Morehous Residential Historic District

The Morehous Residential Historic District [†] in Elkhart, Indiana, is a well-preserved pre-World War II urban neighborhood having architectural and historical significance. Located on the city’s south side within the Morehous Addition, the district spans 36 acres and was platted in three phases (1910, 1919, and 1927). It encompasses 148 structures, including 146 houses, one former school (Roosevelt School), and one church (Simpson Memorial Methodist Church). Of these (as of May 2021), 110 resources (74%) are contributing, built within the period of significance (circa 1910–circa 1950), and 38 (26%) are non-contributing due to significant alterations or construction after 1950. Below is a detailed summary of the district’s key aspects:

Location and Setting

• Geographical Context: The district is situated in south Elkhart, bounded by East Indiana Avenue (north), East Lusher Avenue (south), Prairie Avenue (west), and Morehouse Avenue (east). It lies within the Morehous Addition, named after Philo Morehous, a pioneer entrepreneur instrumental in establishing Elkhart as a rail and manufacturing hub.
• Urban Layout: The district adheres to a grid system aligned with streets to the west, with blocks subdivided into 16 uniform lots (128’ x 45’) featuring north-south alleys. This layout reversed Elkhart’s traditional lot orientation, setting a precedent for east-west lots with deeper yards to accommodate garages, influencing subsequent south-side plats.
• Boundaries Justification: The boundaries reflect the original Morehous Addition plats, focusing on the highest concentration of buildings from the period of significance. North of Indiana Avenue, buildings are pre-1900, while south of Wolf Avenue, post-World War II styles (e.g., Cape Cod, Ranch) dominate, creating a clear visual and developmental distinction.

Architectural Characteristics

Dominant Styles

The district showcases a cohesive yet diverse array of early 20th-century architectural styles, primarily:

• Craftsman Bungalow: Characterized by low-pitched roofs, exposed rafter tails, and brick or clapboard exteriors, as seen at 1701 Stevens Ave (c.1920) and 1711 Frances Ave (1912).
• American Foursquare: Features symmetrical, boxy forms with hipped roofs and front porches, exemplified by 1601 Frances Ave (c.1916) and 1709 Frances Ave (1921).
• Dutch Colonial Revival: Notable for gambrel roofs and shed dormers, such as 1605 Frances Ave (1926) and 1913 Stevens Ave (c.1927, resembling a Sears “Puritan” model).

Other Styles

• Prairie: The Charles Berryman House (c.1920, East Indiana Ave) is the district’s sole Prairie-style example, with stucco cladding and deep, unornamented eaves.
• Period Revival: Includes the English Cottage Revival at 1829 Stevens Ave (c.1935, Sears “Lynnhaven” model) and Mediterranean Revival at 2001 Stevens Ave (1930, Dr. Lloyd Elliott House), featuring terra-cotta tiles and wrought iron details.

Institutional Architecture

• Roosevelt School (215 East Indiana Ave, 1919–1921): A Tudor Revival (Collegiate Gothic) structure designed by A.H. Ellwood & Sons, with red brick, limestone detailing, and Flemish gables. It served as an elementary and junior high school until 2004, later converted into the Roosevelt Center.
• Simpson Memorial Methodist Church (1501 Morehouse Ave, 1923): A Lombard Romanesque Revival building with brick and limestone, featuring round arches and a campanile-like bell tower.

Materials

Common materials include concrete foundations, brick and limestone walls, wood clapboards, stucco, and asphalt or terracotta roofs. Alterations like vinyl or aluminum siding and replacement windows are common but often do not compromise overall integrity.

Integrity

The district retains high historic integrity, with uniform setbacks, mature tree-lined sidewalks, and minimal major alterations. Most homes remain single-family dwellings, with few subdivided into apartments or duplexes. Garages and outbuildings are excluded from the nomination due to post-1950 construction or alterations.

