User:Wicoulte/University Courts Historic District

University Courts Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Paving blocks on East Eight Street
Location	Roughly bounded by 7th St., Indiana Ave., 10th St. & Woodlawn Ave., Bloomington, Indiana
Area	20.1 acres (8.1 ha)
Architect	John Nichols; Alfred G rindle; Burns & James; Edwin C. Doeppers & Co.; Merritt Harrison; Lowe & Bollenbacher; Nichols & Nichols
Architectural style	Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Craftsman, Tudor Revival
NRHP reference No.	07001308
Added to NRHP	December 26, 2007

The University Courts Historic District is a historic district and neighborhood in Bloomington, Indiana, United States. It was developed between 1911 and 1938 and features buildings in many romantic revival styles of the era, limestone and brick retaining walls and Bloomington's only remaining streets paved with blocks. The neighborhood harmoniously blends institutional buildings, single family housing, duplexes, apartments, all on a residential scale. Buildings in the district are substantial and generally constructed of brick or limestone with slate or clay tile roofs. Several buildings were designed by Bloomington architect John Nichols, including an excellent example of a Mission style bungalow. Bloomington’s only true Prairie style house, designed by English born architect Alfred Grindle, is also located in the district.

The neighborhood’s early inhabitants were a unique combination of Bloomington’s business and political leaders, Indiana University faculty and administrators and members of Greek letter organization. The three brothers who co-owned the Johnson Creamery all built houses in the neighborhood, as did William Hoadley, the stone company owner. Stith Thompson, eminent professor of folklore, lived on Fess along with William Book, a psychologist and ‘Branch’ McCracken, NCAA championship winning basketball coach. At one time, four buildings specifically built for Greek letter organizations were located in the district, and several other houses in the neighborhood have served as home for fraternities or sororities.

Construction

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Architecture

University Courts Historic District harmoniously blends institutional buildings, single family dwellings, duplexes and small apartment buildings on a residential scale. The major architectural styles are Colonial Revival, Georgian Revival, Tudor Revival, Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival and Bungalow/Craftsman. There is also one Prairie style house, and other houses that include Prairie style elements. The building materials used in the district are rich and varied; brick and limestone predominate. Bloomington’s only remaining streets paved with blocks are located in the district. Most houses sit high above the street behind limestone or brick retaining walls or grassy banks. The integrity of the structures over time has generally remained solid.

There were seventy seven contributing buildings at the time of nomination (one, Delta Zeta sorority house has been demolished). Forty three of these are single family dwellings, including six limestone veneer houses. The most elaborate of these includes the house at 703 East Seventh Street. It was built by Louis Hughes, a partner in Hughes Brothers, a construction firm and building materials supplier. Built in about 191x, this limestone veneer, Craftsman style house features a three story tower, sun room with colonnade, rock faced local limestone, exposed rafter tails and multi-paned casement windows. The interior once included an atrium with a fountain. Initially occupied by Hughes, the house was later home to Alpha Omicron Pi sorority for many years.

William Hoadley, of the _________ Stone Company built the house at 513 North Park Avenue in 1926. Large front facing gables, tudor arched doorway and multi-paned casement windows are included among the Tudor Revival elements of the house. The house was home to Zeta Beta Tau and Alpha Sigma Phi in the 1960’s and 1970’ respectively.

Louis Hughes built a second house in the neighborhood in about 1925. The steep pitched roof and multiple gables of the house at 715 East Seventh Street indicate the Tudor Revival style, but the eave brackets, fan light over the transom and multi paned window sash show Craftsman influence.

Wyatt W. Wicks of the Wicks Company department store built the house at 422 North Indiana Avenue in 1912. Plans drawn by the Chicago firm of Lowe & Bollenbacher include Dutch Colonial elements such as a gambrel roof and Craftsman elements such as oversized eave brackets, multi-paned sash and exposed rafter tails on the porches. Carlisle Bollenbacher, an original partner in Lowe & Bollenbacher, was a native of Bloomington and graduate of Indiana University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. John Nichols, another native Bloomington architect, supervised construction of Wicks’ residence.

Twenty seven houses in the district are built with brick veneer including an excellent example of a Mission Revival Style bungalow at 705 East Eighth Street. Thomas Sare, an attorney who platted three of the four University Courts additions to the city of Bloomington, hired John Nichols to build this house in 1911. The house combines Craftsman style exposed rafter tails, two-toned brown tapestry brick and a basic bungalow form with a Spanish Colonial style curvilinear gable with limestone vigas.

