The Old Silk Stocking Neighborhood is the historic district near downtown Kokomo, Indiana, and the Westside Business District. In 1886, natural gas was discovered in north central Indiana. The area exploded with people, who then developed the neighborhood. This historic area of town was the place where lawyers, doctors, industrialists and even a mayor would come to build their turn of the century residences. The neighborhood is bounded by Washington Street to the east, Philips Street to the west, Wildcat Creek to the south and Taylor Street to the North. Major roadways traversing through the Old Silk Stocking Neighborhood include Sycamore Street (

Indiana State Road 22 State Road 22 (SR 22) is an east–west discontinuous state road in the central part of the US state of Indiana. The western end of the western segment is in the town of Burlington, at SR 29. The highway passes through rural areas of Carroll ...

) running east and west and Washington Street and Philips Street traveling north and south. Recently in 2005, Sycamore Street (SR 22) began a complete redesign resulting in an addition of a center turn lane, as well as old-fashioned lighting and ornamental trees with construction ending in late 2006. On December 22, 2008, the neighborhood was placed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

. Its official boundaries are "W. Jackson St. on the N., Washington St. on the E., Wildcat Creek in the S., Phillips St. on the W.".

Architecture

The Old Silk Stocking Neighborhood is an eclectic mix of architectural styles including Victorian,

Neo-Jacobean The Jacobethan or Jacobean Revival architectural style is the mixed national Renaissance revival style that was made popular in England from the late 1820s, which derived most of its inspiration and its repertory from the English Renaissance (15 ...

, Queen Anne, Bungalow,

Tudor Revival Tudor Revival architecture (also known as mock Tudor in the UK) first manifested itself in domestic architecture in the United Kingdom in the latter half of the 19th century. Based on revival of aspects that were perceived as Tudor architecture ...

Colonial Revival The Colonial Revival architectural style seeks to revive elements of American colonial architecture. The beginnings of the Colonial Revival style are often attributed to the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, which reawakened Americans to the archit ...

, and

Romanesque Revival Romanesque Revival (or Neo-Romanesque) is a style of building employed beginning in the mid-19th century inspired by the 11th- and 12th-century Romanesque architecture. Unlike the historic Romanesque style, Romanesque Revival buildings tended to ...

. ''Note:'' This includes and Accompanying photographs.

Landmarks

Howard County Historical Society and Museum

The Howard County Museum is located on West Sycamore Street and inhabits the Seiberling Mansion, the Elliott House, as well as two historic carriage houses owned by the two families which built the two massive residences. The Howard County Museum is open during the week and showcases local history including information about the founders of Kokomo, and the Seiberlings. Also available by the museum is a live reenactment of the marriage of Monroe Seiberling's daughter, as well as a venue for local weddings. The Seiberling Mansion is an 1887 house built by manufacturing magnate Monroe Seiberling. It was separately listed on the National Register in 1972. The Elliott House is located next door to the Seiberling Mansion and is home to the Kokomo Symphonic Society, as well as a few professional offices. The Elliott Carriage house was recently renovated to house the Stan Mohr Local History Library. After the original residents of the Elliott House moved out, the house was purchased and was used for a location for

Indiana University Kokomo Indiana University Kokomo (IU Kokomo or IUK) is a public university in Kokomo, Indiana. It is a regional campus of Indiana University serving north central Indiana. History In 1932, John and George Beauchamp opened the Kokomo Junior College ...

, until it moved to its current location on South Washington Street.

Christmas at the Seiberling

During the holiday season, the Seiberling Mansion and the Elliott House host a plethora of events for all ages to enjoy. One of the most striking features of the holiday events would be the lighting of both the Seiberling Mansion, Elliott House and the grounds accommodating both buildings. Activities held at the Howard County Historical Society would include horse-drawn carriage rides, pictures with Santa Claus, a gingerbread competition, as well as touring the decorated mansion. Also available during this time are Choralier performances and refreshments.''Seiberling will host holiday events.'' (Kokomo Tribune Website)
Retrieved March 16, 2008.

Religious Centers

Of the large variety of religious centers within the Old Silk Stocking Neighborhood area, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and Highland Park Church are two of the more prominent churches within the neighborhood.
A list of religious centers within the neighborhood include: *St. Andrew's Episcopal Church *Highland Park Church *St. Thomas the Apostle Orthodox Christian Church *First Congregational UCC *Fresh Start Ministries *The Father's House Church *Temple B'nai Israel

Parks

Foster Park

Christened in 1921http://access.newspaperarchive.com/kokomo-tribune/1921-12-31?tag=foster+park&rtserp=tags/?pc=15127&psi=38&pci=7&pep=foster-park&psb=dateasc and named after David Foster, the founder of Kokomo, this park is home to the Senior Citizen's Center, tennis courts, basketball courts, a softball diamond, as well as an outdoor concert venue. Another feature to this park is the Wildcat Walk of Excellence which runs through the park connecting Foster Park to Miller-Highland Park.

Miller-Highland Park

Better known as U.C.T. Ballpark by local residents, this park boasts two little-league baseball diamonds, Indian trails, as well as two playgrounds.

Businesses

*Guardian Angel Hospice Foundation, Inc. *Crazy J's Ice Cream *Templin Barber Shop *Horoho Printing *Kokomo Smile Creations

Gallery

File:WildcatCreek.jpg, Wildcat Creek, Foster Park located on the Left, Kokomo Beach Family Aquatic Center on the Right File:TemplinBarbershopKokomo.jpg, Templin Barber Shop File:SycamoreStDusk.JPG, Sycamore St. at Dusk File:StAndrewsEpiscopalChurchKokomo.JPG, St. Andrews Episcopal Church

References

{{National Register of Historic Places in Indiana Kokomo, Indiana National Register of Historic Places in Howard County, Indiana Historic districts in Howard County, Indiana Populated places established in the 1880s Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Indiana Queen Anne architecture in Indiana Romanesque Revival architecture in Indiana Colonial Revival architecture in Indiana Tudor Revival architecture in Indiana