Histroical Landmark - 2520 Mishawaka Avenue

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FIRE DEPARTMENT ENGINE COMPANY NO. 9 2520 MISHAWAKA AVENUE RIVER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, SOUTH BEND INDIANA HISTORICAL CONTEXT In 1919, as part of the merger agreement between the independent Town of River Park, and the City of South Bend, the City of South Bend, in exchange for gaining the additional tax base of River Park, agreed to build River Parka new additional hose house. According to records of the South Bend Board of Safety, an additional hose house was needed because the nearest fire department engine company was located well over a mile away. Although South Bend purchased its first engine-driven fire trucks in 1920, horse drawn fire trucks were still in use. The Board of Safety chose lots 120 and 121 of Horne and Dunn's first subdivision in River Park. In 1926, the City awarded Smoger Lumber Co. the construction contract for $14,643. Although the bungalow style building was clearly designed by a gifted architect, scaled to accommodate fire-fighting equipment, but styled and designed to blend into the residential neighborhood and be attractive to pedestrians, the name of the architect is not known. The custom of the time was to avoid any publicity of architect's names in connection with public buildings, because it was deemed unseemly for the government to in any way advertise a specific architect. We do know that the building was completed in 1926, and Roy Knoblock was the SouthBend Fire Chief at the time of its dedication. The foundation of the building is brick, with a decorative stone stringcourse at its base. The main story is stretcher bond brick. There is an offset front porch entry with multi-pane sidelights, and a side entry with amulti-pane door. The windows throughout are one over one double-hung sashes with stone sills. The square bay window has a decorative shed roof. Of course, the unique feature of the house is the large fire truck garage door recessed under the porch. The porch roof, like the main roof gables, has decorative knee- brace supports. There is a two-story square tower at the rear of the building, which is also a unique and interesting feature. The heavy use the building has received has, of course, made some changes necessary over the years. The original glazed the roof has been replaced, and aluminum siding and storm windows and doors have been added. This has not, however, reduced the building's essential grace or significance to the neighborhood.