2. Taylor's Field Historic District - National Register Nomination

Home Browse Search

United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Taylor’s Field Historic District Saint Joseph County, IN Name of Property County and State Section 7 page 5 Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current physical appearance and condition of the property. Describe contributing and noncontributing resources if applicable. Begin with a summary paragraph that briefly describes the general characteristics of the property, such as its location, type, style, method of construction, setting, size, and significant features. Indicate whether the property has historic integrity.) ______________________________________________________________________________ Summary Paragraph Taylor’s Field Historic District traces its origins to one of South Bend’s founders, Lathrop Taylor, who set aside the property for agricultural use before bequeathing it to his heirs who developed it into several blocks of fine homes on the city’s near south side. The district features large examples of Queen Anne, Free Classic, and American Four Square styles built for high- level employees and owners of several local industries and businesses. It also features a few neighborhood commercial properties, a large Colonial Revival church, and former quarters for South Bend’s Salvation Army built in the Art Deco style in 1946 which ends the period of significance. _____________________________________________________________________________ Narrative Description The Taylor’s Field Historic District is composed of about seven blocks on South Bend’s near south side extending east from St. Joseph Street to near Lincoln Way between Monroe and Bronson Streets, mostly following South Street as the main east/west corridor through the district. The district has broad streets, some composed of brick (see photos 04, 05, 15, 25) which are considered contributing structures, and deep front lawns in the west half where larger homes are located. Mature trees, concrete curbs and sidewalks are also located in the district. The district includes large examples of late 19th and early 20th century homes in Queen Anne, Free Classic, and American Four Square/Craftsman styles, mostly in its west half. The east half, following South Street, features similar styles in smaller scale and several houses constructed earlier in vernacular forms such as upright-and-wing and gable-front. Other buildings of note are a few commercial buildings that served the neighborhood, such as the Italianate-designed 1892 Lemon Keen Building at 402 South Street (photo 20), and a large apartment building, Carroll Apartments (photo 07), built in 1923 in the Colonial Revival style at 629 Carroll Street. The district has one church, Memorial United Brethren Church (photo 02), built in 1910 in the Colonial Revival style at 602 St. Joseph Street, and the former quarters for South Bend’s Salvation Army (photo 12) built in 1946 in the Art Deco style at 540 Carroll Street. Garages and principal buildings on the lots, mostly houses, are included in the resource count. One exceptional secondary structure is a large brick carriage house located off the alley at 519 St. Joseph Street. There are approximately seventy-five primary resources, the high majority of which are contributing. Houses that have undergone substantial remodeling campaigns that altered, covered, or removed historic materials are considered non-contributing. The large