The last house standing in a former residential area in South Bend will be moved to a new address on Sept. 15. A 2,400-square-foot brick residence built in 1929 by a prominent attorney, Arthur May, the May House sits in the corner of a Memorial Hospital parking lot at the intersection of Park Lane and Main Street.

Moving the stately Georgian Colonial house to a new location will allow it to be saved and put back into use as a single-family dwelling.

Wolfe House and Building Movers from North Manchester will move the two-story house approximately .2 miles to its new location at 919 Riverside Drive in the Chapin Park Historic District.

Beacon Health System, which owns Memorial Hospital, donated the house to Indiana Landmarks, a statewide nonprofit, and contributed to the cost of the move.

“This move has been a long time coming,” said Todd Zeiger, director of Indiana Landmarks’ northern regional office. “Between finding an appropriate site, securing a mover and lining up the necessary permits, this one has been a challenge, but we’re happy to see it happening.”

After some stabilization work, Indiana Landmarks will offer the house for sale. In addition to allowing the home to be part of a thriving residential area once again, the relocation will allow the site at Park Lane and Main Street to be used for future hospital development.

WHAT: Moving a 93-year-old house

WHERE: From 130 Park Lane to 919 Riverside Drive in South Bend (There will be temporary road closures as the house moves from Park Lane to Lafayette Boulevard to Riverside Drive.)

WHEN: Sept. 15, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHY: The relocation will allow for future hospital development at the current site and give a historic house an opportunity to return to residential use.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Todd Zeiger, Director, Indiana Landmarks Northern Regional Office, 574-286-5765 (cell), tzeiger@indianalandmarks.org.

Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, reconnects us to our heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.