720 Park Avenue_SURVEY CARDS - Laserfiche WebLink

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720 N. Park Avenue • • • legal description • 71.4 Pt, on Park Avenue Anderson's sub. of 118, 119 t Key Number: 2-01-.18/15-581 • historical notes The present house was built by the attorney, Jarnes DuShane, who was the son-in-law .,,of Andrew Anderson and a partner in his law firm, Anderson, DuShane, and Crabil.l. The house, contrary to the opinion of the present owner, Nancy Doyle, was probably built shortly after December 3, 1878, the date of DuShane' s marriage to •na Anderson. The obituary of Ann DuShane, James'. mother, concurs with this as it records the DuShane's move from Pennsylvania to South Bend in June, 1878. City Directories farther suppo rt ' this theory - - the earliest date they show Jeans to be residing at "Chapin Place" is 1879. Addresses of Chapin Park houses are usually not defined with any more specificity than this. The Du - Shane address is further confused as it is often listed as 718 Park which the assessor's card gives as an alternate address. Often between the years 1879 and 1920, the DuShanes resided -at 710 Park, the address of the Anderson house. • The builder of the present house, James DuShane was born in Pittsburgh on September 29, 1817. He went to the University of Michigan and grad- uated from their "literary department" in 1869. Upon moving to South Bend, he became principal of the High School and from 1879 to 1891 served as the superintendent of the city's school. During this time, he studied law in the office of A. Anderson and in 1893 was admitted to the practice. DuShane was active in other ways, as well - - he was one of the originators of the Public Library (its first location was the Oliver Opera House) and, with Charles A. Chapin, he helped to found the South Bend Electric Co. see South Bend and the Men Who Made It, pp. 3 96 - 97) which introduced electricity for lighting purposes to the city. • According to Nancy Doyle, the present house - -- which she b e1,i ve s the DuShanes kept primarily as rental property - - had. been altered. At some point, the Nuner family (relatives of the DuShanes) added 6 rooms to the back of the original 6 in order to convert it into a 2-apartment house. The second floor porch was added at this time: The house with its spindle trim and informal appearance is a good example of the Stick Style. • •