Historical Landmark - 1304 Kessler Place

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HISTORICAL CONTEXT Earl Jackson constructed this unique Craftsman style house in 1920. Mr. Jackson was born in South Bend in 1892 and lived his entire life in this city. He attended Indiana University and eventually graduated from Notre Dame with a law degree. Earl served as a First Lieutenant in the Artillery during World War One, eventually leaving the service to practice law in South Bend. He married Doris Hoke in 1917 and had two daughters, Janice and Charlotte. Mr. Jackson eventually became the secretary of the Abstract and Title Company while still retaining his own law office. He resided in this house until his death in 1937 at which time the house was left to his wife. Doris Jackson continued to reside in the family home until 1973 when she sold it to Robert Stankiewicz. Robert was the building engineer for Corpus Christie for many years; he resided at this address until his death in 2000. The executor of Mr. Stankiewiczs' will, Virginia Bowering, is currently controlling the house. Ms. Bowering has auctioned off most of the houses contents and is currently trying to sell the property. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION This is a one story, Craftsman/Arts & Crafts style house with a rectangular plan and fieldstone foundation. The walls are covered in irregularly coursed river rock with tapering stone corner pilasters. The roof is a steep pitched, heavy ridged, hip with wide closed eaves, molded cornice and river rock chimney. The windows are eight over one double hung with brick sills and lintels and wood surrounds, all in units of twos or threes. The house also boasts brick front steps with stone sidewalls leading to a wood panel front door located in the center of the front facade. The front door is protected by a flared eave-line which forms an arc held up by two wood brackets. There is also a small sun porch addition on the east facade of the house and a deck off of the rear facade. The general landscaping consists of a lawn, trees and a wooded ravine to the rear. RECOMMENDATION Based on the Historic Preservation Commission's Local Landmark Criteria's adopted by the Common Council, the building at 1304 Kessler Place has been recommended to the Common Council for designation as a Local Landmark by the Historic Preservation Commission. The building and site meet the following criteria: 1) Its embodiment of elements or architectural design, detail, material or craftsmanship which represents an architectural characteristic or innovation; 2) Its suitability for preservation; 3) Its identification with the life of a person or persons of historical significance. 4