Auditorium
In 1895, the Nappanee News published an article asking "Why not have an opera house?" The newspaper took that question to the street and asked many businessmen their opinions. In 1898, the news discussed how they had been asking for a town hall/opera house/hall for five to six years. In 1899, there was another push to build a town hall. Harvey Coppes, Bernie Uline, and Chas Sweeny solicited $5,000 to secure funding for such a building. Daniel Zook claimed the present facilities used for public entertainment were a disgrace for an enlightened community such as Nappanee. Daniel Zook approached the town of Nappanee in April of 1899 to move the Corner Hardware and Miller Harness shop. These buildings sat in the location where the Auditorium was eventually built. The Auditorium was built in 1899 and H.F. Frazier was the architect. It was once called "The Finest Little Theater in Northern Indiana." It was financed by a public subscription. The Auditorium Association was formed and they filed their official articles with Elkhart County in May of 1899. It was formed to create, maintain, and operating a suitable building for public meetings. The capital stock of the association was $6000 divided into 1200 shares of $5 each. The Auditorium officially opened in December 1899. Opening night seats were auctioned off to the highest bidders from the first choice down - the auction started at about $3 in the boxes down to $1 for ordinary seats. The first night the house brought in a little over $450. From it opening until World War I, it hosted the Nappanee Orchestra, locally-produced shows, band concerts, recitals, graduationns and so much more. The Auditorium burned down on January 17, 1937. After the Auditorium burned down, there was a question of ownership. Bessie Huffman made a claim to ownership. It was found that the Auditorium Association only had ownership of the 2nd floor whereas Bessie Huffman owned the 1st floor. It was determined that the Association could build a 2nd floor on top of whatever replaced the building if allowed. Bessie Huffman was given a clear title to the spot and sold it to Henry Maust.The Auditorium Association deemed that they would not rebuild and the $1500 (roughly $26,000 in 2019) in insurance money would be given to the school, since stakeholders would only receive a few dollars.
Dietrich Block
It was decided in 1899 to build the Dietrich block. There would be two rooms on Main Street and three rooms on Market Street. Henry Frazier planned and built it. At the time it was built, it had been thought that there was the possibility of it having three floors. Mr. John Dietrich came to America from Switzerland in 1852. The Dietrich family had been in Ohio for a couple of months before settling in Bremen, Indiana. He attended the Bryant and Stratton business school in Chicago. Mr. Dietrich was a strong sturdy and industrious, aggressive character, who did not appear to realize that were was any limit to the amount of mental and physical work he could perform. Mr. Dietrich was very giving in all of the communities that he served in. Mr. Dietrich had a store in Bremen, Nappanee, and Syracuse. At the Nappanee store, he had a partnership with Noah Laudeman. The store was well filled with a large stock, consisting of dry goods, notions, hats and caps, boots, shoes, men's and boy's clothing, groceries, provisions, queenware, and numerous other articles that would make up the stock of a first-class store. In 1900, W.W. Best was the first man to move into the Dietrich block with the expectation of Henry Frazier who occupied his rooms before the building was completed. In Mr. Frazier's room he consulted, made his plans, wrote his specifications and made his blueprints in the dark roo which had been partioned off from the back room of the suite.
Nappanee Carriage Works
The Carriage Company was originally the Rupp Carriage Works. It had moved from Milford to Nappanee in 1891 and outgrew the original factory that they were in Nappanee. Mr. Rupp, Miller, and Cosper entered into a partnership and started negotiating to purchase a lot that had been used as a lumber yard. It was decided from there to build a forty-four-foot by an eighty-foot brick building. Mr. Frazier was the architect on the project. The building was to be three stories high and have all the conveniences and modern improvements. It would have a galvanized iron and plate glass on the front and it was styled after the Coppes Hotel. The first story was a platted glass for a display of Rupp vehicles in carriage, buggies, and road wagons. Fred Rupp moved to Kendallville after coming to the Nappanee area. It is unsure when they started to call the carriage works, Nappanee Carriage Works.
Coppes Hotel
J.D. Rapp’s Meat Market had been on this site before the building was removed to make way for the Coppes Hotel. The Coppes Hotel opened in 1892 and it became Nappanee’s second hotel but its finest one. It was designed by H.F. Frazier. After Samuel Coppes sold his shares to Coppes Brothers to Daniel Zook in 1890. The construction of the Coppes Hotel soon followed.Imagine a brick structure with a handsome galvanized iron front, with large plate windows. It also had a tin roof. The hotel had 20 first-class bedrooms. The bedrooms were for convenience and comfort for transient traffic exclusively. The rooms had bathrooms, and closets in them. They also had hot and cold water in each room.The hotel was torn down in 1965 to make way for the First National Bank. Now present-day KeyBank.
