1992 06 Riley High School Historic Significance South Bend St Joe County Historic Preservation...

8/20/2019 1992 06 Riley High School Historic Significance South Bend St Joe County Historic Preservation Commission Redux

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James Whitcomb Riley High School:

Historic Significance

Historic Preservation Commissionof South Bend and St. Joseph County

June 1992


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Forward

What is now known as James Whitcomb Riley High School was erected in October of 1924 as the

Southeast Junior High School. This imposing structure is a fine example of the Collegiate Gothic

style of architecture popular for school structures in the first half of the twentieth century. Thebuilding was designed by notable local architects Ennis R. Austin and Norman Roy Shambleau and

is one of the significant examples of their work remaining in the area. Riley was rated as

“Significant” (S-12) on the 1979 Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Survey. It was built toresolve the school congestion problem in South Bend.[l]

The building has undergone major alterations–a series of additions have been attached to the

building on its rear (north) including a three-story classroom addition and a gymnasium. The

original facade, however, remains essentially intact on the front (south) and the east and west sides

of the structure. This facade, of brick and carved stone with large decorative spandrels, polychrome

brickwork and other decorative details, is the portion of the building–the “significant historic


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fabric”–that is of the greatest concern from the HPCs perspective. This is essentially the portion of

the building that should be preserved and remain intact if possible.

Riley’s historical role as the location of secondary education on the city’s southeast side makes it

an important source for understanding the social and cultural development of this section of South

Bend. Residents have been graduating from high school here since 1931 and the school has thusserved four generations of students; both are important reasons why Riley’s possible demolition

evokes strong emotional reactions from many people.

Riley is also significant for its place in the built-environment and on the landscape of its immediate

neighborhood. Its size and placement adjacent to the Studebaker Golf Course make it an important

focal point for the neighborhood. Its demolition, or defacement of its historical facade, would do

irreparable harm to the general environment, or subjective “feel,” of the neighborhood. The

structure provides an element of grace and beauty that would not be easily replaced.

Riley High School is deserving of protection and preservation. It is a school structure that was

constructed of substantial materials, was intended to be an up-to-date educational facility and was

designed with a high regard for aesthetics. The school should be seen as an example of the movetoward the modernization of educational facilities that took place early in this century throughout

the United States.

The building could easily remain useful into the future; landmark designation would in no wayimpede future exterior additions or interior renovations and would help ensure that the most

significant portion of the building–its façade–would remain as an attractive element of the

streetscape.

In addition, destruction of a large structure such as this should be discouraged for environmental

reasons in addition to cultural and historical concerns. Demolition of this building would only

serve to further degrade the environment by adding to landfill overuse. It would be a waste of rawmaterials–both those in the building and those needed to build a replacement–to allow the

demolition of a structure that continues to serve useful purposes now and, with the proper care,

into the future.

Historical Development

Although the construction of the new Southeast Junior High School was completed in October

1924, it was not formally dedicated until March 1925. The new structure was appropriately

described as being “an imposing edifice, commodious in its facilities, and a model in modern

equipment.” It was a significant addition to the schools in the city of South Bend. At the dedication

ceremony Dr. E.G. Elliott, president of Purdue University and the principal speaker, dedicated thenew school to "the spirit of service to the thousands of children across the country seeking a

quality education." He claimed that these children were the inspiration for those seeking a more

“highly evolved educational system” that should be housed within fine structures such as the new

Southeast school.[2]

The school building was built under the direction of ten members of the local branch of the Rotary

Club; these citizens supervised the project from design to construction. It was the close

cooperation among these Rotarians that was instrumental in the construction of such a fine, sturdy

building.


