University Courts Historic District


The University Courts Historic District is a historic district and neighborhood in Bloomington, Indiana, United States.

Greek houses

The Sigma Chi house at 601 E. Seventh Street, built in Free Classic style, was enlarged in 1925 by Granger, Lowe & Bollenbacher in a manner sympathetic to the original design.
The northeast corner of Indiana Avenue and Eighth Street was originally the site of a Tudor Revival house built by Maude Showers. Situated on three lots and designed by Carlisle Bollenbacher, the house was sold to Delta Tau Delta and used for a fraternity until destroyed by fire in February 1935. The fraternity rebuilt on the same site. The new house was designed by Burns & James and retained the same placement on the three lots as the original house. The general contractor was Charles A. Pike.
Delta Zeta at 809 East Seventh Street was designed by John Nichols in 1923 in the Classical Revival Style. The general contractor was Charles F. Johnson.

Demolished houses

Before the district was first nominated for the National Register, four houses on the east half of the block bounded by Indiana Avenue, Fess Avenue, Eighth Street and Ninth Street were demolished. Joseph Smith of the Showers Brothers furniture factory engaged John Nichols to build a two-story brick Colonial Revival house at 403 North Fess in 1914. J. Neill was the general contractor. Clarence Neill, general contractor, built a house for Charles F. Johnson at 421 North Fess in 1916. Edwin C. Doeppers and Company were the architects. Indiana University's Mathers Museum of World Cultures and the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology now occupy those two lots, among others.

Table of contributing properties

Appearing in the table below are the buildings included within the boundaries of the city-designated historic district.
RatingImageAddressYearStyleComments
Contributing
1906Georgian RevivalChapter house for Sigma Chi
Notable
1932Gothic RevivalDesigned by Alfred Grindle
Notable
1915Craftsman
Notable
1911Spanish Colonial Revival
Dormer Front Bungalow
Attorney Thomas J. Sare engaged architect John Nichols when he built this house.
Notable
1925Tudor Revival
Craftsman
Notable
1924Spanish Mission RevivalAttorney Thomas J. Sare engaged architect John Nichols when building this house.
Contributing
1920Tudor Revival
Contributing
1935Georgian RevivalThis building was designed by Indianapolis architects Burns & James and built by Charles A. Pike for Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Their previous house on this site was destroyed by fire.
Contributing
1916Tudor Revival
Craftsman
John T. Schuman built two duplexes at 8th and Fess. Edwin C. Doeppers was listed as architect.
Contributing
1914Prairie Style
Foursquare
Built for Herman Grant by general contractor J. O. White. Edwin C. Doeppers was listed as architect in the construction press.
Contributing
1922Colonial RevivalJohn Nichols designed this house for Ward Johnson of Johnson Creamery.
Notable
1916California BungalowArchitect John Nichols was engaged by Herman Bowman of the Bowman-King Stone Co. to build this house.
Contributing
1916Colonial Revival
Foursquare
Dr. J. C. Vermilya engaged engineer Edwin C. Doeppers when building this house.
Contributing
1915Arts and CraftsOriginally built by Thomas J. Sare, who contracted with John Murphy for masonry and Alex Robinson for carpentry to build two duplexes at 8th & Park. Nichols & Nichols were architects.
Contributing
1924Craftsman
Foursquare
John Nichols was architect for this house built by general contractor J. O. White for Herman Bowman of Bowman-King Stone Co.
Contributing
1930Colonial Revival
Contributing
1913Prairie Style
Colonial Revival
Built by general contractor W. S. Delapp for Monroe County treasurer Joseph D. Hensley. Nichols & Nichols were the architects.
Contributing
1930Craftsman
Front Gabled Bungalow
Contributing
1930Colonial Revival
Contributing
1922Carpenter Builder
Cottage
Contributing
1923Colonial RevivalBuilt by general contractor Joe Neill and Son for the jeweler Ray Wingert and his wife Leafy. John Nichols was architect.
Contributing
1925Craftsman
American Foursquare
Notable
1921Prairie StyleAlfred Grindle drew plans for Indiana University football coach Ewald O. Stiehm, who let contracts and supervised construction himself.
Contributing
1930Colonial Revival
Contributing
1930Craftsman
American Foursquare
Contributing
1916Craftsman
American Foursquare
Doeppers & Co. let contracts to Clarence Neill for masonry and George Torrence for carpentry when Willis Akins had this house built.
Contributing
1930Craftsman
American Foursquare
Contributing
1920Craftsman
Cross Gable Bungalow
Contributing
1920Craftsman
Contributing
1930Colonial Revival
Contributing
1930Dutch Colonial Revival
Contributing
1916Tudor Revival
Craftsman
John T. Schuman built two duplexes at 8th and Fess. Edwin C. Doeppers was listed as architect.
Contributing
1915Bungalow
Foursquare
Built by general contractor Val Hatfield as a rental property for Herman Grant. E. C. Doeppers and Company where the architects.
Contributing
1930Colonial Revival
Notable
1917Colonial Revival
Tudor Revival
Indianapolis architect Merritt Harrison designed this house for Indiana University professor Wm. F. Book.
Contributing
1920Colonial Revival
Foursquare
Notable
1930Colonial Revival
Notable
1925Spanish Colonial RevivalDesigned by Cecil and Inez Harlos
Notable
1930Colonial Revival
Contributing
1930Tudor Revival
Notable
1925Spanish Colonial RevivalDesigned by Cecil and Inez Harlos
Contributing
1930Colonial Revival
Contributing
1925Colonial RevivalDesigned by John Nichols
Contributing
1915Foursquare
Contributing
1930Colonial Revival
Contributing
1920Foursquare
Contributing
1912Dutch Colonial RevivalThe Chicago firm of Lowe & Bollenbacher drew plans for a residence for department store owner Wyatt W. Wicks, who originally intended to take bids himself. But, later John Nichols took bids for Wicks.
Contributing
1915Foursquare
Contributing
1913Craftsman
Foursquare
Built by general contractor J. O. White for Dr. A. M. Snyder. The firm of Nichols & Nichols was listed as the architect.
Contributing
1924Colonial RevivalThis duplex was designed by Alfred Grindle for Allen Buskirk.
Contributing
1924Colonial RevivalEdwin C. Doeppers drew plans for Almer Henry, who originally intended to take bids himself. He later engaged John L. Nichols to take bids and supervise construction.
Contributing
1920Georgian Revival
Notable
1915Craftsman
Tudor Revival
Originally built by Thomas J. Sare, who contracted with John Murphy for masonry and Alex Robinson for carpentry to build two duplexes at 8th & Park. Nichols & Nichols were architects.
Contributing
1928Tudor Revival
English Cottage Revival
Contributing
1930Colonial Revival
Contributing
1930Colonial Revival
Contributing
1925Craftsman
Foursquare
Contributing
1922Craftsman
Bungalow
Contributing
1930Colonial Revival
American Foursquare
Notable
1926Tudor Revival
Notable
1930Colonial RevivalDesigned by John L. Nichols
Contributing
1920Colonial Revival
Contributing
1925American Foursquare
Contributing
1930Colonial Revival
Contributing
1935Colonial RevivalOriginally named the O'Harrow House, it is now the Indiana University School of Journalism Annex.
Contributing
1935Tudor RevivalThis building was designed by Indianapolis architects Burns & James and built by Charles A. Pike for Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.