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Home My WebLink About8609-95 Establishing Historic Landmark 511 W Colfax Ave ORDINANCE No. 8609-95 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana. July 24, Y9 95 Attest: City Clerk IRENE K. GAMMON / c Attest: President of Common Council Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana— July 25, 95 1g qek- City Clerk IRENE K. GAMMON Approved and signed by me 7/c c ig /5 Mayor • ORDINANCE NO. giqq3 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE, AND ESTABLISHING AN HISTORIC LANDMARK FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 511 WEST COLFAX AVENUE, IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. Whereas, the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend & St. Joseph County has petitioned for the designation of the following described real estate as an Historic Landmark under Ordinance No. 5565-73, as amended to wit: Mid. 100.68 feet of B.O.L. #15 South Bend, Indiana Whereas, the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County has recommended the designation of the PROPERTY as an Historic Landmark. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA: Section 1. That the above described PROPERTY be, and it is hereby designated and established as an Historic Landmark under Ordinance 5565-73, as amended. Section 2. That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council, approval by the Mayor and legal publication. 1171i0,4 o lff�Common Council 511 WEST COLFAX AVENUE BIRDSELL RESIDENCE F.J. NIMTZ BUILDING Historic and Architectural Significance Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend & Saint Joseph County May 1995 Filed in Clerk's Office JUN - i 199.L. IRENEGAMMOR CIlYCLERK,SO.EENt N k I i t 4.0...................,_„...,..‘.....,,,_,.,_ •�..., .: a • � ill► � t � lit► SS fi ' i' � .R'• .. 57( UL) - e 0 1 -et-4(. 1 6---/( Di- .&(C14- , Z� �� 77/7/95- ��B S iit► _ dr ._ _ ` F -, )....: .- 74'... - - •''4..? A ,, ' •1,.,.._, P.- 1 e. ix, .If'D f . r . -, .4 • ..-_--- f fi'i .,j ' . .-'. -- . °57( _ CEO( C C577 W ' 6/cli N •- - - - . • -4 Z Co •-- ■-• •-• O " - CD 511 West Colfax a .—.1 . .—... . --.. . ..... . .-- .1 , .244 I • 0 .-4 N (') V' i CO m M (") m . • 0. 0 0 0 0 j . . . 1.0 .0 t■ CD as 0 .-4 .259 No No ,0 N. r' 0 o 00 0 00 0 '30 1 rt •29 I r c4 1 w 28 .2541 a a) 27 I u) '26 mo r, 0) 0,, cts • 0 0 0 o 1 • • . On C I■1 = i■• • am= I. imm. •AIP• • Mom • Vow a l■ a s■t a p■I ow i ■CP —4 N. CO .-4 0 .-.4 1.4 ..... Cr -M R A cc N I Z ..-4 r-- a 0 -s .253 .MRA I .243 -Ti -c .263 .264 . .242 co.MRA .252 = I .256 .259 7- .251 )--• I .241 •-.. .258 .MRA • .261 cn . N N N .225 240N•-1 .-4 e-4 9-4 -4 ./ . .-4 .260 .-I 2 5 7 cr) .250 I Jefferson ..-■ . 1 .239 .224 .238 I .249 .237 ' .236 I .248 • 0' 235 ,cr ' .223 .234 .247 I West Washington .24 National Register Historic Distric' tr) 0 kr) 24 .222 Wayne co -221 .220 .232 I .231 . . .--. . . r- co -41 a) Tc x cp a -.. rt rt a) . . • , __--mrOMMII 511 West Colfax RECOMMENDATION Based on the HPC Local Landmark Criteria [1] , the building at 511 West has been recommended by the Landmarks Committee of the Historic Preservation Commission as a Local Historic Landmark. The building meets the criteria in at least five areas. 1.) Its character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage or culture of the City of South Bend or St. Joseph County, the State of Indiana, or the United States; 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; 5.) its identification with the life of a person or persons of historical significance; The building fulfills criteria #1 as material evidence of one of South Bend's important industrial families - the Birdsells. The house was built in 1898 for J.B. Birdsell, President and Treasurer of the Birdsell Manufacturing Co. The building fulfills criteria #2 as an excellent example of a turn of the century Tudor Revival style residence rated 0/13 in the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Survey featuring half timbering Tudor detailing and a stone porch and first story facade. The structure was designed by architect Wilson B. Parker. [2] The building fulfills criteria #3 as an excellent example of the past culture of one of the important industrial families of South Bend. This structure represents an intact example of historic architecture that expresses a quality of workmanship and aesthetic that is rare elsewhere in South Bend. The building meets criteria #4 by the integrity of its original construction with only minor alterations. The building meets criteria #5 for serving for 30 years as the offices of attorney F. Jay Nimtz who was a congressman and civic leader. