The Washington Street Historic District is north of
Valparaiso's downtown. The neighborhood has tree-lined streets with many examples of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century houses and public buildings.
[Porter County Interim Report, Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory. Indianapolis, Indiana: Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana;. July 1991; pg 48–52] Valparaiso began to expand after the railroads came through the township in the 1860s;
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad
The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway was a major part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system, extending the PRR west from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, via Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Chicago, Illinois. It included the current Norfolk Southern-own ...
, the
New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
The New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad , abbreviated NYC&St.L, was a railroad that operated in the mid-central United States from 1881 to 1964. Commonly referred to as the "Nickel Plate Road", the railroad served parts of the states of ...
and the
Grand Trunk Railroad
The Grand Trunk Railway (; ) was a railway system that operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario and in the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated ...
.
[ Residential neighborhoods grew up between the business district and the railroads. On Valparaiso's south side industrial and transportation area expanded, thus residential development was north of downtown.][
The district's earliest remaining houses date from the mid-nineteenth century. The Letherman House is the area's finest example of the ]Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...
style. The Italianate style is also well represented in the district. The A. J. Buel House and the Colonel Mark DeMotte House are particularly noteworthy examples of the style. A collection of five houses (see North Franklin Street), were built in the Italianate style by local builder John D. Wilson.[
The early twentieth century brought a building boom to the area. Many of the district's most significant homes were built during this period. The Dr. David J. Loring House and Clinic was designed by local architect Charles Lembke in 1906 an example of the Free Classic style. The Colonial Revival style is represented by four houses on Washington Street (410, 507, 603, 703). The Tudor Revival style is represented by houses at 505 and 406 North Washington.][ In addition to the district's residential buildings, a number of noteworthy public buildings also remain. Immanuel Lutheran Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This outstanding Gothic Revival style church was constructed in 1891. St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is now a condominium rebuilt in 2010 from its early twentieth-century roots. The Valparaiso High School is an elementary school.][ The Washington Street area remains as one of Valparaiso's most cohesive and architecturally significant neighborhoods.][
]
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 National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
. 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 an historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains historic building, older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal p ...
.[Porter County Interim Report, Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory; Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana; July 1991; pg 43–47]
West Erie Street[
*152 House; Queen Anne, 1887 (N)
North Lafayette Street][
*203 House; Italianate/Queen Anne, c. 1880 (N)
*205 House; Queen Anne, c. 1890 (N)
*303 House; Gable-front/Italianate, c. 1875 (C)
*305 House; Free Classic, c. 1980 (C)
*309 House; Craftsman, c. 1925 (N)
*401 House; Craftsman, c. 1929 (O)
*405 House; Colonial Revival Cottage, c. 1930 (C)
*407 House; Indeterminate, Indeterminate (NC)
*501 House; T-plan, c. 1905 (C)
*503 House; Gable-fronted/Greek Revival, c. 1860 (N)
*502 House; Craftsman/Tudor Revival c. 1915 (O)
*506 House; Queen Anne, c. 1890 (N)
North Washington Street][
*102 Dr. David J. Loring Residence and Clinic; Free Classic, (O) NR. In 1906 Dr. David f. Loring commissioned local architect Charles Lembke to design a building1 to serve as a house and medical clinic. Loring was a physician and surgeon and served as vice present of the Indiana State Medical Association and was the founder of the Porter County Medical Society. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
*106 House; Craftsman Bungalow, c. 1912 (N) The Craftsman bungalow was built by The Clifford Family, local builders of railroads and canals. The chains on the front porch differ in size and are rumored to have been used for canal dredging before their placement. The front porch mosaic floor is made up of approximately 90,000 tiles.
*108 House; Craftsman Bungalow, c. 1912 (C) This Craftsman bungalow was built at the same time as 106 Washington, and by the same Clifford Family (likely for a son or daughter), and the construction quality is lesser throughout and the home is smaller.
