Laserfiche WebLink
HISTORICAL CONTEXT <br />In the mid to late 1920s the real estate company took out additional mortgages to pay for <br />the construction of a 46 unit addition which became the east wing of the building, <br />making it the largest apartment building in South Bend. Mr. Davies continued as <br />president of the Mar -Main Arms Realty Company until his death in 1928 at age 71. <br />In 1936 the building was sold in a sheriffs sale to the Mar -Main Corporation, which was <br />simply the realty company restructured. They continued to own the complex until 1987 <br />when it was sold to the Midwest Commerce Banking Company, possibly as a result of the <br />extensive damage and expense incurred by a fire that badly damaged the west wing of the <br />complex in 1986. The Midwest Commerce Bank continued to repair the building while <br />renting out the finished apartments until 1993 when they sold the Mar -Main to the <br />Indiana Land Trust, who sold it two years later to the current owners, Donna and John <br />Freidline. <br />ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION <br />This is a five story Classical Revival style apartment complex. It has 133 units, is "U" in <br />shape and has a stone foundation. The walls are made of red stretcher bond brick with <br />white mortar, stone shingle course at the base and second floor and stone panels in <br />-- groups of three between each of the floors windows. The building has a flat roof with a <br />brick balustrade wall to hide the roof mechanics. It also, boasts finials above stone panels <br />which are inset in decorative brick on the balustrade along with a stone frieze at the roof <br />line. The windows are four over four double hung with stone quoin surround and sills <br />and are found in sets of twos or threes. The front door enters off a court yard in between <br />the east and west wings and has two double modern glazed and aluminum doors with a <br />polygon shaped portico which extends from the facade with stone surrounds and awning. <br />The courtyard, which is located between the wings, is surrounded by a stonewall toped <br />with an iron fence across the entrance which is flanked by iron lanterns. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Based on the Historic Preservation Commission's Local Landmark Criteria's adopted by <br />the Common Council, the building at 125 West Marion has been recommended to the <br />Common Council for designation as a Local Landmark by Historic Preservation <br />Commission. <br />