Center
Township

Discover the historic Center Township

Jacoby Church

Plymouth Commercial Historic District

The Plymouth Downtown Historic District has been the commercial heart of the city since its founding in 1836. A hotel and tavern, located on the northwest corner of LaPorte and Michigan Streets, was the first building to be constructed in the newly platted town in 1836. As a significant thoroughfare for opening up the northern part of the state for settlement, the Michigan Road (Street) proved valuable to the city for commercial development. The district continued to grow and often as a result of devastating fires, small frame buildings were replaced by larger brick business blocks on Michigan Street. Most of the city’s extant early commercial architecture dates to the 1870s through the 1880s and is principally in the Italianate style.

Significant growth occurred in the city at the close of the 19th century and into the first decades of the 20th century. Large, substantial two- and three-story brick and stone buildings were built downtown for banking and department stores with professional offices located on their second floors. These business blocks began to fill in the two-block commercial district between LaPorte and Washington Streets during the 1910s and were mostly in the Classical Revival style, designed and built by Jacob Ness. During the 1920s, the last two buildings, the Rialto Theater at 209 N. Michigan and a large, new Montgomery Ward’s Department Store at 214 N. Michigan were constructed and closed out a decade of impressive growth in the city. Montgomery Ward’s opened its doors just a month before the stock market crash in 1929 which led to the Great Depression of the 1930s. It was not until 1939 when Stewart Rees constructed the Rees Theater that any new commercial development occurred downtown. War broke out in 1941 and once again commercial development in the district was halted.

The expanded Plymouth Downtown Historic District between Washington, Garro, LaPorte, and Water Streets demonstrate the role commerce played in post-World War II development in Plymouth’s downtown area into the late 1960s. This area had largely been composed of wood frame residences and free-standing shops that were constructed as early as the 1880s through about 1905 when the Brethren Church was constructed at 120 East Garro Street. Of these early buildings, only the gable-front church survives. The first significant change to occur in this area was when the United Telephone Company constructed a new building in the Art Moderne style at 109 North Water Street in 1949. That same year the Brethren congregation constructed a new building on the north end of the city and the former church and the land around it became available for commercial development.

Plymouth Fire House & City Hall

220 N. Center Street, Plymouth

Italianate, 1875

Robert McCance & William P. Beaton, builders

The Plymouth Fire Station is historically significant as the city's only fire station from its construction in 1875 until a new station was built in 1980. The building was constructed by contractors Robert McCance and W, P. Beaton in late 1875, for a cost of $4,200. Possession of the building was taken by the city on February 21, 1876, and the dedication was marked with a grand ball. In its early years, the building also served as the town hall, with offices for the mayor and council chambers on the second floor. The building is built in the Italianate style and was restored in 1992.

East Laporte Street Footbridge

Rochester Bridge Company, 1898

The East LaPorte Street Footbridge is significant as a longstanding local landmark that has traditionally linked the eastside residential area with downtown Plymouth. An 1881 map indicates that there was a bridge crossing the Yellow River at the location of the present structure. According to the minutes of the Plymouth Common Council, several residents petitioned the Council to construct a replacement bridge during the summer of 1898, apparently due to the deterioration of the old bridge and because a structure was needed that could bear vehicular traffic. The Council contracted H. B. Bassett, of the Rochester (Indiana) Bridge Company, to construct two bridges. The Blain Bridge was erected at Garro Street of steel and wrought iron to carry vehicular traffic, and the East LaPorte Street Footbridge was constructed at the same time. Both bridges were completed by December of 1898. The Blain Bridge was replaced with the current bridge in the 1920s, but the footbridge survives. At the time the footbridge was constructed, it led from a residential section of the city to a largely undeveloped area which is now River Park Square. The bridge is unique in Indiana, and represents the oldest extant pedestrian bridge in the state. In addition to its use as a pedestrian thoroughfare, the bridge has, for many years, served as the point from which the depth of the Yellow River has been measured by local observers. The equipment for such measuring has been attached to the upper portion of the bridge.

Plymouth Northside Historic District

The Plymouth Northside Historic District comprises approximately twenty blocks of residential properties north of the historic downtown commercial area. This area essentially lines North Michigan and North Center Streets and includes the area surrounding the Marshall County Courthouse Square. The area has examples of some of the earliest residential architecture constructed in the city, through the early 1950s. The architecture represented is diverse and contains some of the finest examples of the styles from their respective periods of popularity in the United States. The area also contains buildings and public spaces that contribute to the general development of the city, including a city park and clubhouse, and several churches. The courthouse’s position in the Northside Historic District is unique and has also contributed to the general use of the area as the county’s seat of justice and a place for public gatherings.

Plymouth’s leading merchants and professionals made their homes in this neighborhood. It became a status symbol to have a home on Michigan Street, or around the courthouse, for many decades in the city. Congregations desired to build churches in the area, and many of Marshall County’s elected officials, judges, and attorneys in the city sought to build or buy homes in the district. Several of the district’s leading residents were also elected to serve statewide offices. The area is also steeped in important thoroughfare history. The Michigan Road was carved out of the wilderness and became the road around which the town developed during the 1830s. After the turn of the century, the Yellowstone Trail (part of Jefferson and Michigan Streets), Dixie Highway (Michigan Street), and the Lincoln Highway (Jefferson Street) had their designated routes crisscross the district, though their impact was contained by the residential nature of the area.