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION The building is located one house west of the northwest corner of West Colfax Avenue and Williams Street in the West Washington Local Historic District. The property retains a grass front yard area and the rear is a paved parking area. The front facade is oriented on Colfax Avenue The first story is built of field stone with tooled mortar joints . The second story is of unusually thin brick, and the attic story is frame with stucco and half-timbering in the gables. The foundation is concrete and stone and the plan is a simple rectangle with irregularities. The asphalt shingle roof is essentially a steeply pitched side gable with a hipped roof extension in the rear. The roofline exhibits two gable front dormers, one quite large over the western half of the front facade, two hipped roof dormers, and a cross gable dormer in the rear. The gables have large overhanging belicast eaves, broad rake boards, and are supported by decorative brackets. There are two rectangular exterior gable end fieldstone chimneys. The single story fieldstone front porch is continuous over the south facade with short romanesque stone columns supporting the hipped tile roof which has a pedimented entry bay. The entry stairs are stone with massive stone balustrades. The porte-cochere on the east side has two complete fieldstone square piers and two round columns supporting the hipped roof. The windows are double hung on the two lower floors. The glazing is often elaborate in the top pane with a blank lower pane. There are diamond pane casements in the attic story of the front facade. The first and second story windows have rock face stone sills. The second story front facade exhibits an oval window. The front entry is a double wood door with large single glass panes and elaborate leaded glass fan light above. The door is recessed into a arched stone entry. HISTORICAL CONTEXT The Birdsell Clover Huller was invented by John Comley Birdsell in Monroe County, New York in 1855. In 1864, Mr. Birdsell's factory was destroyed by fire. He determined to move west and settle in South Bend. In 1870 the Birdsell Manufacturing Company was formed and a five story brick factory building was erected. At the time it was the largest factory building in South Bend. The company enjoyed the distinction of having the largest clover huller factory in the world. The Birdsell Clover Huller was one of the important implements of early farming in the Midwest. [3] Joseph Benjamin Birdsell was born in Monroe County, New York, December 2, 1844 to John Comley and Harriet Lunt Birdsell. At the age of 19 he began working in the office of his father's establishment. When the Birdsell Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1870, Mr. J.B. Birdsell was made treasurer. After the death of his father in 1894, Mr. Birdsell was chosen president and treasurer of the company in which capacity he served until his death in 1906. [4] Bank Out Lot 15 was purchased in 1897 by Joseph Benjamin Birdsell and Olive Tarbell Birsell for $8,800. They hired architect Wilson Parker to design the house.[5] Parker came to South Bend in 1892 and entered into partnership with Ennis R. Austin. Parker had previously spent three years with McKim, Meade and White and two years with the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company. Other important buildings designed by Parker & Austin include St. James Episcopal Church and Epworth Hospital. [6] In 1899 the home was complete and the Birdsells had taken up residence.[7] J.B. Birdsell retired from the Birdsell Manufacturing Company in the spring of 1906 and died September 27, 1906 at the age of 61. He was survived by his widow, a son, and two daughters.[8] Mrs. Birdsell continued to live at 511 West Colfax until the Income Guarantee Company took possession of the property in 1928 and remodeled the house into offices. It was sold in 1955 to Damon Burford, H.J. Alley, and Sophia C. Alley. The property sold again in 1959 to LR Building Corporation.[9] In 1960 the building housed the offices of attorney F. Jay Nimtz. Nimtz was a • lifetime resident of South Bend. