Some downtown buildings already on historic register
By CHAD SIEVERS
KENDALLVILLE — With Kendallville officials working to get
the downtown business area on the National Register of Historic
Places, they can look at Business Service Company of
America’s building as a reference point.
The Iddings/Gilbert/Leader/An-derson block in the 100 block of
North Main Street was added to the historical register in 1987
after an extensive application process.
The buildings feature a Queen Anne design. John Cazier, owner of
Business Service Company of America, said the design was a
popular style at the turn of the century.
The building at 107 N. Main St., known as the Iddings Building,
was built in 1893, while the building at 109 N. Main St., known
as the Gilbert Building, was built the next year in 1894, he
said. The north side of the building has 1894 inscribed on the
step outside the building.
In an issue of the Kendallville Standard on May 19, 1893, a story
said, “Lewis Iddings is now owner of the north room of the
new Iddings block on the northwest corner of Main and Mitchell
streets. He will soon erect another business room on the north of
this room and will then have two first-class building
rooms.”
Business Service Company of America moved into the building in
1947, Cazier said. (Business Service Company of America has been
in business since 1931 and had been located close to where Glad
Tidings Books ’n’ Gifts is today.) Prior to that,
several restaurants, including Franklin’s Cafe, the Nartker
Cafe, Throp Restaurant and Stemen’s Cafe, Wine and Liquers,
a hat shop owned by Demorest & Wherly and another Wines,
Liquers and Cigars store were housed there.
Cazier said an old beer cellar still stands in the basement from
the old liquor store and bar.
In the 109 N. Main St. building, Elmer’s Bar, Bonnie
Lou’s Country Inn, Mission Church, Vaughn Second-Hand Store,
Holcomb Printery Publisher and Helmer’s Creamery &
Produce were some of the businesses housed there before Business
Service occupied the building.
The Leader building, 111 N. Main, was built in 1894-95 by William
Leader, while the Anderson building was built by Alonzo Anderson.
Anderson was an African-American barber who built the building
for his barber shop in the mid-1890s.
In the Leader building, American State Bank, City Cigar Store,
Clark & Carunchia Market, J.E. Hovarter Radio Shop, M.L.
Horner Grocery and a cigar shop owned by J.S. Mulholland were
some of the businesses housed there.
 John Cazier of Business Serivce. |
The Anderson building is on
the historical register for African-American businesses.
Being a black barber in a small, rural Indiana town at
the turn of the century was definitely unique, Cazier
said. Anderson and his wife, Emma, are buried in Lake View Cemetery, the only two blacks buried there. The Anderson family moved to Chicago. In the Anderson building, American State Bank, Lucky’s Tavern, Flamingo Cafe, The Coney King, the News Stand, Billiards owned by Hubert Wright, New Confectionery owned by J.L. Kapp and the Anderson Brothers barbers were some of the businesses once located there. About 12 years ago, Cazier said the buildings were repainted in the colors they likely were when built. The city had hired an architectural artist who determined what the colors of the buildings were at the time they were built. “These buildings are so thick, you can’t hear anything from the street,” Cazier said. |
Current businesses on Main Street named |
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| Here is a list of current downtown
Kendallville businesses: 200 block of South Main Street 234-232 — City Hall and annex 230 — Dr. James Jansen Dentistry office 228 — Fairview Realty 220 — Northeastern Center 218 — Emerick & Diggins law offices 214 — 7th Inning Stretch 212 — Colwell Merchandising Sales & Design 210-208 — High Tone Health Club 206 — Noble County Council on Aging 204 — Reick Insurance Agency 202 — Douglas J. Atz Law Office 201 — Klinkenberg’s 203-205 — Northern Indiana Fuel & Light Co. office 207 — Custom Image 209 — Home Sweet Home 211-213 — Paul’s Pub 215 — Vacant 217 — Kropp Insurance 219 — The Floor Store |
221-223 — Strand Theatre 225 — Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce office 227 — Corunna Bedding Co. 231 — Lookin’ Good Auto Detailing 100 block of South Main Street 136 — Ebey’s Appliance & TV 134 — Mr. B’s Sports & Design 132 — Recycled Music & Audio 130 — Family Shears 128 — Kids Unlimited 126 — Images by Baggiano 124 — Picture This in Print 122 — Kandel Insurance 120 — B & P Archery 118 — John’s Baby Furniture 116 — Four Seasons Realty 114-112 — Fischer Family Pharmacy 110-106 — Weible’s Paint & Wallpaper 104 — Friendship Crafts 102 — Treasure Me Dolls 101-105 — Kendallville Auto Parts 107 — Olympia Sweet Shop |
109-111 — Stroman Electronics 113-115 — Glad Tidings Books ’n’ Gifts 117-119 — Taylor’s Shoe Store 121 — The Bargain Shop 123 — Barker’s Jewelry 125-127 — Christianson Jewelers 129 — Tropical Tanning 131 — Hair Connection/Tips to Toes 133 — Regal’s Outlet Store 137 — Al’s Barbershop (vacant) 139 — King Building (vacant) 100 block of North Main Street 102-114 — Kendallville Publishing Co. 116 — Allstate Insurance 118 — Vacant 120 — Kendallville Party Store 123-125 — Jade Buddha (vacant) 113 — KeyBank 107-109 — Business Service Co. of America 105 — R&L Tax Service 103 — Sportsman Bar & Grill 101 — Hosler Realty |
