For nearly fifty years, Irvington residents shopped at the Clapp Brothers (also known as the Clapp Food Market) Grocery at 6044 East Washington Street. Originally from Hartsville, Indiana, siblings William C. and John P. Clapp relocated to Beech Grove, Indiana in the early twentieth century. John P. Clapp ran the Beech Grove operation while William C. Clapp moved to Irvington in 1916 and opened a store at 7 North Webster Avenue. He also bought a house at 6024 East Washington Street for himself and his wife, Ora Belle Moore Clapp, and for his children, Climpson, Leland, and Ima Clapp. In 1924, William C. Clapp moved the store into a much larger newly-constructed building at 6044 East Washington Street.
Mr. Clapp ran the business for many years before turning it completely over to his son, Climpson "Pete" Clapp. The Irvington Historical Society possesses photographs, letters, ledgers, and other ephemera from the Clapp family. The operation was shuttered in 1973. The Clapps would not recognize their storefront today as it has been greatly altered over the years.
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| Employees of the Clapp Brothers Grocery at 6044 East Washington Street posed for this snapshot on April 30, 1926. William C. Clapp is likely standing in front of the Beech Grove transport vehicle. You can also see the Adde's Pure Oil Filling Station at 6040 East Washington Street. That building still stands in 2025. The Levy family home at 6036 East Washington Street is also visible. (courtesy of the Irvington Historical Society) |
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| Ads for Easter products hang in the window of Clapp Brothers Grocery at 6044 East Washington Street on April 30, 1926. (courtesy of the Irvington Historical Society) |
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| William Clark Clapp (top center) posed with his brothers c1940. The men all hailed from Hartsville, Indiana. While we are not able to match their faces yet, Edgar, John, Calvin, and Samuel Clapp reunited for this photograph. (Irvington Historical Society) |
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| Interior shot of Clapps Brothers Regal Grocery Store c1934; We can narrow down the date of this image by the fact that Mr. Clapp displayed a National Recovery Act sign in his store. This New Deal agency was in operation from 1933 until it was struck down by the US Supreme Court in 1935. (Irvington Historical Society) |
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| Store display for Thanksgiving c1934 (Irvington Historical Society) |
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| Clapp Brothers first operated around the corner at 7 North Webster Avenue from 1916 until 1924. That building is still standing in 2025. (Irvington Historical Society) |
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| Promotional ad for Clapp Brothers Food Market (Irvington Historical Society) |
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| Notepad for Climpson Moore Clapp Food Market complete with the hours of operation (Irvington Historical Society) |
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| Some of the Clapp Grocery Store records have survived including this document that shows the names of employees and their weekly salary in 1945. Omer Kehl worked as a meat cutter. Others include Eileen Bangel, Tom Carmack, and George R. Smith. (Irvington Historical Society) |
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| Google Streetview reveals that the Clapp Brothers Market is still standing but unrecognizable in 2025. The filling station and nearby house shown in the earlier photos also still stand. (Google) |
I wish to thank the extended Clapp family who donated items to the Irvington Historical Society.
Sources: Polk's Indianapolis City Directories, 1908-1973; Federal Census Records, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940; Newspaper articles: "Building Permit" (6024 East Washington St.), Indianapolis News, June 21, 1916, p. 16; "Building Permits," (6044 East Washington St.) Indianapolis Star, January 10, 1924, p. 14; Obituaries: "W.C. Clapp, Irvington Grocer, Is Dead," Indianapolis News, March 18, 1944, p. 9; "Mrs. Ora Clapp," Indianapolis Star, January 5, 1960, p. 21: "John Clapp, Beech Grove Civic Leader, Succumbs, Indianapolis Star, November 7, 1943, p. 13; "Climpson Clapp, 1897-1978," Indianapolis News, March 21, 1978, p. 28.
I have learned so much from this article about Clapp's store. Mr Clapp and his store has a short but rich history in my early life as a child in Irvington. I grew up on North Sheridan Avenue a couple houses from Pleasant Run Parkway. I was 6 years old when I was allowed to walk to Mr Clapp's store for candy. I learned through this blog that the store closed in 1973 which gives me a timeline of the story I have in which I still tell to this day. I remember walking in to the store to buy candy and Mr Clapp would always put my candy in brown paper bags. One day, apparently in 1973, I walked into Mr clap store and piled a bunch of candy next to his register. He knew me pretty well since I came in often. He let me know as he was backing my candy that he was going to close the store. Me, being in third grade, I was not too big to cry. I was sad! I asked Mr Clapp why he was closing and he told me," every time you kids come in you want your candy in paper bags". He went on to tell me that he only had two more paper bags left and he would have to close his door because he ran out. On my way home I remember thinking about ways I could help Mr Clapp to keep his store open. I remember going upstairs to my bedroom and breaking open my pink pig piggy bank. I grabbed all of my change and threw it in my wagon. I walked back to the Mr Clapp's store with my wagon in tow. I went in to the store with my wagon and bought every piece of candy I could with the money I had. Mr Clapp asked me why I brought my wagon inside the store. I told him that I didn't want my candy in bags anymore and that I wanted his store to stay open. I don't remember his reaction but I do remember him putting all that candy in my wagon and me walking home with my wagon and candy. I don't remember how long after this visit that I went back but I was so sad to see that the store was closed. I had been in the military for 21 years and now live in South Carolina. Even to this day when I go home for a Howe high school event or family get together I always stop by the store building and just stand in the doorway for a few minutes to remember.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing that touching story. I thought I might find folks still around who remembered Mr. Clapp and his grocery store. You have provided some great insight.
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