The Pierceton Historic District encompasses the central business district of a small community in east central Kosciusko County, Indiana. It is next to the former

Pennsylvania Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad (reporting mark PRR), legal name The Pennsylvania Railroad Company also known as the "Pennsy", was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was named ...

line. The design, setting, materials, workmanship and association between buildings give a sense of the history and architecture of a small town main street. ''Note:'' This includes
Site Map
and Accompanying photographs. The development of most towns in the county is linked to the growth of the railroads. Pierceton was first platted by Lewis Keith and John B. Chapman in 1852 at the proposed location of the new Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad right-of-way, west of modern Pierceton. The town was re-charted in 1853 once the final railroad location was established. Pierceton was named President

Franklin Pierce Franklin Pierce (November 23, 1804October 8, 1869) was the 14th president of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. He was a northern Democrat who believed that the abolitionist movement was a fundamental threat to the nation's unity ...

. It soon followed by Etna Green in 1853 and Atwood in 1857. The Pierceton Historic District is a collection of brick, one- and two-story buildings that stretch along both sides of First Street from the railroad tracks, one and one half blocks south to Catholic Street. Freestanding buildings such as the old Depot and the Carnegie Library, are found at the north and south ends of the district. However, the majority of the buildings form a consistent façade along the one hundred block of North First Street. The street grid has a regular north–south pattern with the exception of East Market Street. An 1895 fire left the west side of North First Street south of Market leveled, therefore those buildings all date from after that time.

Significant buildings

All structures are historically contributing towards the Historic District Status, unless otherwise noted. An ‘O’ rating signifies that the structure had enough historic or architectural significance to be considered for individual listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The ‘N’ rating signifies that the structure is above average and may, with further investigation be eligible for an individual listing. The ‘C’ or contributing rating signifies that the structure meet the basic inventory qualifications, but fails to meet individual merit, but in combination with other closely placed similar structures warrants inclusion in a

historic district A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...

. East Market Street *Pennsylvania Railroad Depot; Italianate, 1867 (O)Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory: Kosciusko County Interim Report. Indianapolis: Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, March 1991. The depot has a rectangular plan with its long axis parallel to the tracks. A raised stone foundation is visible around the perimeter of the building. The -story building has a gabled, slate roof with wide overhangs supported by large brackets that rest on

pilasters In classical architecture, a pilaster is an architectural element used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function. It consists of a flat surface raised from the main wall ...

. The gable ends are distinguished with a decorative brickwork entablature and a group of three round-arched window openings at the upper level. Flat-arched window and door openings are scattered around the first floor, with a cargo openings on the north and south sides. The interior retains the original with wood flooring and exposed wood rafters. West Market Street *Commercial Building; Twentieth Century Functional, c.1920 (C) East Market Street *102- Commercial Building; Twentieth Century Functional, c.1950 (NC) *110- Flat Iron Hotel; Italianate, c.1880 (C) Across from the Depot is the former Flat Iron Hotel. Contemporary to the Depot, it is the oldest surviving commercial building in the district. Three large, round-arched openings remain on the first floor main or north facade and are reminiscent of the days when the building housed the town's post office, an office, and other commercial uses. The main facade is enhanced by ornate brickwork on the cornice. Detailed brick pavers form the sidewalk in front of the building. West Catholic Street *106- Liefer Building; Twentieth Century Functional, 1909 (C) The Leifer Building is a former bakery and marble works shop. It reflects a small commercial and manufacturing facility. A pseudostone façade had been placed on the ground level. The original brick is visible on the upper foors. The name and date are displayed on the cornice. *Pierceton & Washington Township Carnegie Library; Craftsman, 1916–1918 (O) ** The Arts and Crafts style Pierceton Carnegie Library is a one-story on a raised basement with a hipped roof. The library has a concrete foundation, scored brick walls with stone trim, and exposed wood roof rafters. The main entrance is a trimmed in stone with a wood and glass door set with multi-paned sidelights and a transom. The interior retains many original details, such as, dark wood trim, a coffered ceiling, original desks, tables, chairs, and shelving. North First Street *103- Commercial Building; Italianate, c.1890 (C) *104- American Legion Post; Twentieth Century Functional, c.1940 (C) ** The

American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is a non-profit organization of U.S. war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militi ...

