South Bend's Architectural History

By Catherine Hostetler, Director, Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County

South Bend has a very rich and varied architectural history. The earliest permanent structures, in what was to become South Bend, were log trading posts and cabins of fur traders built along the St. Joseph River in the early nineteenth century. Two of these traders, Pierre Navarre and Alexis Coquillard from the American Fur Company, were some of the earliest settlers in South Bend and helped to establish the city. As their small settlement prospered, vernacular wood frame structures were built to accommodate homes, schools and stores. These structures were built in styles including the simple ’Gable-Front’, the ‘Gabled-Ell' with its many variations and the ‘I-House’ named for its common occurrence in states that started with an ‘I’ such as Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa.

The local or vernacular style of the early settlers in South Bend often reflected their heritage which introduced many diverse architectural styles to the region. These early homes include Bartlett House (1850) which combines the ‘I-House’ with the Federal style, Fuerbringer House (1855) and the Second St. Joseph Hotel which is now the LaSalle Grill (1868). Many of the 19th century revival styles are also found in South Bend. These include the Greek Revival Style found in the Second St. Joseph County Court House (1855); the Italianate seen in the Kerr Building (1891) and the Gothic Revival style seen in the Episcopal Cathedral of St. James (1894).

As the wealth and prosperity of South Bend’s Industrialists grew their architectural tastes turned towards more imposing styles such as the Romanesque and Queen Anne. They built mansions with field stone such as Tippecanoe built by the Studebaker family in 1881 and Copshaholm built by the Oliver family in 1897. Builders and architects in South Bend were also greatly influenced by the 1893 Columbian Exhibition in Chicago and the concept of the Neoclassical ‘White City’. This is evident in several buildings in Downtown South Bend such as the JMS building from 1910. The wealth of the city’s entrepreneurs and professionals allowed them to engage renowned architects for the Oliver Hotel (built 1899 demolished 1967), the Third County Court House (1897), and the Studebaker Administration Building (1910).

At the turn of the 20th century South Bend had established itself as an American industrial center, and, as such, attracted talented architects from all over North America. These architects not only came to South Bend to design its commercial, public, and domestic spaces but also to establish their partnerships and firms. Ennis R. Austin (Owasco, New York) and Roy N. Shambleau (Wallaceburg, Ontario) joined together to create the firm Austin & Shambleau and built some of South Bend’s memorable landmarks such as the I&M Building (1929 Art Deco), the Tower Building ( 1929 Gothic Revival), and the Federal Building (1932 Neoclassical). Walter W. Schneider (Chattanooga, TN) came to South Bend in 1896 and opened his office in 1910. He and his firm designed the Toth State Bank (1924 Neoclassical) and the Natatorium (1922 Neoclassical) among 50 other homes and buildings. Ernest W. Young (Kansas City, MO) arrived in South Bend in 1904. He designed the Jefferson School (1931 Neoclassical), the Erskine Park Club House (1925 Colonial Revival) and at least 35 homes. George W. Freyermuth (Philadelphia, PA) went into partnership with South Bend native R.V. Maurer. The firm designed over 35 homes plus schools, hospitals and public buildings. Their public buildings included the Sons of Israel Synagogue (1901 Polish Brick Gothic), the North Pumping Station (1912 Beaux Arts), the James Monroe School (1931 Collegiate Gothic), and the Remedy Building (1895 Free Classic).

Frank Lloyd Wright, the most well known of American architects, came to South Bend and designed the DeRhodes House (1907 Prairie) and Mossberg House (1949-51 Usonian).  A great admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright and his Usonian style principles, Otto Seeler, became a professor of architecture at the University of Notre Dame and designed at least six homes. The tradition of renowned architects coming to South Bend has continued. Philip Johnson, a Pritzker Architecture Award winner, designed the Century Center (1977 International) in Downtown South Bend, and Richard H. Driehaus Prize winners Robert A.M. Stern and Thomas Beeby have designed buildings on the campus of Notre Dame.