An historic landmark in St. Joseph County is officially on the market, but it can’t stay where it is. A sign is scheduled to go up Tuesday at the former Flourish Boutique location at the corner of Cleveland and Gumwood in Mishawaka, listing it available for relocation.
The Northern Regional Office for Indiana Landmarks says the asking price for the old farmhouse is technically $0, but the goal is to find someone to pay to relocate it and hopefully live in it. The property surrounding the 150 year old house is on the fast track for major redevelopment.
“The great story about it is Daniel Ward made his money as a gold miner out west in 1849, came back here and bought this corner in St. Joe County,” said the Northern Regional Office Director, Todd Zeiger.
Ward built the 2,100 square foot mansion for his family in 1865. Sometime after that, Burnie and Helene Bauer bought the home and the land behind it. A picture of Helene is still inside and, according to an inscription beneath it, she’s the one who listed it with the Historical Society.
“[The word] ‘landmark’ takes many kinds of meanings. This is one you drive by, people know this house,” Zeiger added.
Indiana State Rep. B. Patrick Bauer owned the house and about 20 acres of the land until December 2013 when he sold it to Great Lakes Capital. Crews are currently tearing down other houses at the site – priming it for 200 apartments and future retail, office and restaurant development.
That area sits very close to Toscana Park and more businesses and restaurants at Heritage Square. WSBT asked Great Lakes Capital Managing Partner Ryan Rans if that area can sustain more housing and business. He said he’s not concerned about that, adding real estate is always about “location, location, location,” and that site is “second to none” in the market.
Rans said the company is not yet ready to discuss details about when they’ll break ground or whether they have any tenants lined up.
But the Daniel Ward Farmhouse is not part of those plans.
“We think the most affordable place to move the house is going to be north, up Gumwood, Adams, Brick Road area,” Zeiger continued. “It would be great to turn it back into a single family home again.”
But that’s going to be expensive. So far, it’s estimated at $75,000 for the mover, foundation and excavation work but depending where it goes and how many power lines crews have to take down, those numbers could skyrocket.
“The deal we’re looking for is that we would just recover the costs we’ll have on the project once we move it. [We’re] not looking to make any money on this,” Zeiger said.
But the non-profit organization wants to make sure the house gets in the right hands in order to protect the integrity and history of a true St. Joseph County landmark.
If you’re interested or looking for more information about the Daniel Ward Farmhouse, visit IndianaLandmarks.org.