Polk
Township
Discover Argos's restored Walnut Township
District No. 2 “Barber” School
18998 2A Road
Queen Anne, 1901
Frank Bennett, H. P. Meade, Joe Burnside, builders
The Polk Township District No. 2 School is located a quarter mile south of U.S. 6 at the intersection of Tamarack and 2 A Roads. The schoolhouse was constructed in 1901 and was known locally as the “Barber School” due to its connection to the Barber family who lived in the area. It is constructed out of brick in a T-plan with a cloak room in the front gable section and a single large classroom forming the space between its side-gables. It has some simple detailing in the Queen Anne style that makes it more unique than many of the more vernacular school buildings in rural areas. These details include high pitched roofs, patterned brick details, rafter tails cut with a scroll design, and interior casings.
The Walkerton Independent stated in 1901 that (Polk Township) Trustee (Edwin R.) Monroe was contemplating building a new school house in the Barber settlement on Wesley Ruple’s farm near his residence, with the patron’s consent. Plans for the new building moved forward and Monroe revealed the bids taken to the Walkerton Independent. Frank Bennett received the contract for carpentry work for $114.50. Laying of brick was awarded to H. P. Mead at $6.50 per cord and stone masonry and plastering were awarded to Joe Burnside for $3 per cord (stone) and 7 cents per square yard (plaster). Two bids for building the school completely were rejected; they were for the sums of $1,390 and $1,196. The new building was completed about five weeks into the new school year with classes commencing on November 11, 1901. The new District No. 2 school retained the Barber name but was located at the northeast corner of Tamarack and 2A Roads, southwest of the former location; the old school was sold at public auction to Sanford Sheaks for $41.00. The township’s schools were consolidated to nearby Tyner and Teegarden during the 1920s.
Argos Izaak Walton League
Explore the Redevelopment of Argos Izaak Walton League
7184 E. 16th Road
Park Rustic/Craftsman, 1935-1937
William Foker, stonemason
The Argos Izaak Walton League property is a total of 17 acres of constructed fishing ponds, structures, and buildings developed as a fish hatchery and meeting hall for the organization dedicated to the conservation of natural habitat for wildlife. In 1929, they purchased and developed the first two acres of the property. In 1934, the remaining 15 acres were purchased. Through an agreement with the United States Bureau of Fisheries a clubhouse was constructed under the New Deal projects of that era. The building was constructed under the direction of local stone mason William L. Foker in 1935-1937, with glacial stones in the Craftsman style. Some of the period structures on the property include a stone gateway, two artesian wells, three stone picnic tables/benches, and a sluice; these date to the New Deal construction on the site.
Spearheaded by avid outdoorsman Wilferd M. Harley, the Argos Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America was created by Charter No. 68 on January 25, 1926; the initial name of the organization was Tippecanoe Fish Hatchery. Harley and seven other men who were anglers had made application to the State Department for minnows to be distributed in adjacent lakes and streams in an effort to replenish the rapidly depleting local supply of desired fresh water fish. The men began discussions in 1925 regarding the formation of a local chapter of the Izaak Walton League. William Foker, the stone mason, worked in both cut and uncut stone. In both methods he hand selected stone blending colors and shapes to provide a very aesthetically pleasing form to his creation. He is arguably one of the most accomplished masons in Indiana during the 20th century.
The Argos Downtown Commercial Historic District comprises approximately three of four blocks of the original business district, laid out in 1851. The town is situated along the north-south alignment of the Michigan Road. Original free-standing frame structures have given way to generally continuous facade lines of masonry constructed commercial structures built from 1883 to 1942. With few exceptions, the buildings retain a high level of character defining features of their original appearance. As with most historic commercial structures, the upper story facades are generally intact with a smaller number of storefronts retaining their historic appearance. A downtown revitalization effort in 1998 resulted in restoration style lighting, street trees, and partial brick sidewalks along Michigan and Walnut Streets. The Argos Public Library conducted an adaptive-reuse of the Schoonover Building at 118 N. Michigan St into its new home in 2008.
With the period of significance ranging from 1867 to 1942, the building styles are principally Italianate and 19th and 20th century functional, with some individual examples of other traditional Midwestern styles of the period also existing. The northernmost blocks were developed first and appear mostly as they did during the period of significance. One exception is the bank's acquisition and renovation of a 1920s era cafe for expansion space to the north in 1962. The corner lot on which the bank building is located was the original site of a frame flouring mill constructed in 1863. This structure was moved to the railroad when the bank was built and is still in existence. Just outside of the district, two frame buildings were demolished at the north end of the east side of North Michigan Street; one was the original two bay fire station with hose tower.