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School Buildings and Facilities

The new Southeast Junior High School was built as a spacious structure with modern facilities to

accommodate the needs of a growing student body. The new school structure with its grounds cost

the school corporation $600,000. The building was constructed three stories in height and was

originally 358 feet in length by 150 feet in width. The long, spacious corridors through the centerof the three floors were built of terrazzo flanked by yellow face-brick wainscoting. In addition to the

thirty-two regular classrooms, there were other rooms providing opportunities for “modern” uses

such as the auditorium with a seating capacity of seven hundred and fifty. Attached to the

auditorium was a balcony, a store room, a large stage, two small dressing rooms, and a motion

picture booth. Also located on the first floor were the general offices, the varied industry shop, and

the girls’ gymnasium, locker and shower rooms. The gymnasium was equipped with a balcony

seating three hundred.[3]

The second floor was the location of the art room, music room and staff rest room. The library was

located on the third floor along with a librarian’s room, a sewing room, two domestic science

rooms, a cafeteria and a suite of model housekeeping rooms for the teaching of household arts.

This section consisted of a dining room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. The cafeteria was

constructed to accommodate two hundred and fifty diners at one time and each day served from

three to five hundred students and boiler, the fan ventilating system and the boy’s gymnasium and

locker rooms.[4]

By 1927 Southeast Junior High was renamed the James Whitcomb Riley School. The change in

the school’s name coincided with the celebration of the birthday anniversary of the eminent

Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley. From that time on the school has been most commonly

referred to simply as Riley School.[5]

In 1929, in order to better serve the needs of the students living south of Ewing Avenue and west of

the seven hundred block, a $100,000 addition was added to the School; the school was thenconverted to use as a combined Junior and Senior High school.[6]

The Ten Rotarians

As stated above, ten members of the local Rotary organization were primarily responsible for the

conception and construction of Riley. Those involved were:

Superintendent of Schools Walter W. Borden, who first recognized the need of such a

building;

Dr. Richard B. Dugdale, president of the Board of Directors of the local schools; Ennis R. Austin, who played a leading role in designing the building;

G. T. Nethercutt, superintendent of construction once the plans were finalized;

H. G. Christman, member of the Christman Company, in charge of the building project;

assisted by

J. P. Christman, a member of the same company.

The electrical work was done by Don McGregor , representative of the Electric Service

Company;

The lighting fixtures were supplied by the George E. Wheelock Company, both men were

also Rotarians.


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The electrical fixtures were manufactured by F. A. Clark and Emil Hawkinson, of the

Western Electric Company.[7]

From among the ten Rotarians, those that played the leading roles in making James Whitcomb

Riley school a reality were Borden, Dugdale, architect Austin and his partner, Shambleau, and

builder-contractor Christman. Not only were these individuals closely associated with theconception, design and the actual construction of the school, but they each had noteworthy

individual professional careers and held significant positions in South Bend society.

Walter W. Borden

Borden was Superintendent of city schools beginning in 1919 and was widely recognized for his

expertise in school administration. In addition to his academic background, Borden had extensive

administrative experience, holding the office of Superintendent of Schools at Fredericktown, Ohio,

followed by the same position in Orville, Ohio and serving in the same capacity in Bucyrus, Ohio.

At the end of his term in Ohio, he accepted the same responsibilities in South Bend.[8]

Borden’s tenure as Superintendent of South Bend schools was considered by his peers as “quiteprogressive.” He focused a great deal of attention on educational expansion, including the

system’s physical plant and its academic curriculum. In addition, many schools were either

remodeled or built during his years as Superintendent. Among them, the James Whitcomb Riley

School was a significant addition.[9]

Richard B. Dugdale

Dr. Richard B. Dugdale was one of the three men on the Board of School Trustees who was most

seriously concerned with providing adequate educational facilities in South Bend. Dr. Dugdale was

considered by his peers to be intensely interested in school matters and was described as also

making “a conscious effort to improve the quality of the entire educational system [throughout] thestate of Indiana.”[10]

