Historic House Blog

The City of South Bend, Indiana (home to the Fightin’ Irish of Notre Dame!) has established a wonderful program called the “Dollar House Program” in effort to revive some of the city’s vacant properties.  In the proces, they will save some of its historic & vintage properties, and breathe economic life into neighborhoods that need help.  The city’s website explains:

“Working in partnership with neighborhood-based Community Development Corporations the City acquires, completes selective repairs, and conveys the property to a lottery winner for $1.00.  The new owner will be provided a list of repairs, with bid specifications, that are required to be completed within a year of ownership.  The bid specifications are designed to ensure that the renovated home will be an asset to the neighborhood and community.”

One of the houses to be offered through the “Dollar House Program” is this fantastic Italianate (above), “The Wenger Homestead,” which is designated a “Historic Landmark.”   Built circa 1851 as the Martin Wenger Farmhouse, this two story wood frame Italianate home is a gracious reflection of South Bend’s past.  The house is located near downtown and is in a neighborhood that is experiencing significant investment. The building was designated as a local historic landmark by the St. Joseph County / City of South Bend Historic Preservation Commission in 1979, a State of Indiana landmark in 1997, and a National Historic Register landmark in 2000. Located at 701 E. Pennsylvania, the city estimates that the rehab will cost just over $92,000.  For more information about the “Dollar House Program,” visit the City of South Bend website here.