Old West Lafayette PART I, South of State Street

The early 20th century rectory for University Lutheran Church. Soon to be demolished for "The Rise" 16 story development.

              West Lafayette has spent much of its history in the shadow of Lafayette and Purdue University. The town struggled to grow through the mid-19th century as Lafayette boomed across the river. The boom time for West Lafayette occurred in the early 20th century. If Lafayette's old city is defined by the Italianate, then West Lafayette's old city is defined by the sturdy 1910's bungalow.

 

            Even so, West Lafayette's history reaches back into the mid-19th century. Remnants and relics of its pre-bungalow years survive to this day. While much of the pre-1900 city has been demolished, those that survive stand in a proud testimony to the fact that West Lafayette is much older than it initially appears. The neighborhood south of State Street contains many of these relics. This neighborhood was in the immediate vicinity of what would become downtown West Lafayette, where many of these early residents worked and played.

The Hodges-Kent House, built 1892 and plaqued by the Wabash Valley Trust.

          However, over the years much of this neighborhood has been replaced with large apartment complexes in an attempt to house the always growing student population of a sprawling Purdue University.

A lone survivor in a changing cityscape

Intact Italianate on Salisbury street.

      
          What remains continues to be under threat of both insensitive renovations and demolition. While West Lafayette has made significant progress for historic preservation efforts in the past year or so (New Chauncey historic district, Morris School project, Grand View Cemetery Grave Keeper's house, etc.), it has in many ways ceded the neighborhood south of State street to be demolished for future development. Part of the West Lafayette city council's compromise for approving the new 16 story tower at State and Chauncey Avenue was that historic preservationists would abandon the neighborhood south of State street, with West Lafayette city council member Peter Bunder stating in regards to the 16 story project.

“This is hard for me, because most of my constituents do not want this,” “But I made a deal. This was my deal with my colleagues on this council: If you help me protect New Chauncey (neighborhood) by approving the land use plan and the historic preservation districts, I will not pay attention at all to what you build south of State Street. You could build – I think I said at the time of the Grant Street apartments – Trump Towers on that side of State Street, and I won’t care" (source)

    However, this stance is inconsistent with the philosophy of West Lafayette's redevelopment commission. After the city made public their plans to save the historic grave keeper's house at Grand View Cemetery, Larry Oates, president of the redevelopment commission, stated that

“To be able to preserve something like this (the Grave Keeper's house) really shows that not only is the community looking to the future with projects like (the $120 million) State Street project and building new (things) that we don’t forget our roots, and we will protect those things that are valuable to the citizens in this community,” (source)

       The question then becomes, what makes the bungalows and the 1903 Grave Keeper's house more valuable than historic homes dating from the 1860's-1890's? Especially such historic homes located in the heart of downtown West Lafayette? How many neighborhoods in West Lafayette can boast Italianate and gothic revival houses?

A modest Italianate on Grant street

Doric columns and corbels on the porch cornice survive

Heavily defaced Italianate houses on Pierce street await their fates

           Without action by the city council and owners in the neighborhood, this rare glimpse into 19th century West Lafayette will soon be gone, a lost opportunity to couple high-density projects and historic preservation.

Much to our surprise, a brick Italianate house (a rarity for West-Lafayette) survives on Pierce street

Much of the structure's original stonework and details survive, despite an insensitive early 20th century addition on the front facade.

        This post is part of a series on West Lafayette's old city. This series focuses on the architecture of West Lafayette outside of Purdue, and so will not feature Purdue's architecture 

Echoes of the Italian Renaissance

The Italian Renaissance echoes in Lafayette's historic buildings

        How is the Italian Renaissance related to Lafayette? Would you guess that a much of our old city's architecture is inspired by the Italian renaissance? This Italian Renaissance architecture would come to be known as "Italianate."

        Italianate architecture came into existence in England in the early 19th century. It was inspired by a desire to break from the rigid formalism that dominated 18th and early 19th century English architecture. Italianate was considered flowing, whimsical, and romantic. The architectural styles of the 16th century Italian renaissance (and by extension, the ancient Roman world) were combined with picturesque aesthetics, producing a "Neo-renaissance" style. 

       Italianate was imported to the United States where it found immense popularity between the 1850's and 1880's. This period of time also represents an era of growth and expansion in Lafayette. While many Italianate structures in Lafayette have been demolished through the years, many have survived. Italianate structures still dominate Lafayette's old city.

So you may be asking, "well, what makes a house Italianate?" 

The key features of an Italianate house are

1) Low hipped or flat roof
2) Deep overhanging eaves

3) Rows of decorative brackets, or corbels.

4) 2 or 3 stories, rarely 1 story

5) Tall windows

6) An occasional square cupola or tower

oldhouseweb.com

Italianate originates in renaissance Italy-Photo from Themedicifamily.com

603 North 5^th St. is an excellent example of the Italianate style in Lafayette

               Italianate is not only the dominant architectural style for residential structures in the old city, it is also the dominant style of commercial buildings. Its simple flat roof and heavy cornice made it an attractive alternative to more elaborate styles such as Second Empire while still remaining more attractive than the simpler canal-era styles.

Italianate at 3rd and Columbia

Italianates at 8th and Main

Italianates near 10th and Main

         While there are several examples of vernacular Italianate architecture in the old city, there are also outstanding examples of the style that deserve special attention.

         The Coleman-Stallard & Schuh Building at Columbia and 3rd street is a grand example of the Italianate style. It was designed by Elias Max, the same architect who would go on to design our grand courthouse. No expense was spared when the Coleman-Stallard & Schuh building was constructed in 1872. An extremely ornate and heavy cornice crowns three floors of a rusticated stone facade. The structure has a circular window in the center of the cornice that once framed a clock. The interior is arguably one of the grandest interior commercial spaces in the old city. 

The Coleman-Stallard & Schuh Building

The Coleman-Stallard & Schuh Building Lobby

        The Coleman-Stallard & Schuh Building is protected by a local historic district. This helps to ensure that this building will last for generations. Other Italianate structures in our old city haven't  been as fortunate. In the absence of protective districts, Italianate structures in our old city can be torn down or stripped of their architectural details. A good example of this vulnerability can be seen in the brick Italianate that used to stand at the corner of Columbia and 11th street.

          So next time you pass one of Lafayette's old Italianate beauties, take a moment to thank the Italian renaissance for the inspiration to build these structures, and think about what steps you and our community can take to ensure that these buildings survive for future generations to enjoy. Not every town can hear the echoes of the Italian Renaissance and its old buildings.