Photo by Susan Cole - A landslide that happened on January 5, 2015 covered a portion of Hwy 101 and created several issues for the neighborhood at the top of the hill.
As of October 16, 2015 the Theodore & Nellie Pearson House located at 1510 W. Water Street in South Bend was added to the Washington Heritage Register.
According to the Washington Heritage Register website approximately 1,800 historical sites have been recognized and added to the Register.
The previous owners, Michele Torrey and Paul Gann, took the 1901 house down to the lathe and plaster while remodeling. From 2004 to 2010 they restored and added Victorian era fixtures and furnishings. In 2014 the house was purchased by Susan Cole who only had to do some maintenance on the place.
"They did a fabulous job remodeling; keeping to the style and era," said Cole.
The January 5 2015 landslide that covered part of Highway 101 in South Bend undermined the neighborhood at the top of the hill where the historical home sits.
The scarp created by the landslide caused the homeowners to put in French drains in their side yards that tie into the city drains to help remove the weight of excess water.
The homeowners and the city of South Bend feel that the state or federal government should fix the hill which has had decades of issues. Many think that when Highway 101 was built at the bottom of the hill it modified and weakened the structure of the hill.
When Cole and some of the homeowners have started a process to request a fix for the hill.
In a letter sent to Cole by Allyson Brooks, Ph.D., State Historic Preservation Officer, "listing in the Washington Heritage Register does assure protective review of a property should federal or state action have a potential adverse effect to the property's historic values."
During the application, Cole contacted Michael Houser, State Architectural Historian, and together they compiled the history of the house.
"The house is historically significant for its direct connection to Theodore Pearson, an early pioneer, lumberman, and former Mayor," said the letter. "The house is also significant as a representative example of the Queen Anne style as found in smaller communities across the state."
So the historical designation of the house adds a Grand Dame to the walking tour of South Bend.
Cole states that she remains positive for her home's future. She feels that having her home listed will hopefully help all homes that have compromised property from the local landslides that are eating away at their homes and yards a bit by bit.
Cole also states that Torrey and her have become dear friends for life brought together by the Painted Lady located in South Bend.