SOUTH BEND – It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the South Bend skyline, which is filled with hints of the city’s history.
Tucked away behind the modern-day designs of the city’s present-day buildings lie countless structures that still exist and those that mirror what once stood.
“The downtown architecture is fascinating because we are fortunate to still have some left,” said Elicia Feasel, assistant director of the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend St. Joseph County.
There are two ways to discover these small architectural gems left in the downtown area. One is to just look up at the surrounding buildings and take in the sights.
The other is to head out on the Then Now: A Downtown South Bend Architecture Walking Tour, which introduces participants to not only the visual aspects, but also the historical backgrounds of downtown South Bend.
“South Bend really was a model city for urban renewal in the 1960s and ’70s,” Feasel said. “A lot of the downtown was demolished at that time.”
Started three years ago by the Downtown South Bend organization, the Historic Preservation Commission and Indiana Landmarks, the tours began as a way to help recognize the significant designs of the city and their historical importance.
“What we are doing with this tour is highlighting the fantastic architecture that remains,” Feasel said. Jeremy Pinckert believes such tours bring awareness to how important it is to keep historic buildings alive.
“I like seeing what downtown used to be versus what they are now,” the Goshen resident said. “You don’t realize how many significant structures were torn down to make way Article source: http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-downtown-event-focuses-on-architectural-design-20120713,0,7382132.story
