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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Application Number: 2000-0306 Property Location: 108 N. Main Property Owner: John Freidline Landmark or District Designation: LL Rating: 0/13 Key Number: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT John Mohler Studebaker purchased lots 19 and 20 of the Original Plat of South Bend around 1908 with the intent of constructing a new modern office building. Mr. Studebaker was the vice president and treasurer of the Studebaker Manufacturing Company, later becoming the president. 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 designed Mr. Pullman's house and later Pullman, Illinois. He 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 Studebaker owned the building until his death in 1917 when it passed into the hands of a trusteeship set up by his will. The members included, John Studebaker Jr., Frederick Fish and George Witwer. They retained control of the building until 1936 when they relinquished ownership to John Studebaker III who sold the building to Eugene Warner for $175,000.00, later that same year. Mr. Warner owned the structure until his death in 1946 at which time control of the building went to First Bank & Trust as trustees. They sold the building to AGA Realty Company who immediately began plans for a complete interior renovation. As the plans got underway they were expanded to include a two to three story annex to the north fagade. By 1973 AGA Realty Company had to sell the structure to the Economic Development Company, who complete the remodeling in 1975. The building continued to change ownership through out the 1970s and 1980s until it was sold in 1995 to the current owners John and Donna Freidline.