
I was in South Bend a few summers ago with my Canonet QL17 G-III, wandering around downtown looking for things to photograph. You can’t get any more downtown in South Bend than the intersection of Michigan and Washington Streets, where I took this photo; that’s geographic zero in my hometown. All building and house numbers start here, counting up from 100 to the north, south, east, and west.
This is the American Trust Company building. Despite its classic style, the building dates to 1970. American Trust has been bought and sold many times, but whoever owns the building today still flies American flags along the Washington Street side – 14 in all, plus one atop the building. See it on Google Maps Street View here. These flags are my Independence Day greeting to you. Enjoy your celebration tomorrow!