Page 36 - Copshaholm Curriculum Book_2015

Oliver Family History 10

The Olivers were staunch Republicans, and in the Democratic sweep of 1884,
South Bend citizens elected George Ford, a Democrat as their representative in
Congress. A graduate of the University of Michigan who had been active in local
politics, he and Josephine Oliver (J.D.’s sister) had known each other from childhood.
The bride and groom were both 39 when they were married November 25, 1885 in the
home of the bride’s parents. Ford was the first Democrat to enter the sphere of the
Oliver family. He retired from Congress in 1887 and resumed law practice in South
Bend. In 1888 he was elected secretary of the South Bend Iron Works. They resided in
a spacious white frame house on an acre of land at 630 W. Washington Street (where
the Oliver Inn Bed and Breakfast is located). They had no children. Josephine died
May 28, 1914, George August 30, 1917.

Copshaholm

On February 3, 1894, Joseph purchased 76 feet of land on the south side of
Washington Street to add to another adjacent property he owned where he planned to
build a new home. This gave him a property that had 250 feet on Washington Street,
and 300 feet on Chapin Street. Exterior work on the dwelling was finished in 1895.
Interior woodwork arrived in April 1896, and the Olivers moved in on January 1, 1897.
J.D. resided in this home for more than 56 years.

The house contained 38 rooms, 6 full bathrooms (3 half-bathrooms), and 14
fireplaces. In the basement there was a laundry room, workroom, clothes drying room,
and five storerooms. The first floor had 12 rooms, including a large central hall,
reception room, library, den, music room, dining room, porte-cochere hall, butler’s
pantry, kitchen staff dining room, and two kitchen pantries. On the second floor there
were five bedrooms, sitting room, dressing room, and two linen rooms. The third floor
had nine rooms, including four bedrooms, sitting room, sewing room, billiard room,
elevator, and ballroom.

The total cost of the structure was never officially revealed. J.D. was a very
private person who conducted his personal business in the utmost privacy.

Oliver Building Projects

In the late 1880s Oliver plows were being shipped to the British Isles, Japan,
France, Germany, Mexico, Sweden, Greece, and South American countries—the list
was impressive. The line of visitors to South Bend from around the globe was almost
endless. James and J.D. decided to build a grand hotel to impress the steady stream of
visitors who, until then, only could be housed in inadequate facilities. Difficulties in
obtaining a site delayed construction until July 1898, when the first stone for the
foundation was laid at Washington and Main Streets, now the site of the downtown
Holiday Inn.

A gala grand opening was held December 20, 1899. The South Bend Tribune
called it “the most magnificent hotel in Indiana, one of the finest in the United States.” It
described the lobby and rotunda as Italian Renaissance, embellished in gold. At the top
of the rotunda were painted 16 females representing the seasons, the arts, earth, water,
fire, and air. The lavish décor extended to all other areas of the hotel. Among