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53233 FIR ROAD HISTORICAL CONTEXT This property is located on the Northwest corner of Cass and Fir Roads in St. Joseph County, Indiana. It is described as being Lot "A" of the Cheerhart Estates Replat, Section 27 Township 38 Range 3E in St. Joseph County, Indiana. Charles and Susan Cheerhart built this wood frame farmhouse in 1876. Mr. Cheerhart came to Harris Township in 1845 with his mother and stepfather, Mary and John Beglin. The family resided in an earlier structure on this property and earned their living as farmers until 1871 when Mr. & Mrs. Beglin sold the farm and house to Charles. Mr. Cheerhart demolished the family home a year later and began construction on this two story Vernacular style home, to which, he added Italianate and Gothic features. Charles married Susan knocker in 1862 and sired three daughters and one son. Mr. Cheerhart continued to operate the family farm until his death in 1911. Susan Cheerhart resided in the house for another ten years, leaving it to her son after her death in 1921. John was born in this house in 1888; he married Martha Ellen Ward and sired five children. John Cheerhart ran the farm until his death in 1951 at age 85. He left the property to his daughter Florence Apperson and her husband Jordan. Mrs. Apperson owned the house for four years during which time the house remained vacant. She eventually sold it to Joseph and Lisa Bartolini in 1955. Mr. Bartolini, the co -owner and operator of the "Florence Cafe" in South Bend purchased the house as a summer retreat. He was born in Italy in 1899 and moved to Mishawaka in 1909. Joseph married Elizabeth Veroni of Illinois, in 1923 and had a son, Dominick. The Bartolini's utilized the house as a get -away as well as rental property, eventually letting the property deteriorate. Joseph continued to own the house until his death in 1970 leaving it to his wife, Elizabeth, who upon her death in 1977 left it to their son, Dominick J. Bartolini. Dominick owned the house for five years during which time it remained vacant and open to vandals. Mr. Bartolini was eventually persuaded to sell the house in 1990 to the current owners, Thomas and Cindy Huff. The Huffs have since restored and rehabilitated the property.