend's real estate circle. The remaining parcel of land, Kent's Subdivision of BOL 113 and 114 was platted in 1872 by James D. Kent. Mr. Kent was born in 1843 and married Anna Hartsell in 1867, together they had five boys. Mr. Kent served during the Civil War as a private in Indiana's 21 st Artillery. After he was mustered out Mr. Kent spent the rest of his life as a professional house painter. By the 1899 several houses were located along Cushing Street, south of Lindsey Street. By the turn of the century residences were beginning to be built on Cushing and Portage streets, north of Lindsey Street. [7] City directories from 1895 to 1910 reveal that houses sprang up quickly along Cushing Street soon after platting; houses were being built as fast as lots were sold. By 1900 Cushing Street was under rapid development with 37 structures existing along Cushing and Portage Streets. By 1916 the neighborhood was nearly complete with about sixty - five houses having been constructed. In 1924 the neighborhood as it stands today was essentially in place. [8] From the beginning the neighborhood was predominantly middle - class. By the teens almost 80% of the residents here that can be identified by occupation were either professionals, business owners or held white - collar positions of various kinds. The neighborhood was located within easy access to the street -car line on Portage Avenue, providing transportation to work and shopping before automobiles came into common use. [9] This area continued as a middle -class enclave through the Second World War, in fact many of the original residence continued to live in this neighborhood for an average of twenty-five years, making the neighborhood a worthy representative example of both a time and a specific class of people. Conclusion #. Standard criteria for historic districts suggest designating those groups of structures "that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association." [ 10] This group of buildings readily fulfill these criteria. The neighborhood consists of residential structures of the vernacular Queen Anne, American Four - Square, Gabled Ell, Dutch Colonial Revival, Stick and Vernacular types or variations of these forms constructed of a similar size and materials. 4