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NPS Form M -900-a au6 App„v&IML 1024-WI8 - United States Department of the Interior --lational Park Service Vational Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number 7 Page i Children's Dispensary St. Joseph County IN NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION The former Children's Dispensary (renamed the Hansel Center in 1966) sits on the north side of West Washington Street in a mostly residential area marked by large trees and a number of vacant lots, especially toward the west. Across the street slightly to the east is the long -abandoned public natatorium that was built a few years before the dispensary. A few blocks east is the West Washington Street Historic District. characterized by large late -nineteenth and early - twentieth century high -style dwellings. The main building is surrounded -by a substantial fence that predates the dispensary; the front (see photo 1), enclosing yet revealing the main south facade. is of open ironwork with brick posts; the -east (see photo 2), north. and west sides are brick walls. There is an arched.' pedestrian service entrance at the far east end of the north wall, and a vehicular entrance gust west of it. Nestled between these entrances in the northeast corner of the property is a one -and -a -half story garage (photo 3) with living space above. Designed to mimic a picturesque cottage. the building, which is brick on the first story and stucco above, features numerous Craftsman elements. Its aabled roof has rolled eaves and two dormers -one ctabled and one flat -roofed. Windows still contain the original four -over -one double-hunrr wood sashes. The arched garage door opening has been framed in and now contains a small window and entry door. The building is presently used for offices and storage. Although clearly built as a garage with living quarters. it is unknown whether it was ever used for the purpose before the Children's Dispenary acquired it. It has not been determined that there ever was a house on the property, although the 1917 Sanborn map indicates a large foundation. The fence/wall and the garage are certainly early twentieth century, ca. 1910s. The main building (see photo 1). constructed in 1925. is a handsome two-story brick structure with limestone trim. essentially T-shaped. The original one -over -one wood frame double hung sashes remain. The northward extension's window openings. which light the gymnasium within. are filled with glass block. The central portion of the south facade protrudes one bay forward: centered above the second -floor, windows is an inset limestone tablet inscribed "CHILDREN'S DISPENSARY." At the center of the south facade is a one story entrance with a single door flanked by sidelights. Above the entrance is a round -arched terra cotta panel.with a nearly full -round sculpture: a reproduction of Della Robbia's "Bambino" (see photo 4). The building's flat roof was originally covered with a wooden deck. which explains the third -story penthouse that shelters the stairway access to the roof.