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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 04/13/04 Application Number: 2004 - 0315 -2 Property Location: 14309 Adams Road, Granger Property Owner: Ronald & Diana Snyder Landmark or District Designation: Local Landmark Rating: Outstanding/ 13 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT At least three generations of Metzger's, a prominent agricultural family with German ancestry, built and lived in this house. The earliest construction took place around 1847. It is possibly the third oldest house in the county. As the family needed more space, additions were built with the same materials and fine craftsmanship. In 1836, John Texas Metzger's maternal grandfather purchased 80 acres of land upon which this house now stands. His grandparents emigrated from Germany and were early settlers of Harris Township. John, his sister, his mother and his aunt were all raised on this farm. In 1912, John T. Metzger married Kathryn Cooney of Indianapolis. After their marriage, they settled permanently on John T's grandfather's farm. It is unknown when John died. Kathryn passed away in 1959. The farm transferred to her sister, Mary Frances Cooney, who sold it to Theodore and Mary Derksen. The Derksen's owned the property until 1994 when E. Russel purchased the property. Ronald and Diana Snyder are the current owners. In the mid 1800s, the house became a stop on the Old Chicago Trail stagecoach line, a bustling transportation route for settlers heading west and goods heading east and west. It was also a center of Catholic faith and spirituality. Holy Cross priests regularly held Mass here for the local Catholic community before they built a chapel at the St. Joseph farm. This residence is an outstanding example of a two -story Greek revival farmhouse built with local yellow brick. The gable of the main section of the house faces Adams Road. It has a wide continuous cornice and elaborate moldings that form the pediment. The 6 over 6 double hung windows with stone sills are not quite evenly spaced across the fagade. A front stoop with a hipped roof, two posts and matching pilasters is a later addition built to protect the paneled door and sidelights. Two additions with gabled roofs and gable returns and 6 over 6 divided light double hung windows were built perpendicularly to each other and the main portion of the house. The front portico has a shed roof and four elaborated square posts. The four fluted Doric columns were removed before the house was designated a Local Landmark. The site also has a row of mature trees to the east of the house. APPLICATION ITEMS: 1.) Remove non - contributing attached garage and addition, 2.) Build enclosed porch/conservancy, garage, and covered walkway, 3.) Install new drive (shown on architectural drawings)