Man saves church

The Adler Building in downtown Noblesville turns 35

By PEGGY GEORGI
For The Reporter

It’s hard to say what would have happened to the site of The Adler Building had it not been for a young, self-described country lawyer who was simply looking for a new office location.

Today, 35 years ago this month, Ray and Kathy Adler, became the owners of a historic church building in downtown Noblesville. With this, he would embark on a history-making journey of a lifetime that would exceed all his expectations. The story of how Adler helped breathe new life and purpose into an aging structure that was slated for demolition is a local success story and a daily reminder of how one man’s vision helped blend the past with the present for the future. The Adler Building is not only a timeless architectural treasure and community showpiece, but also a vibrant hub of innovation, commerce, and activity.

The Adler Building Back Story

Before the building was renamed and transformed into professional office suites, it was home to First Christian Church, one of Noblesville’s oldest churches. First Christian Church has a long and proud history in Noblesville dating back to the 1820s.

The roots of what would ultimately become the First Christian Church date back to early settlers organizing their first church meetings in homes and then the old, wood-framed Hamilton County Courthouse. A log church was built in 1829 on the northwest corner of 9th and Cherry streets to hold official church gatherings. In 1835, this property was deeded from the Baptist Church to the congregation known as the Church of Christ. In 1839, the log church was replaced by a wood-framed building.

In 1855, a group withdrew from the Church of Christ congregation, bought the present property at 9th and Maple streets, and built “The Christian Chapel.”  In 1868, the two groups reunited there. The Church expansion occurred during the city’s first large growth period after the discovery of its first natural gas well near 11th and Pleasant streets in 1888. In fact, many of the grand Victorian-style homes in the area, as well as most of the downtown commercial district, were built during this time of prosperity.

In 1897, construction began on the new church. The finished two-story building featured red brick and stone, limestone corners, peaked slate roof, and four-story bell tower. At the turn of the century, the church was one of three large brick churches located in downtown Noblesville which then had a population of just over 4,700.

As the church congregation and needs grew so did the need for additional space. Over the next 150 years, the church would grow with additions, renovations, repairs, and through the purchase of the house at the corner of 9th and Maple streets. The home was remodeled and turned into a parsonage. In 1923, a two-story educational wing was added. By the 1970s, additional updating and remodeling were needed to accommodate the growing congregation including demolishing the parsonage.

By 1984, the church, with a congregation of 1,000, had outgrown its current facilities. Unable to secure additional downtown property to accommodate their growth, the congregation secured a 12-acre lot at 16377 Herriman Blvd. to build their new church. The last Sunday services in the 9th Street location were held on July 16, 1989, and the building was put up for sale.

Church building for sale

Meanwhile, Adler initially established his practice (Webb & Webb) at 830 Logan St. in 1976. He loved working in downtown Noblesville and being able to walk to the courthouse. To accommodate his growing practice, he purchased a building at 53 N. 6^th St. Noblesville was also growing. Adler’s building was among the buildings the city would need to remove in preparation for its new courthouse. He was on the hunt again for a new office location.

A resident of Hamilton County with strong family ties, Adler long aspired to become a lawyer. It was never on his radar to become the owner of a 20,000 square-foot historic building and be a landlord as well. This, according to Adler, was providence.

When he learned the First Christian Church was for sale from Dr. Richard Bailey, he wasn’t all that interested because he originally thought that the building had to be in bad shape. Dale Griswold was consulted for a bid for the cost of demolition. The high cost of demolition caused Adler to consult an engineer and he was pleasantly surprised after consulting with a couple of engineers. They showed him how to preserve the building and transition it into professional offices while maintaining the integrity, character, and original exterior charm of the church. Adler did just that. The building was renamed The Adler Building, and it soon became home to more than 20 businesses, not-for-profits, and faith-based organizations.

Adler credits a village of local talent for the building’s transition inside and out.

“Ralph Waltz, a banker at American National Bank, who initially helped me secure funding for the project, later told me that he wasn’t sure that my idea to transition the building into office suites would work,” Adler recalled. Steve Nation, a Hamilton County Prosecutor, Superior Court Judge, and friend, was of the same opinion. However, Adler felt called to proceed on what would become his passion project. Darlene Wood served as his realtor.

