9 Homes in Midtown Found to be Historically Significant

A survey of a portion of the Midtown neighborhood found nine homes which may be individually eligible for the recognition on the National Register of Historic Places.

Currently, Main Street and Frenchtown are on the federal list.

The city is in the middle of a four-part study of the Midtown and Commons neighborhoods. On Monday,  Preservation Planner Brenda Rubach presented information about phase two of the study, which focused on a portion of Midtown. 

These homes listed below may be eligible to apply for inclusion on the National Register, either because they are associated with an important person, or embody the distinctive characteristics of a period or construction:

• 1067 Jefferson Street, circa 1846. This home is associated with Nelson O'Rear, who published two newspapers, one in English and one in German, was a developer and owner of a tobacco factory.
• 702 Jefferson Street, circa 1875. Good example of a gabled-front, Italianate Style House. The outbuildings on this property may also be eligible. 
• 1025 Jefferson, circa 1885. Example of an asymmetrical, brick Italianate-style house. 
• 708 Jefferson Street, circa 1982. Example of an Italianate-style house.
• 1005 Jefferson Street, circa 1895. Built by Oliver Link, inventor who patented seven inventions related to rail road cars. American Car and Foundry Company for 55 years.
• 1035 Jefferson Street, circa 1904. Example of Masonry, Queen Anne Cottage. 
• 1040 Madison Street, circa 1913. Built for John Fishbach, who lived there until 1920. Fishbach was brewer, secretary and manager of the Fishbach Brewing Co. 
• 210 South Kingshighway, circa 1913. Owned by Gertrude Duvall, optician, one of very few women working as an optician in the 20th century. 
• 1029 Madison Street, circa 1927. Example of English Cotswolds-style home. 

See additional photos of these homes on our Facebook page. 

The hope is to apply to have the entire portions of the Midtown neighborhood listed on the National Register, once phase three of the survey is completed, Rubach said. Phase three of the study is expected to start soon. 

Being listed on the National Register means homeowners are able to apply for tax credits for rehabilitation of buildings. 

A listing on the National Register does not prevent demolition, however. Locally, the city's historic preservation ordinance prevents homeowners in this area from making changes to the structure of homes before seeking approval from the Landmarks Board.

Chris Berry, who has rehabbed homes in the Frenchtown neighborhood, said this project will hopefully educate people about historic homes and the benefits of preserving historic integrity. 

In this area,  homes were found to no longer be historically significant, which means they were altered or the original home had been torn down. 

"Once you lose the historic fabric of a historic structure, it's very difficult to get it back," she said. 

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