Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout8567-95 Establishig Historic Landmark Building 1601 Kemble Ave .1 .s ORDINANCE No. 8567-95 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana_ January 9, r9 95 l Attest: City Clerk IRENE K. GAMMON Attest: �,rc��' �' /_ / ``� President of Common Council Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana January 10, iq 95 City Clerk IRENE K. GAMMON Approved and signed by me //7 Z ig gy -'" Mayor ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE, AND ESTABLISHING AN HISTORIC LANDMARK FOR THE BUILDING LOCATED AT 1601 KEMBLE AVENUE, IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. Whereas, the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and Saint Joseph County has petitioned for the designation of the following described real estate as an Historic Landmark under the Ordinance No. 5565-73, as amended to wit: Lot # 42 in Beyerly's 1st Addition to the city of South Bend, IN Whereas, the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and Saint Joseph County has recommended the designation of the BUILDING as an Historic Landmark. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA: SECTION 1. That the above described BUILDING be, and it is here designated and established as an Historic Landmark under Ordinance No. 5563-73, as amended. SECTION 2. That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council, approved by the Mayor and its publication. e •er of the Co .� � ncil 7 1601 KEMBLE AVENUE THE FORMER TOTH STATE BANK Historic and Architectural Significance Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend & Saint Joseph County November 1994 Sample 0 0 ;;:: .001 Kerr f!1deEakePr lrapas;ed o ::',::::::::::..NatNol a....ft69.,8Cer.. ....... :.......................r... ..:: ar ........................ :. i clr1'c District ..................... .... - . ;.. .003 .004 Stul I LoG ANTI oN Co O_t 6 51.1 OL E .:. Q ..M• W.. .. ... .. ........• .•• ..•...•.••••.• .••............•.•..:::,::..... •:::::::..•.:.:.....:..,...,;::::....:::...... ......:...""....".. ..... ..................................• ..... ...:.„...,:..... . .. .. .. . .... .... . . ... ... ... -�� Brcad ay A _c •" Penn Central R.ilrogQ . ........_____, .. .017 .009 .026 .02 i .022 .026 0': OIC N .012 v ro W -007 . n N 41D o 00 L 01• 0 O o 0 00 it) crri N NN Pun .018 04 s Oa 00 N N 000 00 0 Ind,ara 0 00 0 NN N 00.092 v V' Or N n Vm.O Wa W - o p .035 w W .062.065 .069 u .03- v m .04 046 .066.41. .066 0v ca 027 N c.i 6., 0' 0 .. .034 .047 .02Eyo o 067 N o o , .048 .070 0 0.040 .049 055_056 .092' Dubail .083 .08� .079 078,077 .072 085 .075 Q9< .090 0 .084 -076.073 .0947 091 0 CO .095 .080 •074 '095 �i 098 .096 .081 112 .116 1O .099.097 ' - .104 _i�o-113 .117 .., _ `n o .111.114 .118.123 o c 0 ..107 .108 .115 .119 Bruce Street JO -120 3 o N .12L122 N -11 1 .a ... .r Calvert 148 -138 .125 124 .147 .140-139• 1 1 �N J,00)NN N V 5 .149 132 N .150 142 .134 .126 .146 w .145.143 X 3 Donald M 3 .144 .15'1 v .157 .1 ?-164 -169 .171 .156 -� .158 .160 .170 c a .n .159 L e m c - v r 0 7• Ewing E o x.166 x, 2 m 0 .16 7 u V Y " .-- 3 a. LOCATION MAP • 111111111111111.- - - •"'"%k 1 1', 14. ---- r 'CO ...„t • 1111111111 FRONT VIEW Ji 1 , 1 [ 111111 , ..,. •, • _ NORTH SIDE VIEW At the September 19, 1994 regular monthly meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County (HPC), the HPC voted unanimously to send a favorable recommendation for the Local Historic Landmark designation of the building located at 1601 Kemble Avenue to the South Bend Common Council. RECOMMENDATION Based on the HPC Local Landmark Criteria [1], it is the Historic Preservation Commission's recommendation that the South Bend Common Council designate the Building located at 534 LaPorte by ordinance as a Local Historic Landmark. The building meets the criteria in at least four 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; The building fulfills criteria #1 as remaining structure identified with a small independent financial institution based in an ethnic neighborhood from the period of rapid financial development of the 1920s. The building fulfills criteria #2 as an excellent example of a neighborhood commercial structure from the 1920s rated Significant (S/11) in the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Survey featuring neo-classical details, especially refined terre-cotta.[2] The building fulfills criteria #3 as an excellent example of neighborhood commercial architecture of the 1920s. Historical study of the building and the individuals related to its early activities presents an interesting vignette about the Hungarian-American population of South Bend and the effects of the Great Depression of the 1930's on South Bend. The building fulfills criteria #4 by the integrity of its original construction with only minor and well conceived alterations. