COA APPLICATION #2020-0302: NORTHERN INDIANA HISTORIC SOCIETY INC. V. SOUTH BEND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

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11. INTRODUCTION. The original location of the Pierre Navarre Cabin (the "Cabin") is recognized today as 123 West North Shore Drive, on the north bank of the St. Joseph River. Navarre sited the Cabin for easy access to the river, the primary means of transportation for trappers and traders before established roads. His associated homestead extended from the river's edge north to what today is Marquette Avenue. Following his death in 1864, Navarre's land became the property of Samuel Leeper. The builders of Navarre Place purchased the Navarre property from Leeper's heirs for residential development. In recognition of its historical significance, the developers donated the Cabin to the Museum in May of 1895. The Cabin was moved in 1904 by Alexander Staples and his firm, White & Staples, to a site noted as Bartlett/Marion Streets. As the City of South Bend expanded, the North Pumping Station required expansion as well. It was enlarged in 1912, and well house #2 was added in 1915. In 1916, the Cabin was once again relocated to a site next to the north/northwest end of the reservoir to make way for further development. The Cabin was again moved in 1954 to its current location to create distance from the reservoir, against which it previously abutted. In 2000, the Museum embarked on a campaign to restore the Cabin. With the assistance of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (the "DNR") and local foundations, over $150,000 was raised to hire the Leatherwood Company, the nation's leading log cabin restoration company, to evaluate and restore the Cabin, which was completed in 2005. Today, the Cabin is used as an interpretive site on a limited basis (only three to four days a year) due to the remote location and logistical issues, such as lack of storage for demonstration materials, firewood, permanent restrooms, etc. -2-