Bloomington Fading

By: derekandjenrichey

Sep 18 2013

Tags: 1900s, 1920s, 712 E 8th Street, Bloomington, Bloomington Fading, Bloomington Then and Now, Herman Bowman, Historic, History, Indiana, John L Nichols, Monroe County, Paul McNutt, University Courts

Category: 1900s, 1920s, 1930s, 8th Street, Abandoned Buildings, Abandoned Houses, Architecture, Bloomington, Bloomington Fading, City Planning, E 8th Street, Great Depression, Historic, IN, Indiana University, John L Nichols, Monroe County, Then and Now, Uncategorized, University Courts

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Now owned by Indiana University, 712 E 8th Street was built for Herman Bowman in 1916. Herman Bowman was the operator of the Bowman-King Stone Company and the architect was John L Nichols.  The home was built in the California Bungalow style.

The south side of the building shows us the garage in the back of the house. Click to Enlarge

From the City of Bloomington: “This bungalow is most distinguished by its resident from 1922-1925, Paul McNutt, who was then Dean of the Indiana University Law School. Later McNutt was elected governor and was a candidate for president in 1940. He accepted a position in the Truman administration, becoming ambassador to the Phillipines.”

Herman Bowman eventually moved back into the bungalow in the 1930s. Mr. Bowman also was responsible for building 718 E 8th Street, now known as the Bowman Duplexes in 1924–the architect was once again John L Nichols.

Bowman gained some notoriety locally for saving a young man who was attempting to commit suicide behind his house in 1937:

Paul McNutt lived in this house in the 1920s. He nearly became President of the United States. 

Bloomington (Indiana) Telephone, April 26, 1937, p. 1.  
SETS CLOTHING ON FIRE; YOUTH BADLY BURNED
Student’s Act Early This Morning Called Suicide Attempt-Only Slight Chance for Recovery

Making a flaming torch of his body in a fantastic attempt to commit suicide, James B. Freeman, age 20, a student in the pre-medic school at Indiana University, was badly burned over the entire body at 5:15 AM this morning.

He is believed to have poured gasoline on his clothing and set fire to it.
He was rushed to the Bloomington Hospital and is in a serious condition, but it was said that there was a slight chance of recovery. No motive for the act has been established.

The suicide attempt was made in an outbuilding in the rear of the home of
Herman S. Bowman, stone operator, next door to Freeman’s rooming place at 714 East 8th Street. The youth ran from the building, his entire body a mass of flames, and was seen by Mr. Bowman who had gone to the basement to fix the furnace fire. Mr. Bowman rushed to the assistance of the boy who was screaming in agony, and threw water on him as he fell to the pavement.

“I wish you hadn’t helped me, I want to die,” the youth gasped.

While no motive for the act has been divulged, it is certain that the youth
was attempting to commit suicide. His statement to Mr. Bowman indicated that fact, and his brother, Joseph, who roomed at the same house, told hospital attaches that he knew his brother had been contemplating suicide.

Other roomers at the house, which is managed by Mrs. Clara Pryor, refused to comment on the affair. The brother, however, said that as far as he knew, his brother’s grades had been good and Dean B. D. Myers of the medical school here had indicated that he would be received in the medical school at Indianapolis after he had completed his preliminary work here..

Freeman’s home is at Syracuse. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Freeman. The boy’s parents were notified and were expected to arrive here this
afternoon.

A closer view of the backside of the house shows some of the wear and tear on the home. Click to Enlarge

There is no follow up I could find to this story as to whether the young man survived. Bowman was born in 1868 and died in 1942. His company (Bowman-King Stone Company) failed during the great depression right about the time that this incident took place. Herman Bowman is buried at Valhalla Memory Gardens.

Through the window we can see the living room downstairs. Click to Enlarge

Another view of the south side of the home.

The east side of the bungalow.

This photo of the front of the house shows some wear and tear.

Through the window we see one of the bedrooms of this now unoccupied house. According to the IU Masterplan, this house, along with others owned by IU in the neighborhood, should be slated for renovation.

Today, the building looks a little beat up. Apparently it hasn’t been used as offices for the History Department for some time. The outside looks a little rough, but the inside looks salvageable.

Looking through the back window we can see the entrance to the kitchen.