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION The building is located at the southwest corner of Kemble Avenue and Indiana Avenue, directly across the street from the original facade of the Oliver School. It is a masonry bearing wall type structure with the street facades executed in an orange brick with quoins at the corners and terre-cotta details. The south and west walls, interior to the block are rendered in a lower quality brick and absent the terre-cotta. The rear wall faces an alley across a small paved area. This unadorned wall has been altered with overhead doors for delivery access. The largest part of the building plan is oriented to Kemble Street with a symmetrically balanced entry facade. The Indiana Avenue side once featured a commercial storefront toward the rear of the structure which has been filled in to match the surrounding brick but lacks the terre-cotta detailing. The windows at street level are multiple sash (three windows per aperture in most cases presently visible). The section of the building originally occupied by the bank is articulated with terre-cotta widow hoods and surrounds at each corner of the occupied area. Intervening windows are enhanced by terre-cotta squares at the corners of each window and terre-cotta diamonds in the intervening walls between windows. The second story windows are typically spaced pairs of double hung sash oriented to center on the window groups below. These windows were presumably for office or apartment rooms. The street facades are profusely ornamented with terre-cotta parapet coping, cornice, stringcourse, window sills, relief panels with foliage motifs placed above the above mentioned first floor window hoods, and water table. Where the storefront wall has been filled in, the terre-cotta water table has been imitated in concrete. The main facade is further decorated with a terre-cotta relief panel depicting an eagle at the parapet above the main entry and arch and pilasters surrounding the front doors.[3] HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT The Toth State Bank was organized May 2, 1921, with $50,000 of capital.[4][5] The officers of the bank were: Frank Lassu, President; Toefil Drobny, Vice President, George Toth, Cashier; Wilma Sabo, Assistant Cashier; and Joseph Kovacs, Secretary. The Board of Directors was constituted by Frank Lassu, Toefil Drobny, George Toth, Joseph Kovacs, Steve Gargacz, Steve Toth, and Ferdinand Miholich. Of these, Lassu, the Toths, and Miholich were all native Hungarians who had migrated to South Bend between 1900 and 1920. Drobny had been born in Poland. Gergacz was the only member known to have been born in South Bend.[6] George Toth seems to have been the central figure of this group. He arrived in South Bend in 1919 and married Elizabeth Kovacs who was probably related to (sister of ?) Joseph Kovacs, an attorney who had migrated from Pennsylvania in 1912.[7] Toth listed his residence at 602 Chapin. This may have been an apartment or a commercial location. All that we know about Steven Toth is that he maintained a restaurant in this same vicinity at 544 Chapin. Toth seems to have gathered his associates in a large part from this neighborhood. In 1921 Drobny maintained a Chiropractic practice at 502 Chapin. Gergacz and Miholich were both proprietors of "buffet lunch" establishments at 810 and 1601 Prairie Avenue respectively.[8] In 1921, the year that the bank was formed, there were twelve banks and one loan company listed in the City Directory. The first location of the bank was located at the corner of Chapin and Ford Street which would place it at the 602 Chapin address earlier established as George Toth's residence, directly across the street from the Oliver Chilled Plow Works.[9] The 1922 publication South Bend World Famed states that ". . .all the directors are well and popularly known in banking circles and to the people of all nationalities, especially among the Hungarian, German, and Slav population of the district, who took advantage of the banking facilities offered in their respective neighborhood." No historic structures remain in this district of the city which lay between the Studebaker and Oliver industrial complexes. The building under present consideration was constructed in 1924.[10] It was designed by W. W. Schneider, a prolific architect who practiced in South Bend between 1896 and 1957.[11] Nearly 80 extant structures in South Bend are credited to Schneider either individually or in partnership including; the Natatorium, River Park Theater, Knights of Pythias Building, and residences for many noteworthy South Bend citizens including the Studebaker, Birdsell, and Cutter families. Works by Schneider are also known in Mishawaka and Paw Paw Michigan.[12][13] In addition to the Toth Bank on Kemble Avenue, this building also had space for commercial tenants with the address 1006 Indiana Avenue. This space was occupied by the South Side Electric Company from 1926 until 1928 when it was occupied by Joseph Kohajda, a barber and John Schamski of unidentified occupation. In 1929 this address is vacant, however six various occupants are listed at 1006 1/2 Indiana including a dentist and beauty shop.