The Ellis Johnson House at 501 North Park Avenue is a more straightforward example of the Craftsman style. Built in 1922, it includes the typical features of a front dormer bungalow: knee braces, exposed rafter tails, multi-paned sash and a wide front porch running the width of the house supported by large corner piers.

804 e 8th

The most frequent style among the red brick homes in the district is Colonial Revival or Georgian Revival. Thirteen houses display elements typical of the style such as cornices with modillions, entrance porticos, multi-paned sash and end gable returns. Six brick homes are done in Craftsman/Foursquare style. The brick house at 825 East Eighth Street includes wide overhanging eaves, grouped narrow windows and a horizontal orientation typical of the Prairie style. This perhaps reflects the Minnesota origins of the original owner, Indiana University football coach Ewald O. Stiehm.

There are also some wood frame houses in the district. Styles include Colonial Revival and Craftsman/Foursquare.

The district also includes a limestone veneer church. University Lutheran Church at 6xx East Seventh Street was dedicated in 1932. Parapet gable ends, buttresses and a crenellated bell tower are all elements of the Gothic Revival style, but the church also displays Tudor revival influence in the half timbering on its entrance and on the attached parsonage.

Historic assessment

An effort was begun to nominate the district for the National register in 1991. The nomination cited the exemplary architecture of the district and the innovative nature of its planning and development in the course of Bloomington’s history. The nomination was opposed by Indiana University, but as a public institution the University was not eligible to vote on the designation. A vote of private property owners in the district was decided by one vote, those opposed to the district being in the majority. The Indiana Historic Preservation Review Board instead designated the district eligible for the national register, which requires federal review of any development using federal funds and state review of any project using state funds, and prevents the use of eminent domain for redevelopment by any public institution. The district was nominated again in 2007 and added to the register in 2008, making a 10% tax credit available for certified restorations of income producing properties.

Table of contributing properties

Appearing in the table below are the buildings included within the boundaries of the city-designated historic district.

