Historical Landmark - 302 West Washington

Home Browse Search

302 W. Washington Historical Context This property is located on the southwest corner of Lafayette Boulevard and Washington Avenue, in South Bend, Indiana. It is described as being lots 391-392, 105' east each of the Original Plat of South Bend. The former First Presbyterian Church of South Bend, was built in 1888 as a replacement for an earlier brick structure which was erected in 1866. The First Presbyterian Church was organized on May 3, 1834, under the direction of Horatio Chapin, one of South Bend's earliest settlers. The first minister was Rev. Alfred Briant, a graduate of Princeton. Rev. Briant would hold services in private homes or in a log school house that was located between St. Joseph Street and Wayne Streets. In 1836 a private citizen donated a lot at the corner of LaSalle Street and Lafayette Boulevard. The congregation quickly erected a small wood frame structure on the lot. This simple building served as a church until 1866 when a new church was erected on the southwest corner of Lafayette Boulevard and Washington Avenue. In 1888 the First Presbyterian Church hired Christopher Fassnacht, to erect the present, Romanesque style, Church. Mr. Fassnacht was also responsible for the construction of Tippecanoe Place. The church's stone construction, arched windows and doors, prominent corner tower and stained glass windows are typical of the Romanesque style. In 1952 the Church was sold to the current owners, The People's Church of South Bend. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION This is a one and a half story Richardsonian Romanesque style church. This structure has an irregular plan, stone foundation, multi colored field stone walls, whiter stone detailing, rough face white stone string courses and peak decoration. The roof is a 12/12 pitched cross gable with cut stone capped verges, large carved stone finials at the peaks with slate roofing material. The church has double leaf paneled doors, stained glass arch transom, radiating arch stone voussoirs, stone squat, pillars and capital, simple side door and return impost. The windows are stained glass with blue and purple schemes, two fixed sash, stone, pillar below, multi light transoms, large fan over side lights with half fan. All stairs are made of stone. The church boasts one large tower on the northeast corner, with two doors on either side, corner stone, stone corbeled base, stone wall arcade, stone frame half circle window, gables with dentilled frieze line peak roof and metal finial. It also has a cone roof over the round bay on the northwest corner with three arched stained glass windows. ,.JS~~QA C g~~^^~~ ell, I"^Pra-~~ Q C T 2 ~ 1999 LU~~irsaJ. D?3~