Historical Significance

• Philo Morehous’s Influence: The district is named after Philo Morehous, a key figure in Elkhart’s development. As a director of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, he facilitated the relocation of rail facilities to Elkhart in 1870, establishing it as a major rail hub. His land formed the Morehous Addition, platted to meet housing demand during Elkhart’s industrial growth.
• Economic Context: Elkhart’s strategic location on the New York Central, Big Four, and Wabash railroads, coupled with interurban electric rail connections after 1898, made it a center for high-value manufacturing. Key industries included:
  • Conn-Selmer Band Instruments (est. 1875), employing skilled artisans like Melville Webster (1605 Frances Ave), a clarinet maker.
  • Miles Laboratories (est. 1884), known for Alka-Seltzer and Flintstones Vitamins, employing residents like Agnes Shively (1701 Stevens Ave).
  • New York Central Railroad, a major employer for residents like William Poyser and John Grieshaber (1601 Frances Ave), who worked as engineers and foremen.
• Occupant Profile: City directories reveal that early residents were middle-class professionals and skilled workers, including railroad employees, teachers, musicians, and manufacturers. Many families, such as the Hechts (1711 Frances Ave) and Baumgartens (1702 Frances Ave), remained for decades, contributing to neighborhood stability.
• Population Growth: Elkhart’s population grew 3.1% annually from 1890 to 1930, doubling between 1920 and 1930 due to industrial expansion and Italian immigration. The Morehous Addition’s plats aligned with this demand for middle-class housing.

Community Development and Planning

• Transportation: The Citizens’ Street Railway (electrified in 1898) extended along South Main Street to East Indiana Avenue, enabling residents to commute to downtown Elkhart and nearby cities via interurban rail. This access shaped the district’s development, with early homes concentrated near the streetcar stop. By the 1930s, automobile use led to garage construction and the streetcar’s replacement with buses in 1934.
• Neighborhood Institutions:
  • Roosevelt School: Built in 1921 to replace the 1884 Fifth Ward School, it anchored the district’s educational identity. Its conversion into the Roosevelt Center (affordable apartments and public spaces) spurred the nomination, supported by historic preservation tax credits.
  • Simpson Memorial Methodist Church: Established in 1912 and rebuilt in 1923, it served as a social and spiritual hub until 1993, when it merged with other congregations. The building remains in use by a new congregation.
• Stability and Identity: The district’s 73% homeownership rate (vs. the city’s 51% in 2000) and minimal subdivision into apartments reflect its enduring middle-class character. The presence of schools and churches reinforced property values and community cohesion, distinguishing it from adjacent areas with more urban blight.

Nomination Process and Context

• Motivation: The nomination was driven by the adaptive reuse of the Roosevelt School, which was ineligible for individual listing due to interior alterations but contributes to the district. The project, led by Lacasa, Inc., relied on historic preservation tax credits, necessitating an expedited National Register review.
• Approval Process: The nomination was approved by the Elkhart Historic and Cultural Preservation Commission (February 2011) and the Indiana Historic Preservation Review Board (August 2011). A request for a shortened public comment period (3 days instead of 15) was made to meet tax credit deadlines, with the 30-month listing period for the Roosevelt School expiring on September 15, 2011.
• Community Support: A July 2010 public meeting showed no objections, and the nomination was endorsed by Mayor Dick Moore and a city council member residing in the Roosevelt Center. The district is Elkhart’s first south-side National Register nomination.
• Criteria Met: The district qualifies under Criterion A (community development and planning) for its role in Elkhart’s industrial and residential growth and Criterion C (architecture) for its well-preserved early 20th-century styles.

Representative Structures

• 215 East Indiana Ave (Roosevelt School, 1919–1921): A Tudor Revival school with a U-shaped plan, limestone detailing, and later additions (1930, 1948, 1970s, 1993). Rated “outstanding” in the 2005 Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory.
• 1605 Frances Ave (Melville Webster House, 1926): A Dutch Colonial Revival with a gambrel roof and original wood windows, occupied by a clarinet maker.
• 1701 Stevens Ave (Alonzo Shively House, c.1920): A Craftsman Bungalow with brick and limestone, featuring Asian-inspired eaves and original “tic-tac-toe” muntin windows.
• 1829 Stevens Ave (John Smithers House, c.1935): A Sears “Lynnhaven” English Cottage Revival with a steeply pitched roof and brick arch entry.
• 2001 Stevens Ave (Dr. Lloyd Elliott House, 1930): The district’s largest home, a Mediterranean Revival with terra-cotta tiles, reflecting the owner’s status as a prominent physician.

Current Condition

The district remains well-maintained, with mature trees, intact sidewalks, and a defined sense of place. Common alterations (e.g., vinyl siding, aluminum storm windows) are minor, and there are no significant demolitions or unsympathetic new constructions. The high homeownership rate and lack of urban blight distinguish it from surrounding areas.

Sources

Key sources include Elkhart City Directories, the 2000 US Census, Elkhart County Vital Records, the 2005 Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory, and historical texts like History of Elkhart County, Indiana (1881) and Images of America: Elkhart, Indiana (2002).

The Morehous Residential Historic District encapsulates Elkhart’s early 20th-century middle-class aspirations, industrial heritage, and architectural diversity, making it a significant cultural and historical asset.