Marshall County Courthouse

200 W. Jefferson Street, Plymouth

Italianate, 1870-1872/1916

Gurdon P. Randall, architect; Epperson and Favorite, builder

When the founders of Plymouth created a plat for the town in 1836, they included a public square for the seat of county government. Plymouth was centrally located in the newly formed county, positioned on the Michigan Road, and was the only platted town in the county when the seat of government was established. A small courthouse was erected at that time; it was 20’ x 30’ and one story tall. It was located on Lot 22, which is the southwest corner of West Jackson and North Michigan Streets. It was relocated several times until 1874, when it was purchased and relocated west of the courthouse square. A second courthouse was constructed in 1840 and was the first public building constructed on the public square; it was 50’ x 80’ and was two stories tall and included a cupola. It became insufficient for the county’s growing population so a third courthouse was constructed in place of the second.

The current courthouse was designed by Chicago architect Gurdon Randall and was constructed between 1870 and 1872. With Michigan Street acting as the commercial corridor of Plymouth and Center Street acting as a civic corridor, the new courthouse projected an imposing front presence on Center Street as part of a string of civic buildings. The courthouse’s interior was extensively remodeled in 1916 to modernize the building. The interior remodeling was completed in the Neoclassical Style which was popular during this time.

The residential setting of the Marshall County Courthouse is an unusual design feature in Indiana. Most courthouse squares were positioned in the commercial hub of the cities which led to business blocks that were constructed on each side of the square. This gave the typical Indiana courthouse square a decidedly commercial, urban context. The only other residential setting for a courthouse square in Indiana is the Benton County courthouse square in Fowler, Indiana. The architect selected for their courthouse, G. P. Randall, had designed the Marshall County Courthouse only four years prior. It is unknown if contextual applications were considered from Marshall County when Benton County officials hired Randall.

Plymouth Southside Historic Distict

Hemminger Travel Lodge

800 Lincolnway East, Plymouth

Colonial Revival, 1937

The Hemminger Travel Lodge was constructed in 1937 on the historic Lincoln Highway (old U.S. Highway 30) approximately one mile east of the Marshall County Courthouse in Plymouth. It derives its historical significance from its association to the Lincoln Highway as a refuge for travel along this historic route. Examples of early road-side architecture are disappearing from the landscape at an alarming rate or are being altered to greatly change their original appearance. The Hemminger Travel Lodge represents a very intact example of a facility designed to house traveling motorists along an historic transportation route during a period of time when ease of travel on the "open road" was becoming romanticized. Historic travel routes have long been championed by landscape scholars and increasingly they and their road-side architecture have been the focus of conservation efforts.

When the Lincoln Highway was rerouted along a more southerly but direct route between Ft. Wayne and Valparaiso, Plymouth became an important central point on the new route. With this, the stage was set for the construction of a fine road side lodge along the new highway. Mr. John Hemminger, an auto garage owner who had previously built the Avon Inn on the east edge of town, purchased the corner property that had been irregularly shaped due to the construction of the highway. The point of land became a prime location to attract the traveler's eye. The Lodge advertised tourist rooms: $1.00 for a single bed and $1.50 for a double. The building was restored in 2001.

Hoham-Klinghammer House & Brewery

1715 Lake Avenue, Plymouth

Queen Anne/Stick Style, c. 1880

Attributed to William S. Matthews, architect

The Hoham-Klinghammer-Weckerle House and Brewery Site has the distinction of being the most legendary and most fabled location in Marshall County. Situated on Plymouth’s southwest side, the house, constructed c. 1880, on the property has a position of considerable prominence on a slight hill at a sharp curve on Highway 17, also called Lake Avenue. The house was constructed as part of an earlier brewery operation that began in 1857. Part of the brewery that includes two large brick vaults and a brick and concrete well, all now sealed from access, remains west of the house. The house, which stylistically is a mixture of the Stick Style and Queen Anne Style, is an imposing residence.

The property is connected to a wave of German immigrants who came to the area during the middle part of the 1800s. Three German families, all related through marriage, came to Marshall County and settled in Center Township between the years 1844-1865. The Hohams, Klinghammers, and Weckerles also brought with them the skill of brewing lager beer as did many other German immigrants coming to the country during this time. The Hoham, Klinghammer, and Weckerle families also made significant contributions to the community and all three were tied to the establishment and operation of the Plymouth Brewery. In 1857, John Hoham and John Klinghammer purchased 3 acres for $75, located a mile southwest of Plymouth at that time. The land was located between the old lake road, also called the Brewery Road, and the high bluff of the Yellow River lowland flats. An oxbow of the river formed the south boundary of the property. They constructed the first brewery in the county on this property.