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941 and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was decorated by seven nations for his service during World War II. Mr. Nimtz was a longtime civic leader and was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1956. He was president of the South Bend Redevelopment Commission from 1974 until his death in 1990.[10] The building was purchased by Dr. Len Trevino in 1994 and has been renamed the F. Jay Nimtz Building. NOTES 1. Historic Preservation Commission Resolution No.3: Historic Landmarks Procedure (July 14, 1975) . 2. City of South Bend Summary Report - Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory (South Bend: 1992) . 3. Timothy Edward Howard, History of St. Joseph County, Indiana, (Chicago & New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907) : 401. 4. South Bend Tribune (obit. J.B. Birdsell) September 27, 1906. 5. Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Survey, survey card, 511 West Colfax. 6. City of South Bend Summary Report - Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory (South Bend: 1982) . 7. Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Survey, survey card, 511 West Colfax. 8. Tribune (obit. J.B. Birdsell) September 27, 1906. 9. City of South Bend Assessors Records, 1931-1959. 10. South Bend Tribune, (obit. F.J. Nimtz) December 7, 1990. C. Anderson May 1995 , . . .- historic p reservation commission of south bend and st. joseph county ROOM 1123 COUNTY CITY BUILDING south bend,indiana 46601(219)235-9798 May 30, 1995 Common Council of the City of South Bend C/O Ms. Irene Gammon, Clerk of the City of South Bend 4th Floor County-City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601 Honorable Council Members, Attached please find the proposed amendment to the City of South Bend's Zoning Ordinance. The purpose of the amendment is to designate the property located at 511 West Colfax Avenue as a Local Historic Landmark. At its May 15, 1995 meeting, the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County moved to send to the Common Council a favorable recommendation to designate the above mentioned property as a Local Historic Landmark. We would appreciate your favorable consideration of this matter. Yours truly, fly David B. Duvall, Director Filed in Clerk's Office JUN - 11995 IRENEGAMMON CITYCLERK,SC.I E + .4\ 0 ) I , the undersigned property owner, hereby grant the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County f the permission to have the building or buildings located at: 511 West Colfax South Bend, IN declared an architectural and/or historic landmark under ordinance. I do also approve of the classification of this building/build- ings under Group B standards. O t ' CC ne c c) dra u Property Owr Date 4 Comments: HPC-2 AREA . PLAN COMMISSION of ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, IN RICHARD S. JOHNSON Executive Director ROBERT W. SANTE Assistant Director 1140 COUNTY-CITY BUILDING, SOUTH BEND, IN. 46601 (219)235-9571 FAX(219)235-9813 June 29, 1995 Mrs. Irene Gammon, City Clerk 4th Floor, County-City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601 RE: Proposed designation of property located at 511 West Colfax Avenue as an Historic Landmark. Dear Mrs. Gammon: The Staff of the Area Plan Commission has reviewed the Historic Preservation Commission's proposed designation of the above property as an historic landmark with respect to the relationship of said property to any capital improvements proposed for nearby rights- of-way, easements or properties. We find no proposed improvements that will conflict with this designation. Sincerely, DeWayne Drodine Planner Flied in Clerk's OM Ce JUN 2 9 scz Ci YCLERr,SERBEND"Pi. Serving: South Bend, Lakeville, New Carlisle, North Liberty, Roseland and St. Joseph County, IN fhmnntW#tu gronrt can tie (IInnunun Qlountil of tip Qty of*until Stub: of the Whole Your Committee to whom was referred BILL NO. 34-95 A BILL AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND ESTABLISHING AN HISTORIC LANDMARK FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 511 WEST COLFAX AVENUE, IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Respectfully report that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion This bill has been recommended to the Council favorable, as amended by substitution. Cleo Washington, Chairman