Sposeep & Sons Building
55 W. Water Street, Wabash
Rough Going
In spite of local support for saving it, one of Wabash’s oldest commercial buildings remains at risk. The Sposeep Building, a repeat entry on this year’s list, is a highly visible landmark on Water Street at the edge of the city’s historic commercial district.
Constructed of rugged beige limestone cut from the banks of the Wabash River, the building dates to 1890, when Russian immigrant Simon A. Cook built it as a warehouse for his scrap business. Abe Sposeep & Sons took over the recycling business in 1924 and operated out of the building for nearly a century before closing in 2018. The City of Wabash acquired the site, and now the Wabash Redevelopment Commission is marketing the property for reuse.
A century of hard use has taken its toll, but with rough-hewn stone walls, exposed wooden beams and columns, and original plank floors, the Sposeep Building presents a picturesque backdrop for any number of adaptive new uses. Tall ceilings and a vast open floor plan offer possibilities for retail, entertainment, restaurants, offices, or mixed development.
City officials hope to see the landmark preserved and adapted for new use, but the building’s prime location near the city’s thriving downtown also makes the site attractive for new construction. If no viable reuse plans emerge soon, officials will consider demolition to clear the site for redevelopment.
Paul Hayden
Director
Indiana Landmarks Northeast Field Office
260-563-7094
phayden@indianalandmarks.org
Tenille Zartman
Grow Wabash County
260-330-3730
tenille@growwabashcounty.com
Saving threatened buildings takes teamwork. You can be a part of that team. Reach out to local leaders. Let them know these buildings are important to you. And support state and local preservation groups.