The Adler Building: An Architectural Treasure

Today, the Adler Building is one of downtown Noblesville’s most beautiful and historic treasures anchoring the downtown historic district. The building houses 15 to 20 businesses including Adler Attorneys. In fact, there have been some 150 businesses that have called The Adler Building home over the past three decades. On any given day there are 40 to 50 people coming in and out of the building – from tenants to their clients. It is bustling with activity.

The exterior is stunning and reminiscent of a bygone era. Inside, each suite has been meticulously transformed, offering its own special charm and appeal. In addition to Adler’s office, which is on the second floor with the 12-foot stunning rosette stained-glass window as a backdrop. Adler says one of his favorite places in the building is the conference room. “We call it ‘The Chapel’ because it was a part of the original chapel,” he said. “There always seems to be good vibes coming from this space.”

This community showpiece is an integral part of the national historic district known as the South 9th Street Historic District in Noblesville. It encompasses 39 contributing buildings and one contributing site in a predominantly residential section of Noblesville. Developed between 1860 and 1940, the district includes notable examples of Victorian, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, Italianate, and Bungalow / American Craftsman style architecture.

Little did Adler know that when he took on this passion project, he would be among the first to renovate an existing downtown structure into professional offices. In 1991, Adler was recognized by the Indiana Main Street Organization with its Best Adaptive Reuse Award for his outstanding renovation of the building which left the exterior relatively untouched. The hallmarks of the structure include a stunning second floor rosette window that is approximately 12 feet in diameter and a bell tower that reaches over four stories high which housed the original church bell. This earned the City of Noblesville its second Main Street award.

The Adler Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. It is among the city’s eight buildings and four historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The building isn’t the only thing that has changed over the past three decades. Adler’s practice has as well. He has done everything in the legal field from seatbelt violations to a death penalty case and no longer practices criminal law. Today, his primary focus is on guardianships, estates, real estate, family law, and general civil litigation – and he still enjoys the trek to and from the courthouse.

Inside The Adler Building

Tenants absolutely love the building. It is non-smoking and a quiet place to work and close to everything. For example, Kevin Yaney, President & CEO of Yaney Marketing, Inc., moved into The Adler Building in March 1998. Little did he know that 26 years after setting up shop at 136 S.9^th St., would become the longest tenured tenant.

“There were several tenants who held claim to that title until about five years ago,” said Yaney, who is among those businesses or organizations working from The Adler Building over the past three decades.

Yaney was a year and a half into his business when he realized he needed to move operations from his dining room to an out-of-the-home office. Adler, who has since become a friend, had just renovated the lower level of the building and Yaney was the first to rent there.

“The Adler Building tenants are fairly diverse in what we do,” Yaney explained. “I suppose the one common factor is we all are small businesses who need office space that is available any time, day, or night. Because we are so diverse and since parts of the building are a bit of a maze, it is not uncommon for someone to knock on my door and ask if I know how to find someone. One time, I had a rather large man open my door one day and sit down in my office. He was a bit out of breath. I asked him if I could help him, and he said he was there to pay his bill. I asked who he was looking for, he told me, and I responded that had the wrong office.”

“The other thing you realize when you work there is this is an old building,” Yaney pointed out. “There are hidden nooks in the building, and it makes noises, especially when you’re there alone. For instance, there is a hidden space between two walls in a storage area on the lower level. There are also parts of the building where there are wooden plank floors, and you can hear footsteps that tend to echo in certain parts of the building. It can be a little spooky at night. There are also reminders throughout that it was a church. There are places where there are still hooks for children to hang their coats. Until a couple of years ago, there was an old coal burning furnace in the basement.”

“I’ve always thought the Adler Building had a lot of Old Town charm,” added Yaney. “Ray did a good job of renovating a church building that was slated for the wrecking ball into office space. He salvaged a piece of Noblesville history that still resonates with residents today. “My clients are always fascinated with it. I’ve had people tell me they attended Sunday school there as a child or were married there.”

“Sometimes I’ll catch folks just looking at the building in awe, taking pictures, and asking for tours,” added Adler, with a smile. “For a guy just looking for office space within walking distance of the courthouse square and restaurants, it turned out much better than I could have ever imagined. “It’s truly been a great adventure.”