The least flattering use of the property occurred during the 1920s. R.J. & Matilda Vinnedge sold the property to W.J. Hayes and Matilda Holmes for $6,000 in 1923. The property abstract referred to Mr. Hays being from Chicago and Ms. Holmes being an unmarried woman of legal age. Holmes secured a mortgage through Mr. Hays for $1,000. After its purchase the house became a road house referred to as “The Pines” or “Pine Tree Inn”. By the spring of 1928, the house was being leased by Bertha Bozarth; a newspaper article reported that Ms. Bozarth was “known in Plymouth” and had been operating the establishment for some time. Large headlines in the Plymouth Daily Pilot on July 30, 1928 read “14 ARRESTED IN RAID ON LOCAL GAMBLING HOUSE” with a subheading reading “OFFICERS STAGE CLEANUP-MINORS BROUGHT TO COURT”. In large print the newspaper called the event the “COUNTY’S GREATEST RAID”. The article said a total of 35 violators were taken into custody in a raid on the “beer garden” located at the large brick house at the south turn of the Pretty Lake road near Plymouth. The house has been undergoing restoration since about 2012.

Marshall County Infirmary, “Shady Rest Home”

10924 E. Lincoln Highway

Romanesque Revival, 1892

Wing & Mahurin, architects

The original Marshall County Asylum was constructed in 1849 on property purchased from John Murphy, located three miles west of Plymouth on the LaPorte Road. In 1853 the farm was sold to Joseph Evans and the "poor of the county were let out to the lowest bidder and did not always receive the care and attention that humanity would demand." This continued until 1862, when the "Poor Farm" was constructed on a farm one mile north of Tyner. This second farm had a large two story wood frame house building and a few other barn structures. In a report to the county in 1891, it was recommended that the house structure be replaced by a brick building and the frame structure be used for storage. The county apparently agreed the facility needed replacement, but chose to do so at a new location just east of Plymouth.

When it was determined a new facility should be constructed nearer the county seat, 195 acres of undeveloped farmland were purchased for $19,547.50 from Henry Humrichouser in September of 1891. Contracts were let for erection of the asylum and barn in 1893. Although the superintendents quarters were completed in 1895, the rear wing of the building may have been constructed in 1893 because newspaper accounts state the inmates were moved to the new facility in 1893. We know from newspaper accounts the barn was constructed in 1893 by Charles Leepert and Robert McCance for the amount of $2,763.

A burial ground was established on the grounds. A County Home archive lists about thirty names of individuals interred at this location. According to verbal accounts, the burial ground is located in the northeast portion of the farm, in a wooded area where some stones were visible a number of years ago. An orchard was planted on the west side of the infirmary site. The many shade and fruit trees planted over one hundred years ago on the site gives the home its current name "Shady Rest".

The Marshall County Infirmary is an impressive example of Romanesque Revival style architecture executed by one of Indiana's most prominent architectural firms. Wing and Mahurin, Architects, of Ft. Wayne was established in 1886 and a number of prominent Indiana public building commissions followed, including courthouses and schools. The city of Plymouth also had commissioned Wing and Mahurin to design Webster School in the late 1880s; unfortunately it was demolished in the early 1980s. Shady Rest passed from the county to the Bowen Center in 2001, for a residential care facility. Bowen Center restored the building and barn during 2002-2004.

Lewis & Sarah Boggs House

9564 E. 14th Road

Greek Revival/I-House, c. 1855

The Lewis and Sarah Boggs House is located on the north side of 14th Road, one mile east of the Michigan Road, in Center Township. The house is an excellent and well-preserved example of a Greek Revival styled I-House with rear wing. The house was constructed by Lewis Boggs, a Marshall County pioneer, in about 1855 on property that was the homestead of a large farming operation. The house represents early prosperity in agriculture in Marshall County. Boggs, a pioneer who came to the county in 1835, excelled in agriculture purchasing several hundred acres and constructing several barns on his property before his death in 1888. The house would have been considered a very large and luxurious home for the period in which it was constructed in the county. It may be considered one the best-preserved examples of the Greek Revival style applied to domestic architecture in Marshall County, and is one of the best-preserved examples of the I-House form in the county.

The Boggs House is a typical I-House form with a rear wing extension. I-Houses received their name from where they were most popularly constructed in the Midwestern states of Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. Their form has earlier roots to British folk forms that were common in pre-railroad America. These are found in both the South and midland areas, often in log construction. Their popularity in the Midwest was due in part to their larger size being more desirable for spending long confining winter months indoors. The I-House form was popular from about the 1820s through the 1880s and depended very much on settlement patterns in localities. They were popular both in developing urban areas and rural areas; in rural areas they were often a second generation building taking the place of small cabins.

The Boggs House is also an excellent example of the Greek Revival style applied to a simple farmhouse. The house has an intact entablature form at its eave line which continues on the face of its side gables with heavy cornice returns. This is visually supported by corner pilasters with a simple Doric capital. The principle facades have window openings that are symmetrically arranged with 4/4 double-hung windows. While the front façade windows were dressed with more sophisticated Gothic Revival drip mold hoods, the side facades have simple flat hoods with a trim piece creating a small cornice line at their tops.

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Argos Izaak Walton League

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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.

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Center
Township

Discover the historic Center Township

Page Directory

Argos Izaak Walton League

Explore the Redevelopment of Argos Izaak Walton League