Establishing an Historical Landmark - 513 Harrison Ave.

Home Browse Search

513 Harrison Avenue (1010 Palmongle Court) HISTORICAL CONTEXT This property is located approximately one-half block off of Lincolnway West, the Twentieth Century name for the Michigan Road, which was opened in the early 183O's as the first connecting road between Lake Michigan and the Ohio River. This lot was platted in 1898, the same year that the Colfax school was constructed directly across Harrison Avenue. The year after the lot was platted. it was purchased by Marie Trieber who had moved to South Bend from the vicinity of Niles Michigan in 1888. During the ensuing years she was employed as a domestic servant, residing at various residential locations on Michigan and William Streets. In 1902, she married Almon D. Palmiter, a millwright and later master mechanic at Studebaker, in ceremonies at Coldwater Michigan. The following year, the couple's only child, J. Dale Palmiter, was born. The first resident listing found for this location was for Almori D. Palmiter in the 1912 City Directory. The 1906 directory shows him residing at 731 North Scott Street. This date is a one year later than the construction date given by the assessor's card, and it has been impossible to discern just when the Palmiters moved into the house or whether there were any intervening tenants. It is probable that the house was built for them by family members as a number of Palmiters were employed as masons around the turn of the century including Milton J. and William H. who were located at the corner of Miller and Sample Streets in the 1891 Directory. The following year, William is listed as residing with Elizabeth Palmiter, the widow of Henry and presumably the mother at the east end of (1618) Sibley, near the City Cemetery. The 1898 Directory finds yet another Palmiter, Asle J. listed as a mason. once again at the Sibley address. M. B. Palmiter was listed as a mason at 529 Ohio Street during the period of the building's construction. Doyle Palmiter is also listed as a mason in the 1912 directory residing at 807 Allen Street. From the unusual masonry features of the building, the personal connection with at least one of these masons might be inferred. Mrs. Palmiter died in 1930 and was survived by Almon who contir[ued to be listed as resident of this address until 1934. Thereafter, Dale is listed as both resident and owner until 1949. Presumably, Dale grew up irr this house. His obituary ind ic:at:es him to ha~~e been a lifetime re.~.ident as though he spent a period of L-he 1920's in California, where his mothers body was shipped for burial. He was a co-owner of t}re Home Service Company ire South Bend. Dale died in Mishawaka .in 1980. The building presently being considered was constructed irr 1905 according to the Assessor's data compiled irr 1932. It was unusually situated on the lot, being sited near the rear at the intersection of two alleys, one of which is named Palmongle Court:. The address given by the assessor for this building is variously 1010 Palmongle Court, 511 ~1/2 Harrison Avenue and 513 Harrison Avenue. In 1921, the front portion of the lot was filled i.n with the construction of a two-flat with a three-bay garage or_cupying the space between the buildings. The apartment building also featured masonry finishes including brick veneer and porch. The car garages were constr.•ucted of concrete block. It a~~Uc~ars that this two-flat r-:a~ alwa~'s maintained as rental apartment units.