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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistorical Landmark - The Rail Road bridge located across the St. Joseph River, adjacent to the Angela Street BridgeORDINANCE No. 9234-01 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana July 9, Attest: Attest: 20 01 Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of Soutlt Bend, Indiana City Clerk President of Common Council City Clerk Approved and signed by me July 11 20 ~~n i ~ i' ~~t~.~_ c~~-~..-~____~ Mayor ORDINANCE NO. ~Z3~ -~ AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE, AND ESTABLISHING AN HISTORIC LANDMARK FOR THE RAIL ROAD BRIDGE LOCATED ACROSS THE ST. JOSEPH RIVER, ADJACENT TO THE ANGELA STREET BRIDGE, IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend & St. Joseph County has petitioned for the designation of the following described structure and property as an Historic Landmark pursuant to Ordinance No. 5565-73, as amended to wit: Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge spanning the St. Joseph River, adjacent to the Angela Street Bridge in South Bend, Indiana The Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County have recommended the designation of the property as an Historic Landmark. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA: Section 1. That the above described property is here by, as amended designated and established as an Historic Landmark under Ordinance No. 5565-73. Section 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council, approval by the Mayor and its publication. Member of the mmon Council 1st READING Z - ~ Z - ~ PUBLIC HEARINGI-S-l7~ 3rd READWG 1_y_O~ NOT APPROVED REFERRED PASSEfl l-~-O~ COMMITTEE REPORT TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND: Your Committee of the Whole, to whom was referred: BILL NO. 10-01 A BILL AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE, AND ESTABLISHING AN HISTORIC LANDMARK FOR THE RAILROAD BRIDGE LOCATED ACROSS THE ST. JOSEPH RIVER, ADJACENT TO THE ANGELA STREET BRIDGE, IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Respectfully report that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion, this bill is being recommended to the full Council with no recommendation due to a quorum not available. Andrew Udjak Chairman PROPOSED LOCAL LANDMARK NORFOLK & SOUTHERN R.R. BRIDGE SOUTH BEND, INDIANA Historic Preservation Commission Of South Bend and St. Joseph County August 2000 LOCATION 3 ~: A . } , a ~~ ~ ~~ _~r.~ ~ ~ ;~~ ~.. y . x ~ H ` ~~ ~6 :~~.... ti.~~R y ~A~. ~ ~r F ~ ~1 'R~M F~ ~~ Y~ ~~r H + ~ lf`~It~ ` ,~ h'wr ((( ^ t ,. • - ~ ~ ~ . rr _... ~ a~MG ~ ~~._fi k ~~,r'._ ~.e . i'~Vn' ~ ~y: .,. ~ ~x.~I L . Y.d.2.i~ :. ~y1 y + ~ i W :3 ~ ~ L ~'~F i lY ~ t ~, ~ . ~ ~,r i ~ ~4 .. .. ....:. .....m:a.E`. :. PHOTOGRAPH 3 R.R. BRIDGE HISTORICAL CONTEXT This railway line first appeared in the 1911 atlas. It is believed to have been originally constructed in the mid 1890's by the Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Railroad, otherwise known as the Chicago Indiana Southern. This rail company, most commonly referred to as the three I's arrived in South Bend in the mid 1800's. It constructed a line that gave manufacturers and merchants a direct connection with practically every railroad entering Chicago. The line ran only freight cars and was perhaps the most successful railroad of its kind in the country. It is believed that the line running north through the west portion of South Bend curving to run parallel with Angela Street and ending at Notre Dame University was erected in the late 1880's or early 1890's. It was reported in the South Bend Tribune in 1895 that the Portage Avenue Bridge over the I. I. & I. R.R. was widened for ease of travel. The three I's were responsible for the construction of the first railway bridge over the St. Joseph River to run adjacent to the Angela Street Bridge. By 1917 the line and bridge had been sold to the Michigan Central Railroad. They owned the line until it was taken over by the New York Central. It is unknown whether Michigan Central or New York Central Railroad was responsible for demolishing the original bridge and replacing it with the a new bridge in 1927. The bridge saw rail lines change hands several more times before being purchased by the Pennsylvania Lines LLC in 1999. This company leases the rights to the line to the Norfolk and Southern Corporation. This bridge was a portion of a freight train system that hauled coal to Notre Dame University. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION The structure is located across the St. Joseph River, just north of the Angela Street Bridge in South Bend, Indiana. This is a deck plate girder bridge with four concrete supports, iron girder and plate deck. RECOMMENDATION Based on the Historic Preservation Commission's Local Landmark Criteria's adopted by the Common Council, the structure spanning the St. Joseph River immediately north of the Angela Street Bridge has been recommended to the Common Council for designation as a Local Landmark by the Historic Preservation Commission. The building, sites and objects meet the following three criteria: 1) Its character, interest, or 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; 4 2) Its educational value; 3) Its suitability for preservation. The structure fulfills criteria #1 as an example of the growth of South Bend and the important role railroads played in the development of its manufacturing districts. It is also a building block of Notre Dame University's history. The structure fulfills criteria #2 as a tool for learning about the way of life nearly one hundred years ago. It is an example of the boom of freight use as well as the use of coal for running one of the countries premier schools. The site and structures fulfills criteria #3 by its construction and lack of any alterations to the fabric of the structure since its erection in the late 1920's. 5 South Bend and St. Joseph County HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION 227 WEST JEFFERSON BLVD. RM 1123 SOUTH BEND, IN 46601 Phone:219-235-9798 Fax:219-235-9578 E-Mail: historic@michiana.org John Oxian, President January 17, 2001 South Bend Common Council 455 County-City Bldg. 227 W. Jefferson South Bend, IN. 46601 Dear Member of the Council, A Certified Local Government Please find the attached ordinance which has been prepared for introduction to the Common Council. The purpose of this ordinance is to establish the Norfolk Southern Rail Road Bridge which spans the St. Joseph River, adjacent to the Angela Street Bridge as an Historic Landmark. At its Public Hearing held on January 15, 2001, the Historic Preservation Commission recommended designation of this property to the Common Council. A copy of the Staff s favorable review and recommendation regarding designation of this property is also enclosed. Yours Truly, I~ ^, ut'~~ . John Oxian, Acting Director - HPC JO/RS ._,. , 1 +i ~ J/~i~ 1 ~; 7.00 -__ ...~...__ __ _,......~,a~ L , ,, ~,,~. c; n ... f, ~: ~, Saving The History Of South Bend & St. Joseph County By Protecting The Irreplaceable COMMISSIONERS Martha Choitz Richard Helmus Jerry Weiner (Treasurer) Gerald Ujdak(Secretary) Catherine Hostetler (Vice-President) Mary Jane Chase Richard Morison Joann Sporleder (Historic Architect) Thomas Bodnar(Attorney)