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| Madison and US 6 / Market street |
The Madison Street restoration project is currently underway. Read on to learn more about the scope of the project and the history behind it.
The History
When Nappanee was platted on December 12, 1874 eight streets
were indicated and named, they remain the same today. Main, Market,
Clark, Locke, Lincoln, Walnut, Elm and Madison. Aside from Main and Market, all these streets existed only on paper at the time that the lots
were sold. Most "streets" were covered in timber or were soggy with patches
of cattails and swamp.
The growth of Nappanee was rapid and in the early days of Nappanee the streets were hardly what we today would consider passable. They were dirt with stones, roots and even stumps in some of the side streets. Not to mention the puddles, ruts, tracks and so much manure! The dust that a horse and rig would kick up was only relieved when the streets were mud from the rain and snow. Wagons pulling loads from the railroad would sometimes get stuck in the mud on the way out of town.
In 1884 over 1000 wagon loads of gravel were dumped in the
streets and graded up to the center of the streets. But it helped
little, The News in 1899 reported "Below this three or four inches of mud
and manure there seems to be a good foundation of gravel."
In 1899 the Town Board was petitioned for brick or paved streets. It was 1907 before they began. In 1908 they began laying brick. For concrete base, bricks, gutters and curbs for Main and Market the entire cost was $78.827.45
The Bricks
Many of the bricks in Nappanee's oldest landmarks were made
here in Nappanee. In 1879, a brick yard was set up between North Main and
Clark Streets. Clay for the bricks came from the North Clark Street vicinity.
One of several brick plants on record made the bricks for the school
house and for Nappanee's first brick house in 1879. Delotter and
Mellinger Company began the manufacture of bricks in 1884. Most of the
buildings that were built from that time on were of Delotter and Mellinger
bricks. They were the largest brick company in Northern Indiana, in 1891 over
one million bricks came from their kilns.
Brick was the material of choice for street construction for a time, through the 1920s and up until World War II. Bricks, however durable they are, have to be laid by hand, one by one, Asphalt and concrete are cheaper and smoother so naturally they have emerged as the common material for most streets.
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| Brent Warren looks at plans for the project |
The Project
In Nappanee, we have but one street of brick left. A portion of one of Nappanee's original streets, Madison Street between Marion and Market
remains brick.It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the East Side Historic District, Roughly bounded by Market, Main, John, and Summit Streets. The street is dotted with stately old homes that tell of
our history.
Though the brick itself has withstood the test of time, the street is
warped, sagging and wavy and does not match up with the paved streets that it
intersects. It can make for a bumpy ride or worse.
Over 26 years ago, when Hartman Street was paved, the curb was taken out on Madison Street as well. Thanks to the community the street was not paved over and talks began on how to preserve and maintain the brick street.
Though the brick itself has withstood the test of time, the street is
warped, sagging and wavy and does not match up with the paved streets that it
intersects. It can make for a bumpy ride or worse. Over 26 years ago, when Hartman Street was paved, the curb was taken out on Madison Street as well. Thanks to the community the street was not paved over and talks began on how to preserve and maintain the brick street.
Brent Warren, Nappanee's Street Superintendent remembers hearing former city employee, Sam Adams, discuss the project in 2001 when Brent first joined the department. Brent said, "I remember Sam talking about doing it a block at a time."
It was most likely the cost that made the project take a back burner time and time again over the years. The city started setting funds aside for the project years ago.
In November 2014 the city put out a request for proposals for the work, plans drawn up by Commonwealth, to be completed in 2015. In December 2014, the city awarded the project to HRP out of South Bend. They will remove all the bricks, palletize them, bring the sub grade up to the existing curb height and then re-lay the bricks. They are also cutting the sidewalks to open them for new ADA compliant crosswalks.
Phase one began on April 13. Phase One includes Market to the south side of Centennial. Phase Two is Centennial North to Marion Street. The contract states that they have 120 days from April 1 to have substantial completion. This means that by the end of July the work should be finished. Warren has reported that “the contractor is doing his best to keep either Centennial or Walnut Street open at all times." Of course this is only an ideal projection, a project like this has many things that can come up unexpected. Warren said that " one of the biggest challenges is you never know what you are going to come across...what could be buried under there for nearly a century."
Check back for updates on the progress of Saving Madison Street.
If you have Madison Street memories, historical documents, or old pictures that you would like to share please send
them to rockistillson72@gmail.com