1636 Lincoln Way West Demolition Report

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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov MATERIAL ASSESSMENT: Foundations The original building (eastern half) foundations of a blue- green stone held together with a hard mortar were solid. Sections of foundation wall stayed together after removal from the ground. The combination of stone and mortar proved to be long-lasting and well constructed. (Fig. 3) The concrete foundations and first floors of the building additions were sound and solid. Windows and Doors Assessment of wood pieces of windows show most were in good condition with moderate rot at the sills and where jambs met the brick walls. (Fig. 4) Most of the glass was broken prior to demolition. The removed windows stored in the attic appeared to be in good condition with glass in tact. I was unable to examine these windows prior to demolition. Assessment was made from the ground from approximately 50 feet away. Bricks and Mortar Several different bricks were present in the building. The majority being a red clay solid brick used in the original walls. Additions to the building used a yellowish white sol- id brick on the rear sections and a red clay solid brick for the from and side facades. Repairs to the building over time were made with a variety of modern bricks. The mortar of the original sections of the building was a high lime based mortar common at the time. This mortar was at the end of its life cycle. Years of water infiltration had dissolved much of the lime leaving only sand in many areas. During demolition bricks and wall sections crumbled easily with- out force. Bricks fell clean without mortar intact. Very little if any mortar was cleaned from bricks as they were reclaimed. (Fig. 14) Repair areas using modern bricks utilized modern mortars of a significant harder consistency. These sections held together, as the hollows in the modern brick and the harder mortar linked together. Additions to the building were a mix of solid areas and compromised are- as. Newer mortar with some Portland cement added made for a longer lasting mortar, however many areas with years of water infiltration com- promised the integrity of the mortar and brick connection. (Fig. 5) Many areas of repair were done using incompatible mortar. (Figs. 5 & 6) These areas showed accelerated spalling and sheaving. The south side of the main four story building and the adjacent two story portion to the south were exposed to prolonged water infiltration, resulting in an ad- vance degree of spalling. Approximately 80% of the face wythe of the two-story portion had spalled or fallen off, and 50% of the four-story building south side had spalled or fallen off. (Figs. 22 & 23) Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 6 Fig. 5