Dr. Dugdale was mainly involved in school administration, yet was also instrumental in several

other significant strides that were made in expanding local educational institutions; one such effort

resulted in the building of the Riley School. During his tenure on the school board the city schools

witnessed other significant developments in South Bend. Not only was there an increase in

enrollment and growth in the student body but the standards of education also improved

dramatically. South Bend eventually occupied second place in the numbers of children receiving a

quality education in the state of Indiana.[11]

Ennis R. Austin (1863-1951)

Ennis R. Austin has been described as an architect of “high ideals and a progressive nature.” He

attended high school at Waterloo, Iowa, followed by a full course in architecture at Cornell

University, graduating in 1886. He began his architectural career in the offices of the then well-

known firm of Le Brun and Sons, after which he worked four years at the Tiffany Glass and

Decorating Company. In 1892 he came to South Bend and joined Wilson B. Parker forming the

partnership known as Parker and Austin.

In 1912 he entered into his partnership with Shambleau, and the architectural firm assumed the

name Austin and Shambleau. The firm designed many significant buildings and houses in South


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Bend. Among them were the Tower Federal Building, the South Bend Tribune, the YMCA and the

Federal Post Office. Most of their significant houses were designed in the 1910s and 20s.[12]

Norman Roy Shambleau (1888-1975)

Norman Roy Shambleau was born in Canada and lived in London, Ontario until he was eleven

years old. When he was seventeen he moved to South Bend. In 1908 he began a brief partnership

with local architect, Ernest Young. In 1912 he entered his partnership with Ennis Austin.[13]

Architecturally, Shambleau’s work stood out locally as quite distinctive. Shambleau was locally

influential for his Prairie-influenced residences modeled after the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. After

1915 he designed many outstanding period revival structures including houses, schools and

commercial buildings. His vision of South Bend was that it would develop into a city and

community of “beautiful homes and magnificent buildings.”[15] In this context, the James

Whitcomb Riley school remains as a fine example on the South Bend architectural landscape of the

beauty of local architectural heritage as conceived by Shambleau and his long-time partner.

Henry H. Christman

Christman was born in South Bend on February 18, 1869 and lived here all of his life. At the age of

eighteen he was engaged as a carpenter’s apprentice under Chris Fassnacht. In 1894 Christman

embarked on the contracting business for himself. Soon, through his “diligence and honest effort,”

the H.G. Christman Company expanded and eventually had offices in Detroit and Lansing as well

as South Bend. By 1900 Mr. Christman was regarded as a leader in his field and was responsible

for the construction of numerous local significant buildings.[15]

Conclusion

Riley’s first high school class graduated in June, 1931 with one hundred students receiving

degrees; in January, 1932 the school graduated the second class, consisting of fifty eight students.

During the first decade of its existence the James Whitcomb Riley school grew and developed into

a full-fledged high school.[16] It shared the goal common to educational facilities of its day of

maintaining high standards and “constantly striving for increasing knowledge.” It has remained in

use for similar goals up to the present and is a good example of a historic building that has

retained its utility over time. It is worthy of preservation and designation as a Local Historic

Landmark, not only as an example of an exceptional architectural type and as a fine educational

institution, but also as a significant example of the development of South Bend’s past and present

social fabric.

Dr. Sushmita Hodges Fred M. HolycrossResearch Historian Director

otes

1. South Bend News Times (10-26-24)

2. South Bend Tribune (3-26-25)

3. Ibid

4. Ibid

5. South Bend Tribune (10-8-27); South Bend News Times (10-25-27)




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8. Charles Roll, Indiana One Hundred and Fifty Years of American Development. Vol. 3 ( Chicago & N.Y.: The Lewis

Publishing Company, 1931):172-173.


10. South Bend Tribune (6-22-32); News Times, (7-6-27)


12. Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory (South Bend: Historic Preservation Commission, 1982):29; South Bend

and The Men Who Have Made It, Compiled by Anderson and Cooley, (South Bend: The Tribune Printing Co.,

1901):285

13. Sites and Structures Inventory:33



16. Hoosier Poet (Riley High School Yearbook) April 26, 1932

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