Rating	Image	Address	Year	Style	Comments
Contributing		607 East Seventh Street 39°10′6.6828″N 86°31′37.0308″W	1906	Georgian Revival	Chapter house for Sigma Chi;
Notable		607 East Seventh Street 39°10′8″N 86°31′33.6″W	1932	Gothic Revival	Designed by Alfred Grindle
Notable		703 East Seventh Street 39°10′7″N 86°31′32″W	1915	Craftsman
Notable		705 East Seventh Street 39°10′7″N 86°31′31″W	1911	Spanish Colonial Revival Dormer Front Bungalow	Attorney Thomas J. Sare engaged architect John Nichols when he built this house
Notable		715 East Seventh Street 39°10′7″N 86°31′30″W	1925 (approximate)	Tudor Revival Craftsman
Notable		719 East Seventh Street 39°10′7″N 86°31′29.2″W	1924	Spanish Mission Revival	Attorney Thomas J. Sare engaged architect John Nichols when building this house
Contributing		801 East Seventh Street 39°10′7″N 86°31′28″W	1920 (approximate)	Tudor Revival
Contributing		601 East Eighth Street 39°10′10.8″N 86°31′36″W	1935	Georgian Revival	This building was designed by Indianapolis architects Burns & James and built by Charles A. Pike for Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Their previous house on this site, designed by Carlisle Bollenbacher, was destroyed by fire.
Contributing		622-624 East Eighth Street 39°10′9.3″N 86°31′33.″W	1916	Tudor Revival Craftsman	John T. Schuman built two duplexes at 8th and Fess (see 315-317 N. Fess Ave.). Edwin C. Doeppers was listed as architect
Contributing		701 East Eighth Street 39°10′10.8″N 86°31′32″W	1914	Prairie Style Foursquare	Built for Herman Grant by general contactor J. O. White. Edwin C. Doeppers was listed as architect in the construction press.
Contributing		707 East Eighth Street 39°10′10.8″N 86°31′31.5″W	1922	Colonial Revival	John Nichols designed this house for Ward Johnson of Johnson Creamery
Notable		712 East Eighth Street 39°10′9.3″N 86°31′31″W	1916	California Bungalow	Architect John Nichols was engaged by Herman Bowman of the Bowman-King Stone Co. to build this house.
Contributing		713 East Eighth Street 39°10′9.3″N 86°31′31″W	1916	Colonial Revival Foursquare	Dr. J. C. Vermilya engaged engineer Edwin C. Doeppers when building this house.
Contributing		715-717 East Eighth Street 39°10′10.8″N 86°31′29.5″W	1915	Arts and Crafts	Originally built by Thomas J. Sare, who contracted with John Murphy for masonry and Alex Robinson for carpentry to build two duplexes at 8th & Park (see 405-407 N. Park Ave.). Nichols & Nichols were architects.
Contributing		718-720 East Eighth Street 39°10′9.3″N 86°31′29.2″W	1924	Craftsman Foursquare	John Nichols was architect for this house built by general contractor J. O. White for Herman Bowman of Bowman-King Stone Co.
Contributing		802 East Eighth Street 39°10′9.3″N 86°31′28″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing		803 East Eighth Street 39°10′10.8″N 86°31′27.3″W	1913	Prairie Style Colonial Revival	Built by general contractor W. S. Delapp for Monroe County treasurer Joseph D. Hensley. Nichols & Nichols were the architects.
Contributing		804 East Eighth Street 39°10′9.3″N 86°31′27.3″W	1930 (approximate)	Craftsman Front Gabled Bungalow
Contributing		809 East Eighth Street 39°10′10.8″N 86°31′26.4″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing		812 East Eighth Street 39°10′9.3″N 86°31′26.5″W	1922	Carpenter Builder Cottage
Contributing		815 East Eighth Street 39°10′10.8″N 86°31′26″W	1923	Colonial Revival	Built by general contractor Joe Neill and Son for the jeweler Ray Wingert and his wife Leafy. John Nichols was architect .
Contributing		816-820 East Eighth Street 39°10′9.3″N 86°31′26″W	1925 (approximate)	Craftsman American Foursquare
Notable		825 East Eighth Street 39°10′10.8″N 86°31′25.2″W	1921	Prairie Style	Alfred Grindle drew plans for Indiana University football coach Ewald O. Stiehm, who let contracts and supervised construction himself .
Contributing		708 East Ninth Street 39°10′13″N 86°31′32″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing		710-712 East Ninth Street 39°10′13″N 86°31′31.2″W	1930 (approximate)	Craftsman American Foursquare
Contributing		714 East Ninth Street 39°10′13″N 86°31′30.4″W	1916	Craftsman American Foursquare	Doeppers & Co. let contracts to Clarence Neill for masonry and George Torrence for carpentry when Willis Akins had this house built .
Contributing		716 East Ninth Street 39°10′13″N 86°31′29.6″W	1930 (approximate)	Craftsman American Foursquare
Contributing		801 East Ninth Street 39°10′13.8″N 86°31′28″W	1920 (approximate)	Craftsman Cross Gable Bungalow
Contributing		809 East Ninth Street 39°10′13.8″N 86°31′27″W	1920 (approximate)	Craftsman
Contributing		702 East Tenth Street 39°10′17.4″N 86°31′32″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing		704 East Tenth Street 39°10′17.4″N 86°31′31″W	1930 (approximate)	Dutch Colonial Revival
