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Historic Landmarks of
Kokomo, Indiana
Kokomo, Ind., 50 miles north of Indianapolis,
is a city of 44,962. It is the seat of Howard Co., N central
Indiana.
Founded in the 1840s, the community is named
for a Miami Indian leader. Industrialization was spurred by the
discovery of natural gas in 1886 and by the inventions of Elwood
Haynes (1857-1925), who lived here. In 1894, Haynes designed
one of the first successful gasoline-powered cars. It is now
on display in the Smithsonian Institution. Haynes's inventions
included carburetors and mufflers.
The city is also the site of Indiana University
at Kokomo (1945).
According to Indiana Business magazine, "Through
the Main Street Association, Kokomo has spent more than $1 million
on its ongoing Streetscape Project that upgrades sidewalks, storefronts
and the general atmosphere with antique looking lampposts, brick
and new benches. Other long-term investments have also help fortify
downtown's growth. During the past 15 years, Fortune Management
has invested more than $30 million in the downtown. "There
is no longer a stigma that it is a decaying area," says
Scott Pitcher, Fortune Management's president. It's an emerging
district." Today, only about 5% of downtown commercial space
is empty, and people of all ages fill up condos, which range
anywhere from $85,000 to $500,000 and 1,200 to 5,000 square feet."
New development in a city can be a good thing if it reverses
urban decay and a bad thing if it's seen simply as a way to "Get
rid of old buildings."
All buildings were photographed on 4/10/99
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122-124 W. Walnut
Kokomo, Howard Co.
This building appears to be Arabian in fashion; of,
or being in the style of arabesque. This may put it in the Exotic
Revival style of architecture. Certainly it does not seem to
fall into any other category of architecture, except that of
combinations or exceptions. Date of this building and how much
it may have been altered is unknown.
Maas Building
1888
105. W. Sycamore
This is a two-part commercial block building, the
most common form of architecture for small and moderate-sized
commercial buildings in the United States. The style is characterized
by a horizontal separation into two distinct zones that, though
separated, are nevertheless closely related visually to one another.
An unusual arched window marks this building, although
the original paned windows were obviously replaced with plate
glass. Two-part commercial block.
210 N. Main
Sycamore Grill detail
West Sycamore Street
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Kokomo Tribune Building
N.E. corner of Mulberry & Union
Superbly preserved shop, though apparently unoccupied as of
this picture.
Note the rusticated brick and unaltered storefront level (unlike
the building adjacent).
Two-part commercial block.
314 N. Main
Detail, 217 N. Main
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College Building
Misguided modifications over the years have given
this building an unsymetrical and boarded-up appearance.
Two-part commercial block.
1909
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Art-Deco Ameritech Building
200 block, E. Taylor
Art Deco was a style of design popular in the 1920s and '30s,
with its sleek, streamlined forms and elegant, geometric aesthetic.
Art Deco grew out of a conscious effort to simplify the elaborate
turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau style, to make it more responsive
to the new "machine-age" ideals of speed and glamour.
States Funk and Wagnall's New Encyclopedia: "It found
expression in objects as diverse as locomotives, skyscrapers,
roadside diners, radio cabinets, jukeboxes, and advertising displays.
"Primary examples of Art Deco in the U.S. are the interior
of Radio City Music Hall (1931) in New York City, designed by
Donald Deskey (1894-1989); and William van Alen's (1882-1954)
Chrysler Building (1930, New York City), with its sleek aluminum-
banded facades and arched and pointed spire."
Art Deco appears to be a popular style for telephone and telegraph
buildings, as can be seen in the Indiana Bell Building
in Evansville.
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Ameritech Building
Entrance detail
200 block, E. Taylor
A handsome terra-cotta building, though with an unfortunately
altered storefront level. Two-part commercial block.
116 N. Main
Howard Co. Courthouse
An example of Neoclassical architecture with Art Deco elements.
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100 block W. Walnut
The bane of historic buildings: those homely shingled
awnings (and those yawn-inspiring fake facades, as seen on the
adjacent building).
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