Establishing a Historical Landmark - 804 N. Lafayette Blvd

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.JAMES MADISON SCHOOL 804 NORTH LAPAYETTE BOULEVARD RECOMMENDATION Based on the Historic Preservation Commission s Local. Landmarks Criteria as adopted by the Corrnnon Council, the building at 804 Lafayette Boulevard has been recommended to the Common Council of the City of South Bend for designation as a Local Historic Landmark by Historic Preservation Commission. The building meets the criteria in at. least for_rr areas: 1.} Its character, interest and value as part of the development heritage, or culture of the city of South Bend, St. Joseph County, the state of Indiana or the United States of America. 2.) Its embodiment of elements of architectural design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship which represents an architectural characteristic or innovation. 3.) Its educational value. 4.) Its suitability for preservation. The building fulfills criteria 4k1 as an example of development of institutional amenities to the early suburban fringe which developed just outside the north end of the original City of South Bend. The school served the Historic neighborhood of Chapin Park, and was related by proximity to the public park which was developed just previously. The building fulfills criteria 4t2 as an example of Collegiate Gothic style as employed by the South Bend School Corporation. The building is rated Significant 11 in the Indiana Historic Sites and Strur_t_ures Inventory. The building fulfills criteria 4~3 by the integrity of. its original design and environmental context. The building is central to the greatest concentration of historic sites and neighborhoods i.n the city and is included along many historical tours. The building fulfills criteria I~4 by the integrity of its original construction with only minor alterations. HISTORICAL CONTE!{T This site was first platted in 1845 as a portion of the 3rd Bank Outlot laying just outside of the original plat of the City of South Bend. This and the immediately surrounding properties were eventually replatted between 1870 and 1872. The property on which the Madison School is located Baas platted in 1871. The tract lying to the north of this property was donated to the City in 1902 by Elish Peck, to become the what is now the central sect-ion of I_,eeper Park. The first James Madison School. was constructed at the northcaest corner of Lafayette Boulevard and Madison Street in 1862. This building was replaced in 1893 by a much larger building on the same site designed in the Romanesque sty.l.e. This building remained until its demolition in 1958. However it ceased use as a school when the building under consideration was constructed .in 1930. This third James Madison School was designed in the Collegiate Gothic style by the prominent South Bend architer_tur.al firm of Austin & Shambleau and constructed by H.G. Christaman & Company. It was constructed starting i.n 1.929 and opened in 1930. .An addition to the rear along North Main sT.reet was constricted in 1968. The school was listed on the National Register. of Historic Places in 1982 as a contributing. structure to the Chapin Park Historic District.