Establishing a Historical Landmark - 911 South Michigan

Home Browse Search

911 South Michigan Historical Context This property is located on the west side of South Michigan Street between West Garst and West Sample Streets, in South Bend, Indiana. It is described as being lot 2 and 3 of South Bend City Addition, of South Bend. This two story stone bank building was built in 1919 and 1924 by the South Bend State Bank who purchased the land from Joseph Williams in 1919. The South Bend State Bank was organized in 1919 by its president, Dick Johnson, vice president, F.W. Van Antwerp and numerous other officers. It officially opened for business in January of 1920 for the purpose of serving the south side's growing business section, including the large number of Studebaker employees. Upon opening, the bank had a capitalization of $50,000 and occupied a small floor space on its present site. Within four years the bank's depositors had grown to such numbers that larger quarters became necessary. To solve the need for more space the bank expanded the original building by adding additions to both its left and right sides in 1924. By the banks 10th birthday it showed undivided profits of $90,000.00 and total resources of nearly $2,000,000.00. The bank continued to provide various services to the south side of South Bend until 1931 when it closed its doors and turned over all accounts and assets to the Union Trust Company as trustee. The Union Trust continued to retain these assets until 1938 when it faltered causing the State Department of Financial Institutions to step in and turn all accounts over to the First National Bank and Trust. First National Bank continued to own and rent this structure out until 1981 when it was sold to Leo and Mary Sparkia, owners of Sparkia Projects, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Sparkia also used the structure as a rental, until 1999 when they sold it to the current owners, Jack Hartsell and E.R. Hopson. 1