Price Hospital
In 1913 the Price doctors of Melvin (Delbert) and Willard decided to build a small building that would serve as an office and hospital. Their business had expanded very rapidly and the demand for surgery was so large.H.F. Frazier was the architect of the building and had been in charge of the construction of the building. It was one of the most modern and up-to-date physician’s office and hospital buildings at its time.Delbert and Willard practiced medicine together from 1900 to 1938. Willard’s son Douglas joined the practice in 1938. Douglas claimed he couldn’t practice medicine without an x-ray machine. Delbert objected and said that they could buy him out of the practice if they wanted an x-ray machine.Delbert went to open his own practice in his home. Douglas was called into war service in January 1941. Willard carried on the practice for two years without Douglas. The hospital reopened after Douglas came home from the war.The building has since been offices and even a book store. Now today the building is being used as a spa.
Daniel Zook Home
Located at 252 East Market Street, this home was built for Daniel and Elizabeth Zook. H.F. Frazier was the architect. At one time this home has three floors and shared a carriage porch with the John Coppes home. Daniel Zook moved to Nappanee in 1882 and served as the Justice of the Peace for a number of years. He was one of the first to practice law in Nappanee. He became associated with Coppes Brothers and Zook after purchasing the interest of Samuel Coppes in 1890. Daniel passed away in 1912 and after his death, the partnership of Coppes, Mutschler and Zook dissolved.
John Coppes Home
Located at 258 East Market Street, this home was built for John and Malinda Coppes and was designed by Henry Frazier. It was completed in 1895 and is a Queen Style home. It featured a gorgeous wraparound porch, high pitched roofs, a tower and a carriage porch shared with the Daniel Zook home. Although they have different exterior looks the interior was identical with the Frank Coppes home, execpt in reverse. Original items to the home included, a hand cranked elevator in the basement to haul up wood. water fountains in each bedroom, and light fixtures and art class windows produced by the Lamb Brothers and Greene Factory. John Coppes was a man of firsts in Nappanee. His wife and him were the very first to be married in Nappanee. John also served at the first fire chief when he was elected in 1892 and he is known to be the first to be arrested in July of 1889 for running his horse too fast. John was the Vice President and Secretary of Coppes Brothers and Zook and for many years was the active manager of the Lumber Department and Saw Mill Division until the Mill was closed down in 1929.
Arthur Miller Home
The Arthur Miller house was built in 1923. It was designed by Henry's son Clarence. Clarence was a prominent architect in Chicago. He designed the observatory at Loyola University and also many homes in Chicago. He had started by working with his father in Henry's offices. Clarence moved to Chicago in 1904 and opened his own architectural office in 1912. The house is a Colonial Revival style. it was rumored to be a part of the underground railroad. The house that was on the property before this house was built in 1875 and was the first house to built-in Nappanee. The first house had originally been standing in New Paris but when Nappanee was described as Eldorado in the newspaper, the gentleman who owned the house took it apart and brought it to Nappanee. Arthur Miller had been the owner of the Nappanee Lumber Company. It had a butler's pantry with an outside pass-through. It also had a coal shoot and basement living quarters with a wood-burning fireplace. Henry Frazier also had another son named Ralph, who also became a prominent architect like his father and brother. He was located in Chicago. After returning from World War I, Ralph entered into architectural work and then eventually opened his own office.
Frank Coppes Home
Located at 302 East Market Street is one of the best examples of Queen Anne architectual style. It was built in 1887 and completed in 1893 for Frank and Katherine Coppes. Henry Frazier was the architect who designed the protruding bays, variously sized and shaped windows, a round tower, sunburst motifs, and fishscale shingles. The Coppes family insisted on expert craftsmanship, down to every exquiste detail: extensive wood paneling, stained glass windows, brass hardware. The inside had an etched glass entryway that led through beveled-glass pocket doors into an expansive living room with polished hardwood floors and tall ceilings. A wide-draped doorway opens to the dining room with polished hardwood floors and tall ceilings. The stain glass windows made by Nappanee's renowned Lamb Brothers and Greene, whose work rivals that of Louis B. Tiffany. The home was placed on the National Registry of Histoirc places in 1990. Frank was one of the most respected citizens in Nappanee. He served as President of the Coppes Brothers, and Inc until his death.
Harvey Coppes Home
Located at 352 East Market Street, it was built in 1910 for Harvey and Nellie Coppes. It was designed by Henry Frazier and is an Arts and Crafts architectural style. The original cost of the home was estimated between $8,000-$10,000. In today's money that would be $200,000-$265,000. The home features a full-width porch with granite stone, pressed brick, and a red, clay tile roof. On the inside are beveled and leaded glass windows, pocket doors of oak on one side and mahognay on the other, and a fireplace inglenook with built-in leather-seated benches. Harvey was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Coppes. He began his career as a bookkeeper at Coppes Brothers and Zook. In May of 1891, Harvey and his father Samuel purchased the Farmer and Trader Bank from the Betchels. He worked at the bank as a cashier and had become the president just weeks before his death.