Post was a 1920s addition to a, circa 1910 automobile garage. Its glazed concrete block facade is characteristic. *106- Pierceton Masonic Lodge; Neoclassical, c.1930 (Frank Logan, architect) (N) ** The Pierceton Masonic Lodge was completed after World War II. It was built from brick pavers taken from First Street, with a limestone a Neoclassical facade. The symmetrical facade has a central round-arched with wood and glass door, sidelights and transoms, and two window openings. A cast iron light stanchion flanks each side of the main door. The interior has a barrel vaulted meeting room. *118- Pierceton I.O.O.F. Building; Italianate, 122 c.1915 (N) The former Odd fellows Building has a largely intact, cast iron storefront. The lodge room is on the second floor. The room has much of its original detail including pressed metal ceiling and cove molding in a floral pattern, wood flooring, a wood speakers' platform, and anterooms. *128- Commercial Building; Contemporary, c.1950 (C) *130- Commercial Building; Italianate, c.1890 (N) The building has ornate, pressed metal window hoods over the second floor, flat-arched windows and retains all the elements of its cast iron storefront. The building once had finials and pediments on top of the cornice, which have since disappeared. The interior has historic counters and shelving in the first floor yard goods store, and a stair and freight elevator at the rear. *136- Commercial Building; Italianate, 140 c.1900 (C) South First Street *117–119 Commercial Building; Italianate, 119 c.1900 (C) The Leeland Hotel has an intact floor plan on the second floor. *121- Commercial Building; Nineteenth 123 Century Functional, c. 1900 (C) *125- Commercial Building; Indeterminate, 127 Indeterminate (NC) *129- Commercial Building; Italianate, c. 1900 (C) *133- Commercial Building; Twentieth *137- Century Functional, c. 1920 (C) *139- Commercial Building; Italianate, c. 1900 (C) This building has an intact, cast-iron storefront, flat-arched window openings on the second floor, and original interior wood window trim. *201- Commercial Building; Italianate, c. 1890 (C) This building was altered in the 1920s for a gas station. The cornice was applied to the new contour. The original round-arched windows with wood-frame and two-over-two windows are visible the sides and back of the building. *203- Record Building; Italianate, 1898 (N) The Record" Building has its name and construction date of "1898" affixed to the brick cornice in raised metal letters. This building also has an intact cast-iron storefront.

Gallery

PHD 106 N 1st Masonic Lodge P2130261.jpg, 106 N 1st Masonic Lodge, Pierceton, Indiana PHD 117-119 First Street Leeland Hotel P2130260.jpg, 117-119 First Street Leeland Hotel, Pierceton, Indiana PHD 130 First Street P2130248.jpg, 130 First Street, Pierceton, Indiana PHD 136-140 First Street P2130245.jpg, 136-140 First Street, Pierceton, Indiana PHD Depot PC110122.jpg, Old Pennsylvania Depot, Pierceton, Indiana PHD First Street (IOOF) P2130236.jpg, First Street (IOOF), Pierceton, Indiana PHD P& Washington Twnshp Carnegie Library P2130252.jpg, P& Washington Twnshp Carnegie Library, Pierceton, Indiana

Bibliography

*Biographical & Historical Record of Kosciusko County, Indiana. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887. *Combination Atlas Map of Kosciusko County, Indiana. Chicago: Kingman Brothers, 1879. *Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory: Kosciusko County Interim Report. Indianapolis: Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, March 1991. *Nye, Charles F. Miscellaneous Articles on the History of Warsaw – Kosciusko County, Indiana. 1945. *Standard Atlas of Kosciusko County, Indiana. Chicago: George A. Ogle & Company, 1914.

References

{{National Register of Historic Places in Indiana Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Indiana Italianate architecture in Indiana Neoclassical architecture in Indiana Historic districts in Kosciusko County, Indiana National Register of Historic Places in Kosciusko County, Indiana

Significant buildings

Gallery

See also

Bibliography

References