[14] The bank apparently did well as by 1929, George Toth is found residing at 1130 West Washington, a prestigious address at the time. Gergacz had also improved his circumstances considerably having moved from his previous address in his Prairie Avenue Gergacz Hotel to a very stately home at 739 West Washington. [15] The New York Stock Market crash and ensuing bank panic in October of this year, spelled disaster for the Toth State Bank and its depositors if not for the officers personally. In March of 1930 the bank was declared insolvent and closed with the management of liquidation being placed in the hands of the Citizens Trust and Savings Bank.[16] During the next ten years, the Toth State depositors would receive six dividend payments on their deposits amounting to 41% of their original deposits.[17] In December of 1936, a stockholders protective committee was formed with Joseph Vaghy, chairman; Walter Eckler, assistant chairman; Sam Berman, secretary; and Peter Nemeth, treasurer.[18] George Toth seems to have weathered the crash of '29 without the total destruction of his personal resources as in 1930 he and his wife purchased a new home designed by H.R. Stapp at 1322 East Wayne Street North in the fashionable new Sunnymede subdivision developed by Whitcomb & Keller.[19] In 1931 he was operating a real estate business out of the 1006 Indiana Avenue address. By 1935, Toth had relocated his residence to a more modest home in the Sunnymede subdivision at 1436 Sunnymede. By that time his business was as an agent for the William Penn Insurance Association operating out of his home. [20] This name may be related to the William Penn Club which was located on Indiana Avenue in the same block as the Toth State Bank and counted several Toth State Bank associates among its membership.[21] By this year, only three banks and two loan companies survived in the city of South Bend.[22] At the time of his death in 1967 at the age of 84 George Toth was the district manager for the William Penn Insurance Association and had moved to 60140 South St. Joseph Street at the south edge of South Bend. Most of the other officers and directors of the Toth State Bank survived into the 50's and 60's as well.[23] After the failure of the bank, its portion of the building remained vacant until 1947 when the F&S Transit Company was listed at this address. This occupancy was followed in 1949 by the South Bend Tool & Die Co. Inc. Engineering Department which appears to have shared the building in some way with Stream-Eze Inc. , a manufacturer of fishing tackle from 1950 through 1952.[24] David B. Duvall November, 1994 NOTES 1. Historic Preservation Commission Resolution No.3: Historic Landmarks Procedure Historic Landmarks Procedure (July 14, 1975) . 2. City of South Bend Summary Report - Indiana Historic Sites and Structure Inventory (South Bend: 1992) . 3. Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory, survey card, 1601 Kemble 4. South Bend Tribune 3/9/22 5. Young, C.E. ed. , South Bend World Famed, 1922 6. Tribune (obit Frank Lassu) 9/29/52; (obit George Toth) 7/29/67; (obit Toefil Drobny) 3/9/66; (obit Ferdinand Miholich) 2/20/52; (obit Steven Gergacz) 7/7/69 7. Tribune (obit Joseph Kovacs) 10/31/44 8. City Directory, 1921 9. Sanborn Map Company, Insurance Maps for the City of South Bend, Indiana 10. Portage Township Assessor's data card 11. City of South Bend Summary Report (South Bend: 1982) 12. Indiana Historic Sites and Structures data base 13. South Bend 1905, author and publisher unknown 14. City Directories: 1926, 1927, 1929 15. City Directory: 1929 16. Tribune 4/12/30 17. Tribune 12/1/30 18. Tribune 12/1/36 19. Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory, survey card, 1322 East Wayne Street (N) 20. City Directory: 1935 21. Tribune (miscellaneous obits listed above) 22. City Directory: 1935 23. Tribune (obit George Toth) 7/29/67 24. City Directories: 1930 to 1952 AREA PLAN COMMISSION of ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, IN RICHARD S. JOHNSON Executive Director ROBERT W. SANTE Assistant Director i- 1140 COUNTY CITY BUILDING, SOUTH BEND, IN. 46601 (219) 235-9571 FAX (219) 235-9813 December 12, 1994 Mrs. Irene Gammon, City Clerk 4th Floor, County-City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601 RE: Bill No. 116-94 Proposed designation of property located at 1601 Kemble Avenue as an Historical 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, ..d W.. Byorni enior Planner cc: Historic Preservation Commission Flied in Gm h, CA ice DEC 1LII IRENE CUAION CITY CLi;s:,SO.RENO,IN. Serving: South Bend, Lakeville, New Carlisle, North Liberty, Roseland and St. Joseph County, IN Qtnmmltut ilrpurt alp tilt Timm Qioutuil of tl r Min of*nutty Iamb: Your Committee of the Whole to whom was referred BILL NO. 116-94 A BILL AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND ESTABLISHING AN HISTORIC LANDMARK FOR THE BUILDING LOCATED AT 1601 KEMBLE 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. Cleo Washington, Chairman FREE PRESS PUBLISHING CO.