Page 34 - Copshaholm Curriculum Book_2015

Oliver Family History 8

The Oliver family engaged in many projects that benefited the community.
James and his son Joseph teamed up with the Studebaker brothers, who manufactured
wagons, in 1882 to petition the common council for a street railway. The first horse cars
were put in service in 1885 on Washington Street. An attempt to use an electrically
operated trolley system on Michigan Street failed due to improper current distribution,
but the problem was solved and trolleys soon gave way to horse-pulled cars. Despite
the original failure, South Bend holds the dubious distinction of being the first city to use
electrical power for streetcars. Among other civic projects were construction of an
opera house, hotel, apartment houses, row housing and a dam.

Ground was broken December 5, 1883 for “Oliver Row,” a block of row houses at
Main and Market (Colfax) streets. These were described as “nine residences with a
total unbroken frontage of 200 feet on Main Street, 12 feet back from the sidewalk, four
stories in height, including basement and attic. The basement (ceiling) will be five feet
above the level of the street. Stories will be approached by flights of stone steps.” This
structure was later remodeled and became the Christman Building.

Construction of the Opera House on Main Street started in March of 1884 when
100 wagonloads of stone were brought in for the foundation. Meanwhile, demolition of
brick and frame buildings on the site began. The Opera House was opened October
28, 1885 with the performance of W.E. Sheridan in the role of Louis XI. The overture
prior to the performance, composed by Prof. Chris Elbel of South Bend, was titled “The
Oliver House Triumphal.” It was played by Prof. Lorenz Elbel’s orchestra.

Why did the Olivers build the Opera House? There are no known motives, only
conjecture. Both James and Joseph (J.D.) enjoyed the theater and attended as often
as time permitted. At the time Good’s Opera House and Price’s Theater were the only
places for the performing arts in South Bend. Neither was considered adequate for the
growing city. The Opera House was part of a business block, but profit alone
apparently was not the motive. Ostentation was a corollary of wealth at the time, and
the Opera House was built with a lavish hand.

The New Oliver Chilled Plow Works

The Olivers purchased 32 acres of the “Perkins Farm,” on the southwest edge of
South Bend, for $30,000, and construction of a new South Bend Iron Works plant there
started almost immediately. Full production continued at the “Lower Works” as the old
factory on the West Race (the area where Century Center now stands) was known,
while warehouses were built, railroad tracks laid and water and sewer lines extended to
the new “Upper Works.” The new complex had five buildings with a total space of
200,000 feet. Plans called for employment of 400 men, who would cast some 50 tons
of metal into 300 plows daily. A new 600-horsepower Harris Steam Engine powered the
machinery. January 17, 1876 the engine was started and the plant went into operation.

Plow sales in 1878 reached 62,779. Thirty to forty railroad cars at a time, loaded
with 5,000 to 7,000 plows, left the new “Upper Works” for shipment from coast to coast.
James Oliver was elected company president in January 1879. Brownfield, who had
been president for almost nine years after the resignation of George Milburn, had
tendered his resignation in November 1878. James always had held the title of
superintendent.