At the height of the industrial revolution, workers took slabs of rugged beige limestone from the banks of the Wabash River to construct sturdy commercial and manufacturing buildings around the growing city of Wabash. Several of the structures still stand, but one faces an uncertain future.
In 1890, Russian immigrant Simon A. Cook constructed a warehouse on Water Street to house his scrap business, stamping “S.A. Cook” on a lintel above the entrance. Abe Sposeep & Sons took over the recycling business in 1924 and operated out of the building for nearly a century before shutting down in 2018. The City of Wabash acquired the site, and now the Wabash Redevelopment Commission is marketing the property for reuse.
With rough-hewn stone walls, exposed wooden beams and columns, and original plank floors, the building presents a dramatic backdrop for any number of adaptive new uses. Tall ceilings and a vast open floor plan offer possibilities for retail, entertainment, restaurant, office, or mixed development. But the effects of a century of hard use have compounded, and water infiltration has weakened mortar joints and floor joists.
City officials would prefer to see the building preserved and adapted for new use, but they are willing to consider demolition to clear the site for new construction if no viable reuse plans emerge. With a renaissance happening in Wabash’s nearby historic commercial district, it would be a shame to lose a historic building with potential to contribute to the ongoing revival.
Paul Hayden
Director
Indiana Landmarks Northeast Field Office
260-563-7094
phayden@indianalandmarks.org
Tenille Zartman
Grow Wabash County
260-330-3730
tenille@growwabashcounty.com
