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802 North Lafayette <br />Historical Context <br />This property is located on the northeast corner of North Lafayette and Bartlett <br />Streets, in South Bend, Indiana. It is described as being lots 12, 13 and 14 of <br />Reynolds Subdivision, of South Bend. <br />This four story brick and stone structure was designed by prominent South Bend <br />architects, Austin & Shambleau and constructed in 1925-1926 for the Young <br />Women's Christian Association. <br />The South Bend chapter of the YWCA was founded in 1903 by such prominent <br />citizens as Mrs. J. B. Birdsell, Mrs. G. Wyman, Mrs. Ellen Colfax and Mrs. J.F. <br />Studebaker. The first YWCA house opened in October of that year, it offered <br />housing, physical fitness activities, and a variety of classes which included, bible <br />study, history, basketry and pyrography. At the end of its first year the <br />association had nearly 400 members, 127 of which were enrolled in educational <br />classes. By 1905 the YWCA had out grown its present facility and was in <br />desperate need of more space. In February of 1906 George Wyman purchased <br />the Chestnutwood property on North Lafayette Boulevard and immediately <br />began construction of a new facility for the "Y". Upon its completion the <br />Wyman's signed over ownership of the property and facility to the YWCA Board <br />of Directors. Mr. Wyman also paid to have the entire structure furnished and <br />insured. As South Bend's population increased so did the YWCA's influence. <br />They expanded their programs to include various health, religious and industrial <br />classes, recreational activities, clubs, camps and social undertakings. As their <br />activities grew so did their need for more space. In 1924 a campaign to raise <br />funds for a larger facility began. The campaign for funds started during the <br />presidency of Mrs. W.H. Shonts and chairman Dr. C.A. Lippincott. The executive <br />board consisted of various prominent South Bend residents including; A.R. <br />Erskine, Mrs. Fred W. Keller, Mrs. J.F. Nuner, James D. Oliver II, Rome C. <br />Stephenson, Mrs. George Wyman and H.W. Eldridge. Mrs. Fred Keller and Mrs. <br />J.F. Nuner headed up the Building Committee. <br />The proposed building at the corner of Lafayette Boulevard and Bartlett Street <br />would be four stories tall, have 140 bedrooms and cost $200,000.00 to <br />complete. The Christman Company broke ground in October of 1925 and <br />completed the structure in time for its grand opening in the fall of 1926. <br />1 <br />