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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Application Number: Property Location: Property Owner: 2000-0208-2 2000-0208-3 108 (110/102) North Main Street John Freidline Landmark or District Designation: LL Rating: 0/13 Key Number: 18-1008-0331 Survey Card: 141-597-56161 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANE/HISTORIC CONTEXT John Mohler Studebaker was the vice president and treasurer of the Studebaker Manufacturing Company, later becoming president and chairman. Mr. Studebaker purchased lots 19 and 20 of the Original Plat of South Bend around 1908 with the intent of construction a new more modern office building. In 1909 he contracted Solon S. Beman, of Chicago, to design the building and H.G. Christman Company to build it. The architect, Mr. Beman, was originally from New York where he apprenticed with Richard UpJohn. After his apprenticeship he came to Chicago at the request of Mr. Pullman. Mr. Pullman hired Solon Beman to design his house and later had him design the town of Pullman, Illinois. Mr. Beman used his knowledge of the Chicago School of design along with his experience gained at the Colombian Exposition to design the eight -story JMS Building. Beman utilized steel, granite, glazed terra cotta and many classical decorative features in his design, which was finally realized in 1910. Upon it's opening the first floor of the building contained commercial businesses while the remaining seven floors were rented office space. John Mr. Studebaker owned the building until his death in 1917 when it was passed into the hands of a trusteeship set up in his will. The members of the trusteeship were, John Mohler Studebaker Jr., Frederick Fish and George Witwer, they maintained control of the building until April of 1936 when they relinquished their trusteeship to John Mohler Studebaker III. Eight months later in December of 1936 John Studebaker III sold the building to Eugene B. Warner for $175,000.00. Mr. Warner owned the property and continued its original use until his death in 1946, at which time the control of the building went to the First Bank & Trust as trustees. 18