July 2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Over the years, many other commercial tenants have also operated their businesses from the addresses housed in this building as well as occupants who called the building home. Some of these many past tenants include the Paul C. Inwood Grocery store, crockery shops, bakers and pie makers, a Maytag appliance store, and Fameman-Tasher Motor Company, distributors of Cole and REO motorcars and REO trucks. This business was run by JI) Fameman and CA Tasher. Several of the businesses seemed to remain for several years at a time, an indicator of their success and importance to the neighborhood. The Inwood Grocery store is one such example. According to a South Bend Tribune article from 1965, Paul C Inwood started his grocery business in 1919 at 107 E. Monroe Street in an 18' by 60' room. The business grew to fill 44,000 sq ft of sale space and an 18,000 sq ft warehouse. It employed twenty-five people after beginning with only one clerk. Architecturally, this building was constructed solidly with brick and stone neo-classical detailing. Double brackets aligned over flat brick pilasters with stone "capitals' provide the appearance of support for the pressed metal projecting cornice. Stone sills and flat brick "arches' articulate the windows, now installed with 1/1 double hung aluminum storms. The building was also constructed with a flat roof and a parapet wall capped with stone. 517-513 S. Michigan stands abutting the sidewalk in the front and next to an alleyway on the building's south side. It is directly adjacent to 507-509 S. Michigan Street. Currently on street parking exists, but this is limited to a few spots in front of the building. Because the structure extends deep into the block, parking cannot be found behind the storefronts. Next door, a slightly younger building stands at 507-509 (+511?) S. Michigan Street. This building was also considered for the proposed South Michigan National Register Historic District and rates a Significant/1 1. Designed in 1922 by the architect W. W. Schneider for Daniel Guler, this neo-classical brick building also has lovely and unique terra cotta detailing that creates a more ornamented upper portion of the fagade with three large medallions and terra cotta courses. Paired 1/1 double hung metal windows are arranged in three bays on the second story with the medallions centered above. A terra cotta stringcourse separates the first and second stories. Decorative medallions note where the storefronts divide. Many commercial operations opened their doors to the community in this building and several South Benders lived in the apartments above the stores. The 1923 County Directory notes that the Smith -Alsop South Bend Paint Company took up business next door to the Chard & Thopset (?) Hardware Store. This paint company remained at 507 S. Michigan until the late 1970s. The storefront at 509 saw a much more diverse and fluid mix of businesses. In 1991 and 1994, fires damaged this building. In 1995 and most likely prior to this year, Joe Gendel also owned this building in addition to 516-518 and 501-503. Code Enforcement surveyed the "Smith -Alsop Paint Company" building in 1995 and called for its demolition due to structural offences due to the fires, damaged bricks and open mortar joints, roof deterioration and collapse, and general deterioration of the chimneys. Code also included broken windows and doors, damaged plaster, flooring, and ceiling, impassable stairs and poor ventilation, water services, lighting, and heating on its long list of violations. The office requested funds from HUD for the demolition or bracing of this building. Much money would need to be invested into this building for it to become a clean and sound structure that could house viable businesses. One estimate suggested $225,000-300,000 to clean up the building versus $75,000 for demolition. The loss of this building would have created another large gap in Michigan Street. Some changes have been made to the exterior including the addition of inappropriate siding on the first story. (Current use and structural ?)