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51177 LILAC ROAD <br />HISTORICAL CONTEXT <br />George V. Fisher purchased this farm from Jacob Barnhart in 1868 for $6,000.00. Mr. <br />Fisher was born in South Bend in 1843 to Elias and Lydia Fisher. He married Phoebe J. <br />Dunn in 1867 and had three children, Dora, Nellie and Ora. Mr. Fisher resided in a, <br />previously existing structure until 1879 when he torn the house down to make way for a <br />new two story Vernacular Style house. The Fisher family lived in the new dwelling for <br />nearly twenty years, selling it to Robert Myler in 1897. Mr. Myler only owned the farm <br />for a year; he sold it to William Smith in 1898. Mr. Smith owned the property for forty- <br />seven years. He finally sold the property and buildings to Harold C. and Lelia Fry in <br />1945. <br />Mr. Fry was born in Fulton County in 1905. He married Lelia E. Swihart, a teacher, in <br />1930. Mr. Fry retired in 1967 after 25 years as a tool designer for the Dodge <br />Manufacturing Company in Mishawaka. He resided at this address until his death in <br />1988 at age 83. His wife, Lelia, sold the property seven months later to the current <br />owner, Jill Ann Hall. Ms. Hall transferred the title into her married name and co -owned <br />it with her husband Jack Temple in 1989. The house was transferred again in 1998 back <br />into Mrs. Temples' maiden name. <br />ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION <br />The property at 51177 Lilac Road is located on the west side of Lilac Road, north of <br />Auten Road and west of the St. Joseph River, St. Joseph County, Indiana. The property <br />encompasses 5 acres of flat land containing, trees, shrubs, a house, shed and large garage. <br />See Attachment for legal description. <br />This is a two-story Vernacular Style farmhouse with a stone foundation, gabled asphalt <br />shingled roof, clapboard walls and a single story rear addition. The windows are 2/2 and <br />1/1 wood double hung with classical hood ornaments. The house also boasts a bow <br />window on the south fagade with entablature and brackets. The front door is wood with a <br />multi -paned wood storm door. The house also has a small front/side porch on south <br />fagade with stone foundation, concrete pad, slightly pitched hip roof, dart decoration <br />under the eaves and is supported by three turned columns. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Based on the Historic Preservation Commission's Local Landmark Criteria's adopted by <br />the County Council, the site, structures and objects at 51177 Lilac has been <br />recommended to the County Council for designation as a Local Landmark by the Historic <br />Preservation Commission. <br />2 <br />