Contributing		315-317 North Fess Avenue 39°10′8.5″N 86°31′33.5″W	1916	Tudor Revival Craftsman	John T. Schuman built two duplexes at 8th and Fess (see 622-624 E. Eighth St.). Edwin C. Doeppers was listed as architect
Contributing		406 North Fess Avenue 39°10′11.6″N 86°31′32″W	1915	Bungalow Foursquare	Built by general contractor Val Hatfield as a rental property for Herman Grant (see 701 E. 8th). E. C. Doeppers and Company where the architects.
Contributing		422 North Fess Avenue 39°10′13″N 86°31′32″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Notable		504 North Fess Avenue 39°10′14.5″N 86°31′32″W	1917	Colonial Revival Tudor Revival	Indianapolis architect Merritt Harrison designed this house for Indiana University professor Wm. F. Book.
Contributing		505 North Fess Avenue 39°10′15″N 86°31′33.5″W	1920 (approximate)	Colonial Revival Foursquare
Notable		506-508 North Fess Avenue 39°10′15″N 86°31′32″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Notable		509-513 North Fess Avenue 39°10′15.5″N 86°31′33.5″W	1925 (approximate)	Spanish Colonial Revival	Designed by Cecil and Inez Harlos
Notable		510-512 North Fess Avenue 39°10′15.6″N 86°31′32″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing		514 North Fess Avenue 39°10′16″N 86°31′32″W	1930 (approximate)	Tudor Revival
Notable		515 North Fess Avenue 39°10′16″N 86°31′33.5″W	1925 (approximate)	Spanish Colonial Revival	Designed by Cecil and Inez Harlos
Contributing		516 North Fess Avenue 39°10′16.5″N 86°31′32″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing		517 North Fess Avenue 39°10′16.5″N 86°31′33.5″W	1925 (approximate)	Colonial Revival	Designed by John Nichols
Contributing		519 North Fess Avenue 39°10′17″N 86°31′33.5″W	1915 (approximate)	Foursquare
Contributing		520 North Fess Avenue 39°10′17″N 86°31′32″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing		525 North Fess Avenue 39°10′17.5″N 86°31′33.5″W	1920 (approximate)	Foursquare
Contributing		422 North Indiana Avenue 39°10′13.2″N 86°31′36.3″W	1912	Dutch Colonial Revival	The Chicago firm of Lowe & Bollenbacher drew plans for a residence for department store owner Wyatt W. Wicks, who originally intended to take bids himself . But, later John Nichols took bids for Wicks .
Contributing		502 North Indiana Avenue 39°10′14″N 86°31′36.3″W	1915 (approximate)	Foursquare
Contributing		506 North Indiana Avenue 39°10′14.7″N 86°31′36.3″W	1913	Craftsman Foursquare	Built by general contractor J. O. White for Dr. A. M. Snyder. Nichols & Nichols was listed as the architect .
Contributing		309-311 North Park Avenue 39°10′8″N 86°31′29.2″W	1924	Colonial Revival	This house was designed by Alfred Grindle for Allen Buskirk.
Contributing		310-312 North Park Avenue 39°10′8″N 86°31′28″W	1924	Colonial Revival	Edwin C. Doeppers drew plans for Almer Henry, who originally intended to take bids himself . He later engaged John L. Nichols to take bids and supervise construction .
Contributing		402 North Park Avenue 39°10′10.8″N 86°31′28″W	1920 (approximate)	Georgian Revival
Notable		405-407 North Park Avenue 39°10′11.6″N 86°31′29.2″W	1915	Craftsman Tudor Revival	Originally built by Thomas J. Sare, who contracted with John Murphy for masonry and Alex Robinson for carpentry to build two duplexes at 8th & Park (see 715-717 E. Eighth St.). Nichols & Nichols were architects.
Contributing		409 North Park Avenue 39°10′12″N 86°31′29.2″W	1928 (approximate)	Tudor Revival English Cottage Revival
Contributing		410 North Park Avenue 39°10′12″N 86°31′28″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing		415 North Park Avenue 39°10′12.6″N 86°31′29.2″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing		421 North Park Avenue 39°10′13.2″N 86°31′29.2″W	1925 (approximate)	Craftsman Foursquare
Contributing		501 North Park Avenue 39°10′14″N 86°31′29.2″W	1922	Craftsman Bungalow
Contributing		505 North Park Avenue 39°10′14.5″N 86°31′29.2″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival American Foursquare
Notable		513 North Park Avenue 39°10′16″N 86°31′29.2″W	1926	Tudor Revival
Notable		515 North Park Avenue 39°10′16.5″N 86°31′29.2″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival	Designed by John L. Nichols
Contributing		521 North Park Avenue 39°10′17″N 86°31′29.2″W	1920 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing		525-527 North Park Avenue 39°10′17.4″N 86°31′29.2″W	1925 (approximate)	American Foursquare
Contributing		309 North Woodlawn Avenue 39°10′8″N 86°31′25″W	1930 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing		321 North Woodlawn Avenue 39°10′9.3″N 86°31′25″W	1935 (approximate)	Colonial Revival
Contributing	File:Woodlawn Avenue, 441, O'Harrow House, University Courts.jpg	441 North Woodlawn Avenue 39°10′9.3″N 86°31′25″W	1935 (approximate)	Tudor Revival	This building was designed by Indianapolis architects Burns & James and built by Charles A. Pike for Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.