Historical Landmark - 227 South William Street

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ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION The property at 227 S. William is located on the west side of South William Street between Wayne and Jefferson Streets in South Bend, Indiana. It is described as the south 3' on the north 24:75' of lot 8 and south 30' on the north 54.75' on the east 26.75' and the south 33' of the north 54.75' of lot 7 Vails Subdivision Block 3 in South Bend, Indiana. This is a one story Gable Front/Italianate style house with a rectangular plan, gabled roof, simple eave cornice and frieze. It has 2/2 double-hung wood windows in architrave surrounds. The house also boasts an elaborate bay window with 2/2 double-hung, wood windows, dentiled cornice and engaged pilasters. The house is sided in wood clapboards that were recently exposed by the removal of insulated brick siding. The structure has a wood and glass entrance door with simple surrounds and a side porch that is covered by a gabled roof extension and is supported by arched fan brackets with dropped pendants. The porch also has wood balustrade, wood floor, concrete steps and a plastered brick foundation. RECOMMENDATION Based on the Historic Preservation Commission's Local Landmark Criteria's adopted by the Common Council, the site, structures and objects at 227 S. William has been recommended to the Common Council for designation as a Local Landmark by the Historic Preservation Commission. The building, sites and objects meet the following three 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. The structure fulfills criteria #1 as a rare example of a single story, Italianate rental cottage of the 1880's. The building has been currently re-rated to an S/11 in the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory in recognition of the new owners restoration efforts. The structure fulfills criteria #2 by its retention of Italianated features with virtually no alterations to its structure or detailing in over a 115 years. The site and structures fulfills criteria #3 by its association with well-known and respected citizens, John Caldwell and Eugene Herr. Mr. Caldwell was the father of the modern postal delivery system while Mr. Herr was a recognized journalist and owner of the Herr & Herr Bookstore. ~.._._., i .....,,.v__.~.....,.._..m~..~...__.._-. (, d"~~~r= ? . ~El~f~ 5 .~.~.