*202 Lorenzo Freeman House; Italianate, c. 1849 (O). A section of the house was built in 1849 for Lorenzo Freeman, a local businessman.
*207 House; Italianate, c. 1875 (N)
*208 Skinner House; Italianate, c. 1870 (N)
*301 House; Colonial Revival, c. 1900 (N)
*303 House; Colonial Revival, c. 1910 (O)
*308 Immanuel Lutheran Church; Gothic Revival, 1891 (Henry and Charles Lemster, builder) (O) NR. The congregation formed in 1862 with 45 German families. A building, which served as both a school and church, was constructed several years later. As the congregation grew, this building was replaced in 1891 with present structure. The structure was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
*309 Letherman House; Gothic Revival, c. 1865 (O)
*404 House; Craftsman, c. 1925 (N)
*406 House; Tudor Revival, c. 1930 (O)
*407 A.J. Buel House; Italianate, c. 1867 (O). This Italianate style house was built about 1867. Buel owned a wagon-making business in Valparaiso.
*410 House; Colonial Revival, c. 1930 (O)
*505 House; Tudor Revival, c. 1930 (O)
*507 House; Colonial Revival, c. 1920 (N)
*602 House; Gabled-ell, c. 1870 (C)
*603 House; Colonial Revival, c. 1915 (N)
*606 House; Queen Anne, 1882 (N)
*703 House; Colonial Revival, c. 1930 (N)
*704 House; Queen Anne, c. 1892 (N)
*705 House; Gabled, c. 1885 (C)
*706 House; T-plan/Queen Anne, c. 1890 (N)
*708 House; Italianate, c. 1870 (N)
North Franklin Street][
*202- Pioneer Apartments; Twentieth Century Functional, 1908 (N)
*203 House; ]American foursquare
The American Foursquare (also American Four Square or American 4 Square) is an American house vernacular under the Arts and Crafts style popular from the mid-1890s to the late 1930s. A reaction to the ornate and mass-produced elements of the ...
, c. 1910 (N)
*208 St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, now St. Andrews Square Condominiums;[Site inspection 2014] Gothic Revival, 1902/1916 (C)
*305 Valparaiso High School
Valparaiso High School is a Public school (government funded), public high school in Valparaiso, Indiana, Valparaiso, Indiana.
History
Valparaiso High School opened in 1871 as Valparaiso City Public Graded School in a facility that had been bui ...
now Central Elementary School;
Gallery
Dr Loring House Valparaiso Indiana 1.JPG, Dr. David J. Loring House and Clinic
WSHD 208 Washington P3190099 Skinner House-Italinate.jpg, DeForest Skinner House
Heritage Lutheran (1891) (Washington).jpg, Immanuel Lutheran Church
WSHD 505 N Washington (McGill) P1130007.jpg, 505 N Washington, McGill House
WSHD 202 Franklin P5130010a Pioneer Apts.jpg, Pioneer Apartments
WSHD 101 n 103 Jefferson P4030015 Pioneer Apts.jpg, Pioneer Apartments
WSHD 208 Franklin-St Andrew's Episcopal Church.jpg, St. Anthony's Episcopal Church
WSHD 305 Franklin P3190059 Central School.jpg, 305 Franklin (Old Valparaiso High School)
WSHD 501 Franklin P3190064 (DeMotte).jpg, 501 Franklin, Col. DeMotte House
WSHD 505 Franklin P3190065 Italianate (1878).jpg, 505 Franklin a John Wilson house
WSHD 603 Franklin P3190066 (Wilson).jpg, 603 N Franklin, A John Wilson House
See also
* Valparaiso Downtown Commercial District
* Haste-Crumpacker House, 208 North Michigan Street
References
{{reflist
Sources
*Interim Report Porter County Interim Report, Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory; Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana; July 1991
Italianate architecture in Indiana
Second Empire architecture in Indiana
Buildings and structures in Valparaiso, Indiana
Historic districts in Porter County, Indiana