8340-93 Establishing A Historic Landmark 514 E Indiana Ave

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At the September , 1992 regular monthly meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St . Joseph County (HPC) , the HPC voted to send a recommendation for Local Historic Landmark designation of the Samuel W . Studebaker House at 514 East Indiana to the South Bend Common Council . The owner, Mrs . Gervae James , requested this action and has provided the HPC with a signed approval form. The structure is significant and worthy of protection for several reasons : 1 . The house remains as material evidence of one of the city ' s most important industrial families -- the Studebakers . The house was built in 1902 for Samuel W . Studebaker , the son of Henry , the elder brother of the siblings responsible for the founding of the famous auto-manufacturing concern . 2 . It was later owned and resided in by two other South Bend businessmen of note and their families -- Clifford M. Lontz , president of Lontz Brothers and E . Glenmore Wells , president of the Wells Manufacturing Company. 3 . The structure was designed by locally notable architect Walter W. Schneider ( 1868-1957) , an important South Bend architect responsible for the design of the River Park Theater and the Natatorium, as well as numerous residences and other structures in the region . The house is a fine example of Schneider ' s residential design . 4 . Although slightly altered on its exterior, it is a fine example of a transitional vernacular form of architecture bridging the ornate houses of the nineteenth-century and the more austere twentieth-century styles . The Studebaker House is best described as a variant of the late Queen Anne Style -- it is essentially an early American Four-Square with a large polygonal bay window on its west facade , two additional smaller bays and a wide dentilled entablature under the eaves and dormer roof lines . 5 . The structure has been rated as Significant (S-11) on the Indiana Sites and Structures Inventory with cultural/historical significance in the areas of architecture , commerce and industry. HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT The following is a historical sketch of the Studebaker House to aid in your assessment of the property. Samuel Studebaker purchased this lot for $1200 .00 in 1902 from the estate of his father , Henry ( 1826-1895) . Samuel lived in the house until his death in 1915 . Henry began in the blacksmith business with his brother, Clem, under the name H. and C . Studebaker but was forced to retire due to ill health, relinquishing his share of the business to his brother J . M. Studebaker . Samuel was born on April 2 , 1854 in South Bend . He attended public school in South Bend and later attended the University of Notre Dame . Samuel Studebaker managed the farm of his uncle , Peter E . Studebaker , for twelve years before becoming the proprietor of a livery stable and boarding 1