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415 WEST WAYNE HISTORICAL CONTEXT George L. Hager purchased parts of lots 4 and 5 of Vail's Block 4 in 1908 from Robert Milton. He immediately hired local architects, Austin and Shambleau to design a home for his family. What developed was a 2 -%2 -story Dutch Colonial/ Shingle Style house that was completed in 1910. Mr. Hager was born in Hagersville, Canada in 1862. The town was named after his father, Charles Hager. George grew up assisting his father in his postmaster duties as well as aiding Alexander Graham Bell in 1872 with one of the earliest documented demonstrations of the telephone. Mr. Bell -strung a line from_theHager-home_to-the-local church and had George's aunt's sing over the phone to the congregation. George Hager moved out of his family home and came to St. Joseph County in 1886. Upon his arrival he became connected with the proprietary business conducted by John McGill. In 1888 George married Mary Stephenson, who died in 1907. A year later he married Anna Lawson Midgley of Hagersville, Canada. Mr. Hager left his previous position to start the Hager Company in 1890 at 220 S William. The Company quickly became one of the best ready -to -use medicine businesses of its kind in America. George Hager died in 1936, leaving the house to his wife, Anna. Mrs. Hager rented the house out and moved to Florida following her husband's death. She remained there until 1950 when poor health caused her to return to her son's home. She died there on August 20, 1950. Upon her death the house was sold to Louis H. Jones. Mr. Jones continued to use the building as a rental until 1957 when he sold it to Arnold, Carolyn and Ronald Joers. Arnold and Carolyn Joers sold their interest in the property to the current owner Ronald Joers in 1977. Mr. Joers has since divided the building into separate apartments and continues to use the structure for rental purposes. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION The property at 415 West Wayne Street is located on the northeast corner of West Wayne and William Streets, adjacent to a north/south alley in South Bend, Indiana. It is described as 50' East end, except 6 '/2 feet on the North side of lot 15 and 50' East end of lot 16 Vail's Block 4, South Bend, Indiana. This is a two and a half story Dutch Colonial/Shingle Style house with an irregular plan, brick foundation and an offset brick chimney. The roof is a plain gambrel with a 12/10 - belle cast front gable with asphalt shingles; cornice fascia and a closed soffit on the front over hang. The second story walls are claded in wood shingles while brick covers the first floor. The house also boasts molded wood stringcourse and square corner projection on east side. The front porch has a stone floor; brick walls with stone cap and is supported by two corner brick columns and two wood, Doric columns that flank the cement stairs.