Bloomfield Square
Significance
Bloomfield Square is significant for its enduring architectural style, which preserves much of its Victorian-era charm. The district, though varied in building quality, forms a unified collection of late 19th-century commercial architecture that showcases a small Midwestern town’s shift from simpler wood structures to more ornate brick buildings. This design serves as a fitting backdrop for the central courthouse, surrounded by green spaces and historic commercial buildings that embody the town planning of 19th-century America. Remarkably, the district retains its late-Victorian character, distinguishing it from other preserved areas.
Several buildings contribute to Bloomfield Square’s historical importance. The Exchange Bank Building, originally used by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the 1850s, later became home to the first Rebekah lodge, a women’s auxiliary, in 1868. The Exchange Bank itself moved in during 1871, following the completion of the building’s west side. Another noteworthy site, 101 E. Jefferson, began as J.R. Shaeffer’s Jewelry Store; Shaeffer’s son later established the Shaeffer Pen Company. Built in 1881, the Trimble House served as a hotel for many years, operated by local figure J.H. Trimble. Bloomfield’s Opera House, located on the upper floor of #52, hosted numerous performances. Meanwhile, #69-71 originally functioned as a store and residence, later evolving into the American Hotel in the 1850s, and has since operated under names such as the New Commercial, Wishard, and Gandy, finally becoming known as the Grant Hotel.
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Lillian Haufe. "Bloomfield Square". National Park Service. Retrieved March 7, 2016. with photos