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14297 STATE ROAD 23 <br />HISTORICAL CONTEXT <br />Robert Kennedy, the first schoolteacher in Harris Township came to St. Joseph <br />County 1833 at which time he purchased the west half of the south east' /4 of section 14 in <br />1834. He purchased the remaining half in 1837. Mr. Kennedy resided in a log cabin on <br />this property until 1881 when he sold the main portion of this land, now known as the <br />Risler Farm, to John and Henriette Metzgar. Mr. Metzgar spent his entire life in <br />agricultural labors. He was a public- spirited citizen who was noted for his sound <br />judgment. Mr. Metzgar was eventually elected to the office of trustee for Harris <br />Township and under his supervision, the first Harris Consolidated School was built in <br />Granger. John and Henriette built this two -story Italianate style house in 1887 and <br />resided there until heir deaths in the 1920s. By 1929, their son Harry and his wife, <br />Blanche, owned the property. They too resided here until their deaths, Henry in 1953 and <br />Blanche in 1959. The house was then sold to Walt and Doris Risler. <br />ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION <br />The property at 14297 SR 23 is located on the north side of State Road 23 just out side <br />Granger, Indiana. It is described as an irregular tract, 473.65 foot north side of <br />Edwardsburg Highway beginning, 1,287 feet west of north east corner, section 14 -38 -3E <br />totaling 41.66 acres in St. Joseph County, Indiana. <br />This is a two -story Italianate style farm house with an irregular plan, stone foundation, <br />brick walls, gable roof, cornice boards, asphalt shingles and elaborate wooden gable <br />carvings. The windows are one over one double hung with shutters and stone sills. <br />There are two bow windows and one box window all with decorated, bracketed roofs. <br />The second story front facade and east facade windows boast bracketed hoods. The front <br />side porch has wood turned posts and rail decoration. The rear porch was enclosed many <br />years ago to expand the interior living space. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Based on the Historic Preservation Commission's Local Landmark Criteria's adopted by <br />the Common Council, the site and structure at 14297 SR 23 has not been altered since its <br />original landmark designation in 1976 and should retain its status. <br />A" <br />ZJ <br />