Hill Family Residence in the Early 20th Century

The Reverend Harry G. Hill and his wife Katherine Ralston Hill likely moved into 52 North Irvington Avenue around 1904. Affiliated with the Disciples of Christ, Dr. Hill worked in the administration of that organization and later served as a minister of the Third Christian Church. The 1910 Federal Census reveals that the Hills, who were both 35 at the time, had three children, Herbert R. who was nine years old, Paul G., who was seven years old, and Dorothy, who was four years old. A thirty-five-year-old servant named Ella White lived in the house as did another minister named Granville Powers, who was 31 years old.

Living across the street from the Hill family was the Doan family at 47 North Irvington Avenue. Sometime around 1905, a Doan family member snapped photos of children in front of their home. Behind the kids, you can see the double at 38-40 North Irvington Avenue as well as the Hill home at 52 North Irvington Avenue.

The Hills lived in the house until 1927. Reverend Hill seems to have gotten into a spat with the leadership and perhaps the congregation at Third Christian Church. He left there in 1912 and became active in other churches as well as the Chautauqua movement. Mrs. Hill was an active club woman. The Doans and Hills were close as neighbors. Reverend Hill officiated the wedding of Florence Doan when she married Richard Power of Milroy, Indiana  in her childhood home at  47 North Irvington Avenue on August 25, 1925.

At some point during their tenure of the home, the Hills added the large stone porch across the front of the house, but that was clearly after these photos were snapped.

Unidentified children posed along Irvington Avenue. Behind the kids, you can see the double at 38-40 North Irvington Avenue on the left and the Hill home at 52 North Irvington Avenue on the right c1905.
 (photo courtesy of Jim and and Ann Brown; Indiana Album)

Unidentified children walk up the Doan family sidewalk c1906. Behind the two small kids, you can see both the double at 38-40 North Irvington Avenue and the Hill home at 52 North Irvington Avenue. You can also see that the Hill children have set up camp in the side yard of their home. (photo courtesy of Jim and and Ann Brown; Indiana Album)

Harry Granison Hill, who resided at 52 North Irvington Avenue, was still the minister of the Third Christian Church in 1912 when the photo appeared in the Indianapolis News on January 29, 1912. 

A small child stood on the Doan family sidewalk at 47 North Irvington Avenue c1905. Behind the toddler, you can see the Harry and Katherine Hill residence at 52 North Irvington Avenue. (photo courtesy of Jim and and Ann Brown; Indiana Album)

52 North Irvington Avenue in the winter of 2020. 

To see more historic images of the state of Indiana, click on the Indiana Album link below

https://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/randomimages

I wish to thank Jim and Ann Brown for their hospitality and information regarding the homes along Irvington Avenue.

Sources:  Obituary for Harry G. Hill, Indianapolis Star, February 16, 1951, 16; Obituary for Katherine Ralston Hill, Indianapolis News, November 26, 1958, 14; 1910 Federal Census.